PNU@PSUVM.BITNET (11/01/88)
Our lab has a CAD application problem which may have been solved
by one or more people on the net.
We are working with high tech propulsion systems containing a number
of components. The system can be configured in an infinite number of
ways depending on such performance parameters as required power levels,
total run time, etc.
We have a computer program which calculates the sizes of the various
components based on the performance criteria which are entered as input.
Our ultimate goal is to be able to have this output converted into a
graphical representation of the assembled system without the need for
a draftsman to sit down and re-draw the setup each time a component is
rescaled.
It occured to me that there are several ways to approach this
problem, we could:
1: Write a program which, using HPGL commands, drives a
plotter directly from a BASIC or FORTRAN program on a
personal computer.
2: Write a program which creates a batch file to be run
on a CAD system.
3: Take advantage of an as-yet-unknown program which is
set up to be more convenient than CAD batch files.
Approach #1 is pretty much ruled out on the basis of the relative
complexity of the final drawing. The other two choices appear to
still be feasable.
My questions for the net. are:
1: Has anyone had a lot of experience with batch files
on any populare CAD package? Is there a CAD program
which will allow one to load a previously created
drawing, or set of previously created component drawings,
and then change a number of dimensions automatically on
the basis of data read from an external file? This program
would have to rescale the drawing and/or component drawings,
then assemble the components and labels to form a final
assembly schematic suitable for plotting.
2: Does anyone know of programs which are specifically designed
for this type of task without involving an intermediate
CAD package.
If these questions seem fairly vague, it is because we are still evaluating
our own requirements for the eventual system, and also because I am
far from being a CAD expert. If anyone has any helpful advice at all, I
would certainly appreciate hearing from them!
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Jon Peters BITNET: PNU@PSUVM
Research Assistant JAP@PSUARLC
The Applied Research Laboratory
The Pennsylvania State University
P.O. Box 30, State College, PA 16804
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