ForgeSchematics is the schematic editor for industrial machine builders — electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and controls. Wire color standards, gauge calculator, dual-label system, Connection Proposal Engine, and Machine Takeover Wizard. Works standalone or connected to the full Forge stack.
What makes it different
"Wire gauge, color standard, and ferrule spec computed for every wire — IEC 60446, NFPA 79, DIN 46228-4."
Drop a device on a sheet. ForgeSchematics checks the circuit type, looks up IEC 60446 or NFPA 79 color requirements, calculates gauge from NEC/IEC current capacity and voltage drop, and recommends the correct DIN 46228-4 ferrule — single or twin. All three specs in one click.
"Connection Proposal Engine auto-suggests wiring when you place a PLC and a motor on the same sheet."
Place 1756-IB16 input module and a 3-phase motor. ForgeSchematics proposes: power feed (L1/L2/L3, correct gauge), motor starter coil circuit, E-stop loop, HOA selector switch, run feedback DI. Correct wire colors and ferrule specs included for every wire.
"Machine Takeover Wizard — import a .forgepkg from another builder and pick up exactly where they left off."
A .forgepkg contains the full schematic, IO list, wire BOM, and component BOM. The 6-step wizard pre-populates the component audit and wire audit from the package. Gap analysis runs automatically. Completion status shows exactly what's done and what's outstanding.
New machine, upgrade, or takeover — ForgeSchematics handles all three starting points.
New machine: start with a blank sheet and the symbol library. Upgrade: import your existing schematic (PDF or previous ForgeSchematics file). Takeover: import a .forgepkg from the original builder — component and wire audits pre-populate automatically.
Drag devices from the symbol library onto the sheet — motors, VFDs, PLCs, sensors, safety devices, contactors. Wire them with the wire tool. ForgeSchematics enforces IEC or NFPA 79 wire color rules as you draw.
Place a PLC module and a motor starter on the same sheet. ForgeSchematics detects the device pair and proposes the complete wiring: power feed, control circuit, E-stop loop, feedback — with gauge, color, and ferrule spec for every wire.
Every wire gets two labels: a location label (panel position, for installation) and a function label (signal name, for troubleshooting). Labels are auto-generated from signal names and cached. The wire BOM and component BOM update live as you draw.
Print or PDF the schematic with wire labels. Export the BOM to ForgeProcure. Export the IO list to ForgeOps. If this is a migration, export the wire swap .forgeschematic to ForgePLC. Generate the ForgeOps reinstallation checklist.
Every feature ships with the standards, rules, and data it needs to do the job without looking anything up.
Every wire carries the correct color, gauge, and ferrule spec — computed from the circuit type, current, and voltage drop. No looking things up.
Every wire carries a location label (TB3-14) and a function label (CONV1-RUN). Both print on the schematic. The function label is the signal name — readable three years from now.
The Connection Proposal Engine detects device pairs on the same sheet and suggests the wiring — power, control, E-stop, and feedback — with correct gauge, color, and ferrule for every wire.
Import a .forgepkg from the original builder. Component and wire audits pre-populate. Gap analysis runs. You see exactly what's done and what's outstanding.
The wire BOM and component BOM update live as you draw. Export to ForgeProcure as a draft PO with vendor search pre-populated.
Technicians work through the checklist on a tablet — check each wire, confirm each terminal, sign off the job. No tribal knowledge required.
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Schematic disciplines
Electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, controls, thermal, ATA-36
IEC + NFPA 79
Wire color standards
Both built in, set per project
DIN 46228-4
Ferrule spec
Single and twin, computed per wire
.forgepkg
Takeover format
Import any Forge-built machine and audit it
Full feature access during early access. No seat limits. Works standalone — connect to the Forge stack when you're ready.