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The top menu bar includes all general functions that are identical in every calculation module. Some calculation modules provide (e.g., shaft and cylindrical gear pair) the button ‘CAD’. Based on your calculation, parts can be generated automatically as a feature-based 3D part in a 3D system. Find more information in the calculation modules as well as in the section 4.8 ‘The Button CAD’.
Click the ‘Open’ button in the top menu bar and choose the file that you want to open. Click the button ‘Open’.
Before you can open the calculation file from the files location on your computer, you need to activate the checkbox ‘Enable save data local’ in the project manager.
Enable the checkbox ‘Local’ in the calculation module and click the ‘Open’ button.
A standard Windows dialog for saving data files appears. Browse to the file and select it. Then click the ‘Open’ button.
In general there are two different possibilities to save a calculation. Save your calculation either to the eAssistant server or to your computer. Click on the button ‘Save’ to store the calculation to the eAssistant server.
A new window appears. Select a project where you want to save the file and type a name for the file. Click on the ‘Save’ button.
Please note: The eAssistant identifies the calculation module automatically, so it is not necessary to specify the
file extension.
Before you can save the calculation to your computer, you need to activate the checkbox ‘Enable save data local’ in the project manager.
Activate the checkbox ‘Local’ in the calculation module and click on the button ‘Save’.
A standard Windows dialog for saving files will appear. Now you will be able to save the calculation to your computer.
Enter the values and the calculation results will be determined and displayed immediately. A practical advantage is that any changes of input values will be reflected in the user interface automatically. In order to confirm the values, press Enter key or click on the button ‘Calculate’ or move to the next entry using the TAB key.
The button ‘Undo’ allows you to reset your inputs to an older state. The button ‘Redo’ reserves the undo.
The top menu bar of some calculation modules provides the button ‘CAD’. The eAssistant plugin for various CAD systems (e.g., SolidWorks, Solid Edge, Autodesk Inventor, Catia, NX and Creo Parametric) enables you to combine calculation and design fast and easily. Based on the eAssistant calculation, you can generate spur gears in a 2D DXF format or create as a 3D part within seconds.
Before you can start using the CAD plugin, you need to download and install the plugin from our web site www.eAssistant.eu and you have to activate the option ‘Enable file save local’ in the project manager to allow the generation of CAD data.
Click on the button ‘CAD’, then click on the menu item ‘DXF-Output’. An accurate tooth form for any involute gears in DXF format can be generated.
Before you can start using the DXF function, you need to activate the checkbox ‘Enable save data local’ in the project manager.
For the DXF output the following settings are possible:
If you have changed your settings, then click on the button ‘OK’. A standard Windows dialog for saving the data file will appear.
Now you can save the DXF file to your computer. Enter a name and click on the button ‘Save’. It is not
necessary to specify the file extension ‘dxf’, because the extension will be attached automatically to the file
name.
The eAssistant plugin for various CAD systems (e.g., SolidWorks, Solid Edge, Autodesk Inventor, Catia, NX or Creo) enables you to combine calculation and design very easily and fast. Based on your eAssistant calculation, you can generate shafts or gears as a 3D part within just seconds. A single menu pick in the eAssistant software transfers the eAssistant calculation data to the CAD system, for example SolidWorks. First, you have to download and install the CAD plugin. You can find the plugin on our web site www.eAssistant.eu. After installation, an integrated button called ‘eAssistant’ appears in the CAD system. Do not forget to activate the option ‘Enable save data local’ in the project manager.
Run the calculation using the eAssistant and click on the button ‘CAD’. Please select the appropriate CAD
system from the list. The values are transferred to the CAD system where you can generate the 3D models
through the eAssistant menu.
By taking a step-by-step process defining the gears or pinions geometry, tolerances and tooth profile, you can create gears automatically as a 3D part. Based on the calculation, shafts with an unlimited number of cylindrical and conical segments can be created as a bidirectional 3D part. Thus, the generated 3D model can be updated quickly due to changes in calculation. You are also supported by the creation of a manufacturing drawing. A simple mouse-click allows you to add all necessary manufacturing data of a gear wheel to the drawing. In addition, the data will be included in the drawing properties. The model stores all features and dimensions as design parameters. The eAssistant calculation is linked and associated to the part and can be opened at any time throughout the entire design phase. This is also possible if one part contains different calculations.
