Machsupport Forum
Third party software and hardware support forums. => GearoticMotion Preliminary testing => Topic started by: ART on July 28, 2010, 10:21:28 AM
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Hi Guys:
NOTE: [ Test ended. Thanks to the 20 people who downloaded, please post your experiences. ]
Gearotic motion could use a few testers to play with it for a few days. Id like to know if the program exhibits technical difficulties on various cpu types.
Some things work, some dont. . The program can save projects you make, and if you send me the project file I can send you dxf ( 3d and 2d) of your
projects as a reward for testing this for me. This test will likely last only a little while so I can see if there are size/openGL issues and such.
If you do something you like, and woudl lilke to actually cut it, just send me a project file you save and Ill make the outputs for you, the output section is not yet
in the program and is a separate utility at the moment.
Here is a (bad) description to get started...
To use:
Youll be presented with the main screen. Hit the "Involute" button or select the Involute tab. Youll see two gears on the screen.
Hit the "Add Master to Project" button. Press OK on the resultant dialog without changing anything.The screen will flick to the project screen and about 2 seconds later a gear will appear. This is the master driving gear. Now select the involute page again. Select again the "Add Master to Project".
In the resulting dialog, check the "4-bar linkage" checkbox. The screen will flick to the project screen again and the Master will be lit up in blue. Click it with the mouse and your new gear will rotate around the master till you click again. Then, moving the mouse will move the linkage around. Click when your happy
with position. The gear is now set and linked. Press Simulate to run it. Using the mouse with ctrl or shift key pressed will zoom and pan.
In general, when placing a gear, you can click a screen gear to select the one you intend to place to, OR select a gear from the project list by hovering over it when in placement mode. Clicking on a gear will select it as the gear your going to mesh to. Once clicked on the selecting gear, it will either place it,
OR a message will appear in the top coordinate line to explain why it wont.
Some notes. ...
To use 4-bar linkage the gear you link to must be smaller or equal to be linked. You can link to a larger gear, but if you do you should ensure that gear does not rotate 360 degrees as the master does. If you violate the rules like making a link gear turn too much thus being in violation of the rules
of 4-bar linkages, the gear will blank out when rotating beyond its capability. If this happens, delete the gear and replace it with a larger one.
To delete a gear, right click it in the Project tree and select "Delete train..", this will delete any gear and all gears attached directly to it.
To Turn a gear.. ( Like rotating a gear on a shaft with a setscrew), select a gear on a shaft by clicking it from the project list. Then use the CCW and CW
buttons to change its primary orientation on the shaft. This is usually only desired with ellipticals on a shaft with a linkage gear to set the "sweet spot" of rotation for the elliptical. ( Youll get what I mean as you play.. ) , thi sis th eonly way to rotate an individual gear in a larger train of gears.
Some gear types do not yet do output, or place on the project screen. ( Planetary configurations do not yet work for example. )
Save or load project with the buttons on the upper left screen. A test project is included so feel free to start by simply loading that project. There is
not yet a progress bar so be patient while large projects load.
Thanks, Enjoy and PLEASE post your comments..
Art
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Hi Art,
I'll give it a try and see what happens.
RICH
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Running 32 bit Vista I have not been able to make it crash.
I can see that I'll be "testing" this for a while.
One item that I see is needed is a "create new project" button and "delete current project" button instead of just deleting the individual components.
Chris
PC Specs:
Dell M4400 Laptop
Core 2 Extreme Q9300 @ 2.53 GHz
4 GB memory
Using 80mb of memory and less that 4% cpu time
with 5 gears going
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Are you planning on adding functionality so that while in solid or wireframe mode you can rotate around an axis for better viewing?
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Had graphics problems on one pc but seemed to work fine on another.
So let me see what happens on 5 different pc's, got some things that i need to do, so will be later today.
RICH
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Chris:
New Project button is top left, second icon. :)
Art
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Hi:
Holding down ctrl and moviong mouse pans, Shift-mouse letys you zoom, and middle mouse button allows rotation about arbitrary axis..
