Automatic panel assembly: how it works in GorkyCAD

What is auto panel assembly

Auto panel assembly is a key GorkyCAD Pro feature. The engineer places electrical objects on the floor plan, assigns groups and subgroups — and GorkyCAD automatically composes the distribution panel: selects devices, places them on DIN rails, creates busbars, and outputs the BOM.

This saves 1-3 hours of manual work per panel.

Step 1: Building Feeder Topology

Feeder Topology is a hierarchical power distribution model. GorkyCAD builds it automatically:

1. Identifies the power source (main incomer)
2. Analyzes consumer groups (lighting, outlets, heavy loads)
3. Builds hierarchy: Incomer → Main breaker → RCD → Group breakers → Consumers
4. Determines if additional levels are needed (sub-panels, floor panels)

Step 2: Device selection

For each group, GorkyCAD selects:

• MCB: rating = Icalc × 1.25, curve (B/C/D) by load type, breaking capacity by Isc
• RCD: rating ≥ MCB rating, leakage current (10/30/100/300 mA), type (A/AC)
• RCBO: if group needs individual leakage protection

Step 3: DIN rail placement

The placement algorithm solves a 1D bin-packing problem:

1. Sorts devices by type: incomer → RCDs → group MCBs → terminals
2. Groups by phase (L1, L2, L3 — for 3-phase panels)
3. Places left to right, top to bottom (multi-row panels)
4. Respects thermal gaps (high-rated breakers — one module gap)
5. Reserves 15-20% modules for future expansion

Step 4: Auto-busbars

The busbar connects group MCBs to the RCD. Algorithm:

1. Determines which MCBs are fed by which RCD
2. Calculates busbar pole count (1P, 2P, 3P)
3. Selects busbar length (12, 24, 36, 56 modules)
4. Splits long busbars if MCBs exceed one busbar capacity

Step 5: Thermal check

GorkyCAD checks panel thermal conditions:

• Total heat dissipation of breakers at rated load
• Internal panel temperature (considering IP rating, enclosure material, ambient)
• If temperature exceeds 40°C — warning and recommendation to enlarge enclosure

Step 6: Documentation generation

Final step — automatic generation:

• Panel schematic — graphical DIN rail layout with positions
• BOM — complete list with part numbers and quantities
• Label sheet — position table for printing device labels
• Basic 3D view — panel visualization for the client

Result

The engineer gets a fully designed panel in 30 seconds of automatic composition. Just review — and send to production.