Chapter 27. Diagramming for Mechanical, Electrical, and Process Engineering

There are hundreds of diagrams that Microsoft Office Visio 2007 can create for you. Whether it be a flowchart, a calendar, or a new floor plan for that house you have always wanted, Office Visio 2007 goes to great lengths to help you accomplish your task. The truth is, however, that is only part of Visio 2007’s capabilities. Perhaps the greatest strength of Visio 2007 is in engineering schematics. Visio 2007 makes it easy to draw and connect all kinds of symbols—whether they represent circuits, semiconductors, pneumatic equipment, ball bearings, or pipes. In fact, smart-shape symbols are uniquely suited to symbolic or logical 2-D diagrams.

The engineering templates in Visio 2007 offer tools to help you quickly create diagrams that communicate your plans or your existing setup in a way that others will understand. This chapter won’t tell you all you need to know to be a successful engineer. We’re assuming you’re the expert in that regard. However, this chapter will help you make the most of the engineering shapes and tools in Visio 2007.