Thx
Art
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Hi:
btw, you can right click on the root of the project tree and fina a menu that also allows project clearing..
Art
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Thanks Art!
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I found something.
When using pins and spurs, when entering in the number of pins or teeth, you can only use the up/down arrows and not enter the number directly.
Chris
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One more
Pins and Spurs
Uncheck Metric
Uncheck Gear On
When you recheck Gear On, the gear does not appear.
If you click on Metric again, then click Gear On, the gear reappears.
But.. If you leave Metric unchecked, Gear On checked, and select Ring, the program displays a spirograph looking image then locks up.
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Chris:
Thx... I suspect the parameters get too large, Ill add to list..
Art
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Slider in the Involute Tab will not scroll down so can't even get to the "Hit Master to Project" button. Changing screen resolution dosen't help.
This is true for three PC's:
Dell Latitide Laptop
Dell Optiplex GX520
Eee Pc Laptop (suprised on this one, can run everthing else!)
Not a probem on the Assus PC I had put together.
RICH
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Hi Rich:
Thx, John reports same with less than 1024 on the vertical resolution. I suspect Ill either have to change the layout, or
set hhh x 1024 as the minimum rez..
Were those computers running 800x600 or 1024x768?
Art
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I have a good one:
Using default settings
added a master involute gear then added a secondary involute with a link bar.
Set everything moving
There is around a 100 degree arc on the master that the secondary gear and bar will disappear then reappear.
I have no idea if it's my graphics card or a bug.
Attached is the project file
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ART,
You need min of hhhh x 1024 for it to work. The Dell screen and EeeC led only goes to hhhh x 768, I would need to attach a CRT to get
the higher resolution on the Eeec. So that's why......won't even bother trying some of the other dead dog PC's.
BTW, Haven't looked for about a year now, but I found that similar small laptops from other manufactures will not provide the resolution when using a crt along with them, so just be aware of this in your comparison of those little pc's!
RICH
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Chris:
4-bar linkage gears follow certain rules. If those rules are violated, the gear disappears when in illegal position. Generally just follow the rule that a gear should be larger than its master to use a 4-bar link, unless the master is also linked and cannot therefore rotate more than 180 degree's. Even in the latter case, care must be used in positioning. If a gear disappears when simulating, delete it and try agian. :)
:)
Thx
Art
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Rich:
Wow, been so long sinc e I used 1024x768 I tend to forget its still widely used. My 24" monitors woudl rebel at the thought.
Ill give some design thought to solve the issue..
Thx, appreciate the report.
Art
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Thanks Art.
I need to spend some more time on it.
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Here's a new one:
When working with non-circular gears, you can add a master then a secondary, but any gear added after that is the larger oblong secondary gear, no matter what you chose.
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Had mostly the same problems as Rich no project button slider didnt work in involute.
This was with a socket 939 mboard with Amd 4200 dual and a Fire XL graphics card.
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I also found the text very difficult to read
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Hey Art,
So far it is working ok here, haven't fully tested every bell and whistle yet, but getting there.
my comp: Laptop, Vista 64 bit home premium SP2, intel core2 duo @ 2.12ghz, mem Ram 4GB.
PS........ So when you gonna add a way to do Worm Drives? With options on Straight and taper worms to remove back lash, and mabey with the driven gear with options on doing "Curved" teeth so it engages the worm more fully......... hehehe, yea, yea, I know just could help it.
scott
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Just recieved my license file so set about laser cutting a pair of non linear gears. They mesh and run so perfectly I just had to post a picture.
Tweakie.
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I love it. I hope all you guys have no problem with me using your photos.
Its my intent to update the web page at some point to show prospective users
all the great things your doing.
Thanks for all the support, its great seeing people having fun ( and sucess ) with their gear cutting.
If you liked Gearotic till now, I think youll love the upcoming version, its a huge update in the way you use
the program, and Im having great fun doing up some final details. I keep thinking up new things that will
aid in the design of something.. lol..
