Hi there forum folks.
I am looking for examples of what people have done. I have gone through the guide but wanted to see some real-world examples of medium to large systems. Descriptions of how you do the layout would be great as well if you were so inclined.

Thanks,
Wolf

Hi Wolf,

I'm hoping that your post receives some replies from the community but in fairness it may be a big ask; very often system designs may be confidential, covered by NDAs, or detail techniques, design and know-how that are privileged or held protectively to maintain competitive advantage.

Having said that, perhaps if you qualify what you're looking for some kind folks might assist; what kind of systems, specifically, interest you?

Kind regards,
Rob Robinson
Stardraw.com

Fair enough.
I primarily do lighting, audio, video and some controls. I'm really just interested in seeing how blocks are laid out and cabling runs are done. Actual items can be blacked-out or fuzzed-out; I'm not interested in the components, just the actual layout.
Or if folks don't want the drawings posted here, I can provide my email.

Cheers,
Wolf

Hi Wolf,

Maybe check out the Guide to Good Drawing Practice - a sticky post at the top of this forum, here

Kind regards,
Rob Robinson
Stardraw.com

Hi there Forum folks. So here's an example of what I am doing. This is one of the larger systems in recent times and I would love critiquing. 
I'm sure there is a better way to lay it out, but with numerous panels having lighting, audio and video on them, the overlapping of cabling is pretty high. My struggle is getting the initial layout so that it makes sense but is also clean. I figured that by grouping by location it would make more sense.

I'd love feedback.

Hi Wolf,

For what it's worth, I think yours is a great example of exactly the right way to document a large and complex system.  You've followed all the key guidelines we give at A Short Guide to Good Drawing Practice, in particular:

• Ordered layout (good use of construction lines, but I'd be tempted to remove them prior to issuing the drawing)
• Consistent signal flow
• Even spacing of symbols and interconnections
• Simplified routing (as far as is possible!)
• Optimization of white space

Kind regards,
Rob Robinson
Stardraw.com

+x

 

Rob Robinson - 1/24/2020 3:23:09 PM

Hi Wolf,

For what it's worth, I think yours is a great example of exactly the right way to document a large and complex system.  You've followed all the key guidelines we give at A Short Guide to Good Drawing Practice, in particular:

• Ordered layout (good use of construction lines, but I'd be tempted to remove them prior to issuing the drawing)
• Consistent signal flow
• Even spacing of symbols and interconnections
• Simplified routing (as far as is possible!)
• Optimization of white space

And, most importantly, you've broken these rules when there is a benefit in doing so.

I do have some very minor suggestions:

1. If you were to move the Midas DL32 one column to the right you could eliminate some kinks in the cables that connect to it.  This would then allow you to move down the second Tripp Lite N254-024 so that its output 1 runs straight to the Generic AV7 - 6G, and move up the Generic MUSA Patchfield to eliminate redundant kinks in its outputs 1-5. 
2. I think if you extend the vertical size of the area group boxes, 'Over-Stage', 'Stage Floor' and 'House' so that all interconnections enter the box by crossing its left edge, this will make things easier on the eye.  It will also help to ensure that group box boundaries do not sit on top of your cables.

With that said, I for one would be happy to present your layout as a model of best practice.

Thanks for sharing your design!

Thank you Rob.
Yes, the construction lines will not be part of the final. There are still more things to be added once my boss figures out what he wants to do.
I like those suggestionsand will incorporate them. I think on my next one I'll start out a bit further spaced out.
One thing I have found that if I have two overlapping cable's and I move one, if I move the item it's attached to it doesn't move the touched cable. Is this common?

Hi Wolf,

Not sure I understand what you mean about the 'touched' cable not moving; the behavior is that a connected cable, if horizontal, will move and extend/contract the connected segment and extend/contract the penultimate segment as required. 

Can you email a sample project file with before/after examples to techsupport@stardraw.com?

Kind regards,
Rob Robinson
Stardraw.com

+x

 

Rob Robinson - 1/24/2020 5:18:48 PM

Hi Wolf,

Not sure I understand what you mean about the 'touched' cable not moving; the behavior is that a connected cable, if horizontal, will move and extend/contract the connected segment and extend/contract the penultimate segment as required. 

Can you email a sample project file with before/after examples to techsupport@stardraw.com?

Done

For those following the thread, the issue was that the symbol had been moved fractionally off the grid which meant that the final cable segment was not truly horizontal; rubberbanding, which keeps cables attached to moved symbols and persists the horizontal vector of the final segment, can only work if the final cable segment is horizontal to start with. 

The fix is to rightclick on the symbol and choose Align Origins to Grid.  This re-positions the symbol onto the grid and forces recalculation of the cable connection points which, in turn, brings the final segment back to true horizontal and rubberbanding can then operate as expected.


Kind regards,
Rob Robinson
Stardraw.com