MET 306

Activity 11
Optimization
Excel to Pro/ENGINEER through Pro/PROGRAM
Wildfire 3.0

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to use Excel as an aid to determining the structural design
of an aluminum plank and drive the design model that will update the detail drawings. Simple
beam design methods will be used to determine deflections and stresses. Data from Excel will be
transferred to Pro/ENGINEER via Pro/PROGRAM to update the solid geometry.

You have already generated a spreadsheet that incorporates all the key elements of this design.

Create your Pro/E model:

Model your solid geometry in Pro/E, keeping in mind the information the spreadsheet “knows”.

Preparing your spreadsheet to export data to Pro/E:

The next step is to add information to the spreadsheet that Pro/E will recognize. The simplest
way to do this is to add records at the bottom of the spreadsheet that define Pro/E symbolic
variables as well as their value.

Example (your spreadsheet will have different values):

/*
/*
/* Data for Pro/ENGINEER
/* Model excel_driven.prt
/*
/* File MUST be .prn type (space delimited)
d0= 0.375
d1= 12.000
d2= 96.000
d4= 1

The /* are records that are ignored by Pro/E. Values of d0= etc., are defined by your Pro/E
model. The format is significant in the sense that one cell must have d0= and the next cell must
have the numeric value in it.
If you somehow make a mistake and specify the same variable name multiple times, Pro/E will
use the first value and ignore the second.
Include a record specifying x=. This will define the number of stiffing ribs.

After you have updated your spreadsheet with dx= values that define the entire part, write this file
to disk in a .prn format under the Save As button.

Use Notepad to double check the validity of the .prn file. There should be a /* at the beginning of
every line, except for the ones that you want Pro/E to read.

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Activity 11
Preparing Pro/E to accept data:

Before continuing, edit (and regenerate) your model to have a different size and a different
number of ribs than was defined by your spreadsheet.

In the main toolbar, select Tools – Program – Edit Design. Refer to the class discussion on
choosing From Model or From File if those choices appear.

Add additional lines in the INPUT and RELATIONS area. It is usually easier to debug your
program if you duplicate the order and values defined in the spreadsheet, although this is not
absolutely necessary.

Example:
VERSION 3.0
REVNUM 439
LISTING FOR PART PLANK_DESIGN

INPUT
D0 NUMBER Note: We are using X as a dummy variable in the input block
. for the number of ribs.
.
D9 NUMBER Pxx is defined in the Relation Block as equaling X.
X NUMBER
END INPUT Prior to Release 2001, this could be done directly in the Input
Block.
RELATIONS
P10=X
END RELATIONS

When the model is regenerated, these values will be defined.

After saving the changes, you are prompted if you want to incorporate your changes into the
model. YES.

A GET INPUT menu

appears and you can select
from Current Vals, Enter or
Read File. Choose the
Read File option as we
wish to use the data from
the Excel spreadsheet.

Your part file should now

be updated with the correct
values.

Produce a B size detail

drawing of the part as
shown (your part will
probably not have the
same dimensions, nor the
same number of ribs).

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Activity 11

To get the center lines on the ribs, draw

on your background for reference
patterns as well as the earlier lab where
we placed points along a curve.

Update your Excel file for the following case:

Modulus of Elasticity 10,000,000 psi

Yield 15,000 psi
Loading 150 psf
Plank Length 72 inches
Plank Width 8 inches
Deck Thickness .375 inches
Number of Ribs 4
Rib Draft 1 degree
Rib Depth 1.25 inches

Print out your spreadsheet using the Grid and Header Macro, making sure that you include the
information that is being “sent” to Pro/E (i.e. the un-commented cells).

Select Tools – Program – Show Design and within the Information Window File – Save As to
write out a temp.lst file.

Print out the top of this file down to the first ADD FEATURE similar to that shown below.

VERSION 3.0
REVNUM 440
LISTING FOR PART PLANK_DESIGN

INPUT
D0 NUMBER = 0.375000
D1 NUMBER = 12.000000

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Activity 11
.
.
.
D9 NUMBER = 2.000000
X NUMBER = 6.000000
END INPUT

RELATIONS
P10=X
END RELATIONS

ADD FEATURE 1
INTERNAL FEATURE ID 1

Print out your detail drawing for this case.

End Level 7

Begin Level 8.5

Add the design report to the right of your

working area in the spreadsheet.

For the overall design to be OK, both

deflection and Bending must be OK.

Print out the Design Report (for the case

used at the end of Level 7) on a separate
page. No grid, row or column headings
required.

End Level 8.5

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Activity 11
Level 10

Given the following design conditions:

Modulus of Elasticity 10,000,000 psi

Yield 15,000 psi
Loading 175 psf
Plank Length 96 inches
Plank Width 12 inches
Deck Thickness ? inches
Number of Ribs ?
Rib Draft ? degrees
Rib Depth ? inches

What is the minimum size (based on cross sectional area) of this plank?
Solve this using a systematic approach.

Assume:
Deck Thickness values range from .25 to .5 inches thick (inclusive) in .125 inch increments
Number of ribs range from 3 to 6 inclusive
Rib Draft ranges from 2 to 4 degrees (inclusive) in 1 degree increments
Rib Depth values range from .5 to 4 inches (inclusive) in .25 inch increments

Print out your design report on a single page.

Print out your detail drawing.
Print out the current temp.lst file (Show Design) in the same fashion that you did for Level 7.

Latest Update: 5
4/2/07