Info Letter No. 53 - January/February 1999

The new 32-bit Windows version has several added features which further improve use. Instead of entering the first coordinate when entering the shaft sections, you can now also enter the length of the shaft section, then WL1+ will automatically calculate the x-coordinate of the following section. For this suggestion I would like to thank Mr Voss of Mitsubishi Polyester Film in Wiesbaden, Germany.

In addition, it is now possible to ‘page through’ with the arrow buttons, meaning it is no longer necessary to return to the table window each time. The same function is also available when entering forces, path load, bending moment and so on. The 32-bit version allows an increase to a maximum setting of up to 10,000 shaft segments for the calculation.

It is necessary to increase the standard setting of 600 when calculating a long shaft with narrow cut-ins, otherwise the cut-ins would be overlooked.

WL1+ Stress Concentration

In the new NT version, it is possible to have the program enter the stress concentration factors for sliding keys, pressed fittings, notched toothing and involute toothing.

All programs are now available in 32-bit versions. Compared to the 16-bit versions, the 32-bit versions have improved dialogue windows, print out, configuration. All programs have new demo versions which can be down-loaded from the Internet under www.hexagon.de/down_e.htm.

FED5 - Concentric Axial End Coils

The end coils of a conical compression spring cannot be cylindrically flattened when the coils are to be flattened to wire strength (Lc=d). Even when these are flattened along the mantle line, the required effect is often not attained. Only axial flattening of the end coils (like a snail’s shell) doesn’t block the spring. The end coils are flattened on the outside at the greatest coil diameter, the end coils are flattened on the inside at the smallest coil diameter. This new feature has been added to FED5. Axial flattened end coils have no influence on the calculation of the spring forces and stress. However, the axial flattened end coils are taken into account when calculating wire length and weight of the spring. I would like to thank Mr Deeg of Stummp & Schüle, Beuren for pointing this out and lending us such a spring.

The tolerances for torsion springs have until now been calculated in accordance with the yellow DIN 2194 printout. Since a white printout has been released with a few changes, these have been incorporated into FED3+. Just for information, even the modified standard uses the same tolerance for torque one and torque two, even when T1 is very small and T2 is very large.

FED3+ Temperature Influence

So that the spring moment remains constant, the number of coils is recalculated when you change the temperature under the menu item "Edit-Application". It is now possible to also enter the temperature under the menu item "Edit-Recalculation". Here the dimensions remain the same and the spring moment is altered. I would like to thank Mr Füßmann of Iserlohn, Germany for this improvement suggestion.

FED3+ Axial Spring Ends

torsion springs with axial legs must be calculated as if they were torsion springs with bended legs, fixed clamped (Deflection=0). It was suggested to add this type of spring to the program. However, this is not possible, as no torsion angle delta between the legs can be calculated for this type of spring. In this case, we recommend that the number of coils is used for the calculation instead of the torsion angle. Many thanks to Mr Melchior of the Hessen Spiral Spring Factory for this suggestion.

ZAR1+ Power, Moment

Torque, rotational speed and power were not correctly calculated in the NT version. If you have the 32-bit V13.0, please check the input. If an error factor of 10 occurs, the version is faulty. Please send the discs back to us, you will receive a cost free upgrade by return of post. I would like to thank Mr Ebert of Mectrol, Pfungstadt, Germany for drawing this to my attention.

As with the old version, the new NT version of ZAR1+ also allows you to manually enter the upper and lower deviation for centre distance and backlash. For space reasons, "Enter Deviation" no longer appears, only " " appears. Select this option in the combo-box, then the deviations can be entered in the dialogue fields which appear.

Drawings of the calculated machine elements are now displayed on the screen with different line strengths in accordance with DIN requirements. Until now this was only possible when printing out with DXFPLOT. If this feature is not required, then enter line strength "one" under the menu item "Settings-CAD".

ZAR3 - Lubrication Viscosity

The value for lubrication viscosity is severely detrimental to the dimensions for power loss, and should for this reason not be ignored. ZAR3 now has an option for selecting the viscosity at 40°C, 50°C or any other entered temperature. The program immediately converts the value to the other temperature.

