Information Letter No. 37 from May/June 1996

from Fritz Ruoss

HEXAGON on the Web

Our Internet pages are now completely set up under "http://www.hexagon.de". You can now display all HEXAGON leaflets on screen and download all German and English demonstration versions.

What does the technical designer have to gain from Internet?

In most design offices interesting leaflets and catalogues are collected, hole-punched and filed away. One problem is finding the required leaflet or catalogue later. For this reason many companies work with an electronic archive system which provides each document with a location number and/or key to enhance later searches for the documents. Another method is to scan all documents and store the data on giant disks and tapes. In the future, when leaflets and catalogues are offered on the Internet, you can save a lot of time, paper and storage space, and an additional plus is that the on-line documentation is always current. In order to search for a certain product or manufacturer you just select "Search Engine", e.g. "http://www.yahoo.com" and enter the required search pattern. The computer then provides a list of matching data. You simply click on the appropriate description to obtain the required information. Pages used often can be stored in the "Bookmarks" of the Internet browser or sent to a "Homepage", or even setup a "Hyperlink" in the archive program. It is imaginable that in the future you will be able to directly access programs and database files in the Internet. This means that you would be able to access, for example, the Roller Bearing databases in LG1 and WL1+ directly on the Internet and no longer from your hard drive.

Construction Catalogue on the Internet

A test project of a construction catalogue for Shaft/Hub Connections is currently being run by the TH in Darmstadt on the Internet under Componet

HEXAGON Software Users on the Internet

We are setting up a list of our users in our Internet pages. If you have your own Domain, Homepage and/or Email address on the Internet then please let us know your URL, then we can refer to it with a Hyperlink. Please also let us know if you wish not to be listed as a user of HEXAGON software.

Joining of external text and database programs

The configuration in all Windows programs has been extended with the feature "External Programs". Now you can directly connect text output with your word-processing programs and work on changes in the material and standard part databases with any data base program. When you call up the file from a HEXAGON program the file name is automatically accepted as a parameter. The external program must be able to work with the parameter and be able to automatically load the DBF and text files.

Output to External Text Programs

A new feature "External Text Program" is now available along with Screen, Printer, File and Windows Printer in the output menu. The required program is configured under "File Adjustments" (e.g. C:\WINDOWS\WRITE.EXT). You should use a proportional text such as Courier New when using other word-processing programs otherwise the columns won't be aligned above each other. You can also call up a converter, print programs or batch files to work with the printout.

External Database

Now you can also use an external database for changing and appending the database files in DBF format instead of the built-in database function. You can download a HEXAGON DBF Browser in two versions from the Internet HEXAGON Mailbox: DBROWS16.EXE for all Windows versions and DBROWS32.EXE for Windows NT and Windows 95. Unfortunately, the browser will only work if the "Borland Database Engine" from dBase for Windows, Paradox, Quattro Pro or Delphi is installed on your system. When you make changes with an external database the index file cannot be updated as nearly every database uses a different format for its index files. To remedy this you must re-index your database files each time. The programs FED1+, FED2+, WST1 among others, now have a new feature under "Database" called "Re-Index". It is not possible to call up an external database with WST1 and AV1 as for performance reasons the database files are always open and can only be worked on internally. However, you can still work on the database DBF files with any database program as long as you Re-Index the files afterwards and delete the IND files.

SR1 - Thread up to M160

All values required for the calculation of metric thread in accord. DIN 13 can be obtained from the nominal diameter and thread increase: Up until now the thread database delivered with SR1 only included thread sizes M3 thru M36, different sizes had to be added manually. The GEWINDE.DBF file has now been extended up to the size M160. The extended file can be down-loaded from our Mailbox or from Internet. In Internet you simply click on the correct place, then you will be asked to enter our user "kunde" and the password "info37". Then the file will be copied to your hard drive. From the mailbox you can copy the file GEWINDE.DBF into the user directory if you have logged in with the same user and password.

Block Length for Cylindrical Helical Compression Springs

The block length for cylindrical helical compression springs is calculated differently in DIN 2089 (calculation) and DIN 2095 (quality regulations). According to DIN 2089 Lc <= (nt+1.5)*dmax and according to DIN 2095 LB1 <= (ig+1)*dmax. The HEXAGON spring programs use the formula in accordance with DIN 2089.

FED3+ new Windows Input Window

The FED3 software for spiral springs is, as with FED1+, FED2+ and FED4, now also equipped with a similar combined window under "File->New" for quick input of working data, manufacturing process, spiral and tolerances.

Using the Windows Calculator

You can use the "Calculator" in the Windows Extras for carrying out calculations in between, for example, the toothing in DIN modulus - conversion decimal/inches. The values can be copied back and forth in the clipboard. Example: You wish to increase the spring force F1 in the Cylindrical Helical Compression Spring program step-wise by 10%. Startup FED1+ and the calculator. In FED1+ dimensioning mark the input value F1 with a double mouse click on the first input field (then shown with blue background). Now you copy the contents of the marked input field with CTRL-C to the clipboard. Click on the calculator window and bring it to the foreground. With CTRL-V the value for F1 will appear on the calculator. Then you can work out the next higher value, the result will be shown in the window. With CTRL-C you copy this new value back to the clipboard, then with a double mouse click you can return to the FED1 input field and accept the new value with CTRL-V. This seems at first glance to be a bit complicated, but can actually be done quite quickly, especially if working with a high-resolution screen, displaying both program windows at the same time and being used to the key combinations CTRL-C and CTRL-V.