I think you'll be impressed , though I worry about bugs as the upcoming version is pretty heavily changed
display wise. hopefully it cures more than it hurts.. :)
Art
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Art,
I'm looking forward to this next chapter in the great adventure . . . it has been a great ride so far!
Having long ago run out of space for more equipment in my shop, Gearotica has provided the push I needed to set up a separate CNC shop (by retiring a no-longer needed wet chemistry photo darkroom!) and I have been working to get a mini mill (X2) taking instructions from a Windows XP machine. Nothing spectacular, just a basic CNC capability. It should allow me to put some of your new features into metal!
Thanks for adding to the fun!
Rich
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Art,
I have to admit that i haven't had much time playing with the program, but, it is really slick.
Any gear head out there should try it out.
Just need to stay focused on the present model work i am trying to do.
I'll be on the side watching you guys have fun.......
RICH
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Great piece of software right there...
just a suggestion, would it be possible to add geneva mechanisms?
Best Regards
Fernando
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Fernando, you may want to join up over at the official gearotic forum: http://gearotic.com/ESW/FavIcons/
I think you may get a faster response over there. :)
Dave
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Hi Guys:
Ill second that, head over to the official forum to make any requests..
( Quick answer though) , yes I do intend to add geneva mechanisms, I wasnt
aware of them until recently, but they are pretty cool things.. so I think Ill have to add them. :)
Art
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Hi All,
Cant get to Gerotic now.....site problems I guess.
I did manage to dwnld the latest V. but get the following when trying to run it.
Any help ?
Thanks :)
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I Just tried downloading it for you and was successful and running it without issue. I'm running XP here.
Dave
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Hi:
That error is one that means the entire download didnt complete..
Art
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XP here too Dave, Thanks.
Guess I lost the site before it actually completed, but it said complete. Will try again when I can get back on, still cant access the site.
Thanks ART
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You can not access this webpage?
http://gearotic.com/downloads.html
Dave
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Tried that one plus the forum plus gearotic.com
Had to reboot for some reason, working now.
Trying to do too many things at once on dial-up gets wacky at times.
All else worked fine, just could not get to Gearotic. weird
12 minutes in .... ONLY 20 minutes to go !
Thanks Dave
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Dwnlded 3 times, says COMPLETE, getting the same error each time when attempting to RUN.
Glancing at the small dwnld progress window, would guess it completed at around 80 percent or so.
Might try later tonight.
Thanks
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I give up .... almost. lol
The file is 4.25 mb
When it says "Download Complete", the size varies each time from 1.7 to 3.5 or so.
Any clue as to why it wont come in completely before it says complete and prompts to RUN ?
Thanks
Oh, I did get the earlier version in OK, no prob there.
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You are correct on the size, but I haven't a clue why it's timing out for you.
Can you accept an email that large? I can try to send it to you?
Dave
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Sure Dave, that'd be great.
PM sent.
This is the oNLY time this has ever happened.
I can dwnld 20-40 meg overnight, no prob.
Thanks !
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Sent, my friend-
Dave
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Hi,
Is there any good explanation available for the output project page for all the input fields, like depth of cut max dept, etc.
I have a licensed copy of gearotica
I have a gear on my lathe, 42 tooth and about 1.750 diameter (only info I have) that have broken tooth.
That is the gear in the transmission for feeding (goes with the worm gear)
Thanks.
Jeff
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Jeff:
As yet, just the tutorial on outputs. Hard to say fromt he diagram exactly what you need, but the outputs page woudlnt be
used to match the gear really, just the design. Id design a gear with 42 teeth and play with the module or DP will you find one thats 1.7" in diameter.. thats probably the right gear .. but you can compare the teeth on the design page to try to match it to what you see.
As to outputs, the depth per cut is 2.5d cuts, thats bascially the gearwidth on a normal gear. If its 4th axis the depth is the root depth, so you dont need to set anything..
Art