I would like to thank Mr Mahlig of Tornado Antriebstechnik, and Mr König of Sigl, Miesbach, Germany for bringing this to my attention.

Drawing Entries, Checked, Checked According to Standards

Date and sign for the fields "Checked" and "Checked According to Standards" can be entered under "Document Drawing Information". The data are inserted into the drawing.

Many thanks to Mr Röllin of Beringer Hydraulik, Neuheim, Switzerland for this information.

Graphic Printout – Differing Scale x-y

It is now possible to enter different values for length and width for printouts of drawings and diagrams. The page is completely filled when the standard setting of one for x and y is selected. When the landscape print out is selected, the diagram should be undistorted. If for example, a cog is not quite round, this can be corrected by adjusting the scale factors x and y.

In order to print out production drawings in DIN A4 format so that they fill the page, there is a trick (without adjusting the scale factors, x=y=1): A double click of the left-hand mouse button displays the drawing as filling the whole screen, this is then printed out in portrait format under Print-File.

For good graphic printouts, different settings must be used. E.g. diagrams in landscape format, colours, manufacturing drawings in portrait format, monochrome, etc. For this reason it is now possible to adjust settings for size, source, border, etc., as well as selecting a printer.

In addition, you can save the settings in the data base table and in the future simply select them from the list.

The text for the error description and remedy suggestions for error messages which are displayed can now be edited. The altered text is then saved in the ERR file. I would like to thank Göran Eriksson and Peter Wolf of Lesjöfors, AB for translating this function of the spring program into Swedish.

The size and position of the text window displaying result data can now be configured. It can be configured to fill the whole screen, or to appear next to the main window, etc.

Many thanks to Mr Kühne of SRAM, Schweinfurt for this suggestion.

Problems with Comma as Decimal Point

In the newer versions, it is possible to configure a comma as the decimal point, instead of a point. With some programs this has caused problems with saving and opening files configured this way. Should you no longer be able to open files which you saved earlier, then just switch to a decimal point instead of a comma. This problem has in the mean time been corrected and no longer occurs with new versions. I would like to thank Mr Reiber of Rodgau, Germany for drawing this to my attention.

The 32-bit version also allows you to spring to the next window by using the Tab-Button instead of the mouse. For this reason the order of the input fields in the dialogue windows has been changed because the active field sometimes sprang backwards or forwards. I would like to thank Mr Gebhardt of Raithel, Weissenstadt, Germany for pointing this out.

Just recently we delivered our FED1 program with the licence number 500. The compression spring program FED1/FED1+ is our most popular program. A few days later we also delivered our 300^th ZAR1/ZAR+ program.

The Engineering Office, HTA Software, 77866 Freistett, Germany, is offering FEM software in different modular units. Information and demo versions are available on the Internet under www.femcad.com. The program can also be obtained from HEXAGON.

We are no longer selling SAM software for dimensioning of coupling gears. In future please contact Mr Rankers of Artas directly, telephone number: Tel. 0031 402837552 or www.artas.nl.

We are providing the following seminars in the week of 22.3.99-27.03.99:

Gear and Gear Calculation (2 days)
Instructor: Dr. Körner, VOITH TURBO. Heidenheim
Dates: 24./25.03.99 and 13./14.10.99
Participation Cost: 1000,- DM

Vibration Activation and Noise Behaviour in Gears
Instructor: Dr. Müller, VOITH TURBO, Heidenheim
Dates: 26.03.99 and 15.10.99
Participation Cost: 500,- DM

Spring Calculation
Instructor: J.Schnitzer, G.S.-Technik, Grünsfeld
Dates: 23.03.99 and 12.10.99
Participation Cost: 500,- DM

Working Design Calculation
Instructor: Prof.Dr.-Ing. Zammert, FHT Esslingen
Date: 22.03.99
Participation Cost: 500,- DM

ISO 9001 Certification
Instructor: Dr. Körner, VOITH TURBO, Heidenheim
Date: 27.03.99
Participation Cost: 400,- DM