Please note: For further information, please visit our web site www.eAssistant.eu or read the CAD plugin
manual.
After the completion of your calculation, you can create a calculation report. Click on the ‘Report’ button.
You can navigate through the report via the table of contents that provides links to the input values, results and figures. This calculation report contains all input data, the calculation method as well as all detailed results. The report is available in HTML and PDF format. The calculation report saved in HTML format can be opened in a web browser or in Word for Windows. The reports are structured differently in the various calculation modules.
The calculation module includes:
Some settings of the calculation modules have default values and by clicking the button ‘Options’ you can change these settings. For example, you can change the minimum safeties for cylindrical gears, the operating temperature for springs or set the number of decimal places for the calculation report,
Click the button ‘Help’ to open the user manual.
Every calculation module contains a message window. This message window displays detailed information, helpful hints or warnings about problems. One of the main benefits of the program is that the software provides suggestions for correcting errors during the data input. If you check the message window carefully for any errors or warnings and follow the hints, you are able to find a solution to quickly resolve calculation problems.
The quick info feature gives you additional information about all input fields and buttons. Move the mouse pointer to an input field or a button, then you will get some additional information. This information will be displayed in the quick info line.
Use this function if you want to change the unit of measurement quickly. Just a right-click on the input field where you want to change the unit. The context menu contains all available units. The two arrows mark the current setting. As soon as you select a unit, the current field value will be converted automatically into the chosen unit of measurement.
The button for the dimensioning functions is marked by a calculator symbol and is located next to the input fields. If you click on the dimensioning buttons, you get a suggestion for an appropriate input value. The calculation of the value is carried out so that the given minimum safety is fulfilled.
The eAssistant enables you to specify your user-defined inputs. There you get the possibility to calculate non-standard parallel keys or to calculate involute splines which differ from the standard. In case you cannot find the material you are looking for in our extensive material database, you can define also your individual material. You will find the entry ‘User-defined’ or the entry ‘User defined input’ in the listboxes. If you select one of these already mentioned options, the according input fields will be enabled, so that you can specify your own input values. Examples for the user-defined input:
In some calculation modules (e.g., spur gear pair or parallel key module) you will find question mark buttons. If you click on these buttons, you will get additional information, for example figures or tables.
All results will be calculated during every input and will be displayed in the result panel. A recalculation occurs after every data input. Any changes that are made to the user interface will be reflected immediately. In case a minimum safety is not fulfilled, the result will be marked red. Press the Enter key or move to the next input field to complete the input. Alternatively, use the Tab key to jump from field to field or click the ‘Calculate’ button after every input. Your entries will be also confirmed and the calculation results will displayed automatically.
If you have to enter the same data very often, we recommend you to define a template file. That saves both time and work. All you have to do is to define a template. Enter your input data once into the calculation module. When you are ready to save the file, please name it ‘standard’. If you now open the calculation module, the module starts with your individual values. Please note that the template file can be saved only to the eAssistant server. You can define a template file specifically to a project or you can save the template file to the folder ‘Default’ for a general use. It is possible to define a template file for each calculation module. The default search follows the following order:
The template file, which was found first, is taken over. For example: If a template file is defined in the current folder, then the file will be primarily accepted. But in case this template file does not exist, the file will be searched in the project folder ‘Default’. There the template file is taken over again. If the file also cannot be found there, then the central eAssistant standard is used.
Start the calculation module ‘Parallel key’ from the Project Manager. Change and define your input data. Click on the button ‘Save’ and select a project folder to save the file. Now enter the file name ‘standard’ into the input field.
Please Note: It is not necessary to specify the file extension. The eAssistant identifies the calculation module automatically.
If you select the project ‘Default’, the template file applies for all projects, except for the projects where a template file was defined separately. Please also pay attention to the lower case of ‘standard’.
Close the calculation module ‘Parallel key’. Return to the project manager and click the button ‘Refresh’.
The calculation file ‘standard’ appears in the window ‘Files’. When you open the module ‘Parallel key’, the module starts with your previously defined values.
