In Hanover, Eplan is presenting the extended "eView AR" app, which makes electrical engineering documentation for enclosures available via augmented reality - directly on the enclosure during operation.

App guides service technicians through the process

With the extended app, which should be available from May 2024, service technicians will be able to overlay the real switch cabinet with its digital twin using a tablet or smartphone. In short: the technician has digital access to every single component directly at the control cabinet.

For example, a motor protection switch needs to be replaced. The service technician is visually guided by AR highlighting and knows exactly where the component is positioned in the enclosure - even if the enclosure door is closed. This allows components to be located quickly, especially in large enclosures or rows of enclosures. The service technician can then use the digital twin to obtain all the necessary information, such as the wiring diagram and the circuit diagram page with the motor starter combination. This also eliminates the need to search through potentially extensive paper documentation. It guides the technician or maintenance employee quickly through their maintenance activities.

Restoring changes to the project

If a contactor needs to be replaced, for example, the digital twin not only shows the manufacturer's specifications for the component, but also refers to its electrical engineering documentation. The technician notes the replacement of this component via redlining or greenlining and the engineering department can simply implement the changes on all pages of the electrotechnical documentation. If there are cross-references to other circuit diagram pages, these are also automatically updated in engineering. The best thing is that collaboration in Eplan is bidirectional - from service to engineering and vice versa.

QR code ensures clear assignment

A QR code generated in Eplan links the documentation of the control cabinet with the real cabinet in operation. The project is stored in the Eplan Cloud and is therefore clearly assigned. The 3D view of the enclosure structure is superimposed on the mounting plate or the enclosure itself using the AR function. The digital twin from Eplan Pro Panel is placed 1:1 on the components inside the enclosure - simply using a tablet or smartphone. With the AR app, the project documentation is visualized in 2D as a circuit diagram or in 3D as a virtual image of the enclosure.

Quick error analysis via split screen

Quick localization of relevant components in the enclosure through visual overlay

© Eplan

Split-screen technology allows the circuit diagram and AR model of the cabinet to be displayed side by side if required. This allows the fault to be traced quickly in the event of a machine downtime. The fact that equipment lists, parts lists, cable overviews and other evaluations such as topologies can be accessed via a cross-reference is another practical advantage. After all, there is no need to leaf through the documentation. The entire documentation can be viewed at any time and from anywhere in the world via the Eplan Cloud. This also facilitates collaboration across departmental boundaries. This speeds up and simplifies the service and maintenance process. What's more, the electrical engineering documentation is always accessible and always up to date. This also makes future maintenance or service cases easier.