CADBlox QuickStart Guide

Install CADBlox

Make sure you close AutoCAD before running the CADBlox installer. Double-click the CADBlox installer .exe to launch the setup program. Follow the instructions on-screen to locate your AutoCAD folder and install the CADBlox Library.
AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT is required to use this block library.

The CADBlox installer will install the following components on your computer. Installed components can be accessed through Windows’ Start Menu under the “CADBlox” program group

CADBloxX.XC.dwg - AutoCAD drawing file - Placed in “CADBlox” folder inside AutoCAD
folder (Typically: C:/Program Files/AutoCAD/CADBlox, but your location may differ) This is
the block library you’ll use to design your own plates and panels.
PC_font.shx - AutoCAD font - Placed in AutoCAD’s “fonts” folder (Typically: C:/Program
Files/AutoCAD/Fonts, but your location may differ). Using this font ensures a smooth transition
into our production flow and eliminates text positioning problems.
CADBloxX_Block_List.pdf - PDF file - Placed in the “CADBlox” folder for easy reference.
This file contains part numbers and descriptions for all the blocks contained in the
library.

Open the CADBlox drawing

CADBloxX.XC.dwg - CADBlox Library - This drawing will be listed in your "Start" menu under the "CADBlox" program group.

Click your Window's START button. Next Select "All Programs" and locate the "CADBlox" program group. Select the CADBlox drawing to open the library. If AutoCAD is not already running, it should launch when you select the drawing.

Open AutoCAD's Design Center

Hit Ctrl+2 (on your keyboard) to open the Design Center palette. You can drag and dock this palette wherever it fits best for your work habits. If left open, it will open each time you open AutoCAD. Select the "Open Drawings" tab in the design center. This will list all open documents in the left pane of the design center. Select the CADBlox drawing from the list. The right pane of the design center will show elements of the selected drawings you can access. Double-Click on "Blocks" to list all of the blocks in the CADBlox Library. Blocks can be viewed as icons, list or detail view. Once the blocks are listed in the design center, you can drag-and-drop them into a new drawing to design your plate.

Design your Plate/Panel layout

Start by opening a new drawing (Select one of AutoCAD's standard drawing templates if you don't have a customized one you use). The new (blank) drawing should be your active drawing and visible in your drawing window. The blocks will remain listed in the design center regardless of which drawing is active in the drawing window (Designing your plates within the CADBlox drawing is not recommended).

Select the plate block you need from the design center window (use the CADBloxX Block List.pdf as a reference if needed). Click and Drag the plate block into the drawing window and release. A dialog box will open listing the attributes available for editting on the selected plate. Be sure to fill out the pertinent information in the plate tag. You'll be prompted for this information when you drag in a panel block:

Plate Name (A unique name is required for each panel you plan to quote.)
Plate Finish (Plate color)

PanelCrafters Standard Finish Options Are:

Clear Anodized
Black Anodized
Powdercoated Black
Powdercoated Gray
Powdercoated White
Powdercoated Ivory
Powdercoated Almond
Stainless Steel (gang plates only)

Plastic/Nylon Gang plates and Decora inserts are available in:

White
Ivory
Almond
Black

Custom finishes are available. Contact your sales representative for more information.
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Fill Color (Engraved text color)

Fill colors typically contrast the finish color. Standards are:

Black (for clear, white, ivory, almond and stainless panels)
White (for black and gray panels)

Custom fill colors are available. Contact your sales representative for more information.
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Quantity (Used to price panels)
Part # (PanelCrafters internal use - leave blank)
DXF File Name (PanelCrafters internal use - leave blank)

Select a connector block from the design center window (use the CADBloxX Block List.pdf as a reference, if needed, to find the block name). Click and Drag the connector block onto the plate block. (TIP: Use AutoCAD's OSNAP settings to control how the blocks snap to the alignment grids provided on the plate blocks)

With most connectors you drag in you'll be prompted for text to engrave above or below. Some connectors have default (common) values pre-set. Text attributes can be changed at any time by double-clicking on the block, or typing "ATTEDIT" on the command line. Blocks are pre-set to utilize the "PC_font" that installs with CADBlox. This font has been optimized for our engravers for both readability and cutting efficiency.

Repeat steps 3 & 4 until your custom plate design is complete.

Save your drawing

Save your drawing file using your standard naming convention. Drawing files can contain a single plate design or multiple plate designs, whichever best fits your workflow.

Submit your drawing for a quote

Send your completed CAD drawing(s) to sales@panelcrafters.com to obtain a quote. Make sure to include your company and contact information in your email so we can contact you if there are any questions. PanelCrafters will return a detailed quote and pdf proof(s) for your plate design(s) via email*.

*Requests that include non-stock materials or require additional engineering may be quoted and returned without design proofs. When ordered, these parts will be engineered and proofs will be submitted prior to production.

When you're ready to order, please supply signed copies of the proofs with your purchase order to expedite the production process.