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PlayGround
Towards a SPACAR implementation with a gradual learning curve
Key ideas
goal: get second-year bachelor students to analyse 3-D static flexure mechanisms, within a day after first encounter
provide a set of MATLAB functions for completely defining a model, running a simulation, and processing results
reasoning: force user to (think) make a drawing first | avoid looking like CAD software
focus on easy syntax
do not expose the user to “unnecessary” features
instructions are largely a set of relevant example models
implementable within a week (including lecture/tutorial preparation)
code that is easy to maintain and update
some degree of backwards “compatibility” (e.g. avoid using the same names for different things, in relation to the existing implementation)
Important topics
Suggestion of workflow and syntax
Pre-processing step
Analysis step
Post-processing step
List of tasks/technical challenges
FORTRAN/C++
Spadraw
silent mode/automatic loadsbd call
data file to MATLAB structure
error/warning codes (to provide to MATLAB and link to the wiki)
A single static mode (instead of modes 7, 8, 9)
Spavisual that always visualizes the (possibly incomplete) model
Moments and angles without hinges