Entering WL1+ Specifications

For each force, surface load, bending moment, torque, stress concentration effect and additional mass it is possible to add a comment of up to 10 characters. This simplies the printout.

Conversion of WL1+ Gear Load

Under the new menu item "Edit->Gearing Load" you can workout and enter shearing force, axail force, bending and torque moments on the shaft by entering the gear data. In comparison to "Complex Load" you can now define an indefinite number of gears instead of just two. The specification entered will also be used for the calculated single load. The gear data is not stored here, to remove them you must remove the appropriate single loads. We would like to thank Mr Tevetoglu and Dr. Breunig of Mercedes-Benz Stuttgart-Untertürkheim for the suggestions for inputting any number of gear steps.

WL1+ Surface Moment of Inertia with Conical Sections

The printout only includes a surface moment of inertia for cylindrical shaft sections as the inertia of conical sections with I=pi/64 d^4 increases or is reduced dependent upon the diameter.

LG1 - Diagrams

The bearing life expectancy can be show as a diagram in relation to radial force, axial force, speed, temperature and lubricant viscosity. The curves for simple bearing life expectancy accord. DIN (constant as function of speed, temperature and viscosity) and for the extended life expectancy are shown.

LG1 - English Version

There is now an English version of the LG1 Roller Bearing program.

HPGLVIEW - English Version

We are now also able to offer our HPGLVIEW software in English.

FED4 - English Version

Now that the Cup Spring Calculation Program FED4 has been translated into English, we are also able to provide you with English versions of FED1 through FED6.

Spring Programs in Italian

The helical spring programs FED1+, FED2+, FED3+, FED5 and FED6 are now also available in Italian. The manual has not yet been translated, but can be delivered in English, German or Spanish. For the translation of the program texts we would like to thank Alex Lamperti from the Mollificio Lamperti Spring Factory in Somma Lombardo, Italy.

Springmaster Software

We are providing sales service in Europe for Dynaphysics Inc., Quincy, USA of their SpringMaster Software. Dynaphysics is now working as a distributor for HEXAGON Software in the USA. SpringMaster is a finite-element-based program for cross-section and interesting options for optimizing spiral springs. You can download a Windows or Windows NT demonstration version from our Mailbox.

Windows 95 Hyperterminal

In our last information letter we explained the connection of our mailbox with the Windows 3.1 terminal software. The Windows 95 equivalent is called Hyperterminal. If you have installed the complete Windows 95 version the program can be found in the start menu under "Extras". The advantage in comparison to Terminal for Windows 3.1, is that the modem no longer needs to be configured separately, and that file downloads can automatically be started with the Z modem. After starting Hyperterminal go to "File->New Connection", Name: HEXAGON, Telephone: 07021-480015, then to "Select". Now you only need to set the text type to "BtxPC" or "Terminal", then you can work with the mailbox.

TOLPASS - English Version

The TOLPASS Software for dimensioning of ISO fittings is now also available in English DOS and Windows versions.

TOLPASS - Demonstration Version

We now offer a demonstraton version of TOLPASS. The only limitation in comparison to the full version is that the nominal mass 30 cannot be altered. The demo is available for DOS and Windows. The packed file TOLPASS.ZIP can be downloaded TOLPASS.ZIP from our mailbox.

HEXAGON Software under Windows 95 and NT

All HEXAGON programs run without problem under Windows 95 and Windows NT. However, please remember that as for Windows 3.1 the file name and directory path can only have a maximum of 8 characters and three for the extension. With Windows 95 and Windows NT you normally are able to use more than 8/3 characters for the file name. This feature has not yet been incorporated into HEXAGON software for reasons of compatability. Should you enter a longer file name this will automatically be shortened to the first 8 characters.

ZAR1 Error Messages

For special toothing with unusual factors such as datum profile, you may get error messages such as "Error: Arccos in Unit Math" when an arcus cosine of a number greater than one is to be calculated. This error message has now been made more precise "Error: Span gear 1 (acos)". It is now easier to decide which elements will be affected by the error. We would like to thank Mr Lutz of Fichtel & Sachs in Schweinfurt, Germany for this tip and application example.

Updates on CD ROM

Customers with update contracts for more than five programs, can in future obtain their updates on CD ROM.

HEXAGON Industriesoftware GmbH
Stiegelstrasse 8
D-73230 Kirchheim/Teck (Germany)
Phone: +49 7021 59578
Fax: +49 7021 59986
Mailbox BBS: +49 7021 480015 (Modem 28800..2400bps)
Mailbox BBS: +49 7021 959242 (ISDN 64000bps)

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