CTI Engineering Co., Ltd. has developed an automatic creation tool that streamlines and improves the precision of telecommunications drawing and quantity calculation sheets.

At CTI Engineering we have developed a tool that automatically creates quantity calculation sheets used in telecommunications equipment design. This system streamlines and improves precision in creating blueprints and quantity calculation sheets and contributes to promoting the development of telecommunications equipment, including ordering procedures.

1. Background
Conventionally, the process of creating detailed design plans of telecommunications (wiring system diagrams, wiring diagrams, isometric drawings*), quantity surveying, and calculations required manual copying and counting tasks. This process resulted in human error, requiring considerable time to check for mistakes.
*Isometric drawings are three-dimensional drawings shown from a specific angle.

2. Automatic creation tool development
Areas with the most common mistakes in telecommunications equipment design is the process of creating a (1) wiring system diagram, (2) wiring diagram, and (3) and isometric drawings (copying, etc.) and (4) the process of identifying the quantity (counting, etc.). Using a numerical value tabulation and data output program developed in C♯, CAD and spreadsheet software API*, we developed a tool that automates the process, successfully eliminating human error.
*API: An interface that links software and programs

　

　

Figure 1 Detailed design procedures

3. Operation
This tool runs in CAD (AutoCAD) in the following way. 1) First select the (1) wiring system diagram and (2) wiring diagram in CAD, then the tool processes the relevance of objects on the blueprint and dimensional data, which is loaded via CAD software API, to (3) automatically generate an isometric drawing.
2) Next, the cable etc., materials and quantities are picked up from the (3) isometric drawing and (4) a quantity calculation sheet is automatically generated in Microsoft Excel format.

　

　

Figure 2 Isometric drawing creation

　

4. Future prospects
Using this tool, CTI Engineering aims to streamline and improve precision in the overall telecommunications equipment design process. We also plan to continue technical development and promote further streamlining and better precision to promote the development of telecommunications equipment.