Loop diagrams: a one-off pack vs billed drafting hours
By Saad, practising automation engineer · Updated 2026-09-25
A freelancer or in-house drafter is right when the standard is unique and the sheet count is small. On a 50- to 400-loop IO list the cost is hours, and Rev B is another PO. SchematicForge is a one-off pack by loop band. Regenerating Rev B/C inside that band is $0. If the list grows past the band, you pay the difference to the next band — not another $399. We do not quote a drafter’s hourly rate — multiply 0.5 h/loop by yours.
Side by side
| Topic | Billed drafting | SchematicForge pack |
|---|---|---|
| 50 loops, first issue | About 25 hours at 0.5 h per loop, plus review cycles. | Starter $149. Clean PDF and native DXF. |
| 150 loops, first issue | About 75 hours at 0.5 h per loop. | Growth $399. Unlimited Rev B/C inside 150 loops. |
| Client Rev B (count stays in band) | Another 5–15 hours on the sheets that moved — often another PO. | Re-import the register. Only changed loops redraw. $0. |
| List grows past the band (150 to 180) | More tracing hours on the new loops. | Pay the difference to Scale ($749, difference $350) — not another $399. |
| Addressing mistakes | Found in commissioning or in a red-line back from site. | Package QA flags missing channel, duplicate address, and card capacity before issue. |
| How you pay | Often a contractor PO. | Card and other methods Paddle supports; checkout is handled by Paddle, our merchant of record. |
What does not change
A drafter still reviews and stamps. Generated files are drafting aids. Free check: one project, first 15 loops, watermarked PDF, no DXF. Expense the pack against 0.5 h/loop times your CAD rate.