Bachelorverteidigung

20.12.2016 | Fachbereich Maschinenbau | Institut SAM | Prof. Melz | 1

Zack Stull | Bachelor Thesis | 2016

Evaluation and Adaptation of Open-Source

Development Tools for Mechatronic Systems


Overview

• Introduction

• Methods

• Research & Testing

• Scoring

• Results

• Computer-Aided Design

• Finite-Element Analysis

• Simulation Environments

• Analysis

• Conclusions


INTRODUCTION


OpenAdaptronik Project

• Maker Movement

• Adaptronic Systems

• Open-Source Toolkit

• Engineering Development Tools


Computer-Aided Design Programs

• QCAD

• LibreCAD

• OpenSCAD

• Solvespace

• FreeCAD


QCAD


LibreCAD


OpenSCAD


Solvespace


FreeCAD


Finite-Element Analysis Programs

• Elmer

• Salome-Meca (Code_Aster)

• FreeCAD (Calculix)


Elmer


Salome-Meca (Code_Aster)


FreeCAD (Calculix)


Simulation Environments

• OpenModelica

• Hopsan

• Scilab


OpenModelica


Hopsan


Scilab/Xcos


METHODS


Literature Research

• User Manuals

• Documentations

• Wiki Pages

• Forums

• Academic Studies


Testing (CAD)

• 3-dimensional

• Nonlinear features

• Requires several extrusions

• Sketching on different faces


Testing (FEA)

• Imported geometry

• Meshed geometry

• Assigned initial & boundary

conditions

• Analyzed results


Testing (Simulation)

• One DOF System

• Mechanically modeled

• Two systems

• Passive

• Velocity feedback


Scoring

• Created metrics

• Based on features

• Binary scoring

• 1 for feature

• 0 without feature

• Divided into subcategories

• Overall scores

• Sum of subcategories


RESULTS


CAD Programs

• Operating Systems

• Help & Support

• User Interface

• File Format Capability – Import

• File Format Capability – Export

• Design & Editing Functionality

• Overall Scores


Overall Scores

Overall FreeCAD Solvespace QCAD LibreCAD OpenSCAD

Operating Systems 3 3 3 3 3

Help & Support 4 3 3 4 4

File Format – Import 9 3 4 3 3

File Format – Export 10 8 5 4 4

User Interface 7 5 6 6 3

Design & Editing 14 10 6 6 6

Total 47 32 27 26 23


FEA Programs


• Help & Support

• User Interface

• Mesh File Import

• Geometry File Import

• Functionality

• Advanced Materials

• Overall Scores


Overall Scores

OverallSalome-

MecaFreeCAD Elmer

Operating Systems 1 3 3

Help & Support 3 4 4

User Interface 7 8 5

Mesh Import 5 5 5

Geometry Import 6 6 6

Functionality 13 12 14

Advanced Materials 5 5 2

Total 40 43 39




• Help & Support

• User Interface

• Simulation Capability

• Additional Capabilities

• Interoperability

• Overall Scores


Overall Scores

Overall Scores Scilab OpenModelica Hopsan

Operating Systems 3 2 2

Help & Support 4 3 3

User Interface 6 6 5

Simulation Capability 5 5 5

Additional Capabilities 8 3 2

Interoperability 7 5 4

Total 33 24 21


ANALYSIS


CAD Programs (3-dimensional)

• FreeCAD

• Highest score

• Most similar to industry products

• Solvespace

• Scored well

• Portable

• Better-suited for smaller projects

• OpenSCAD

• Lowest scoring

• Integrated into FreeCAD


CAD Programs (2-dimensional)

• QCAD & LibreCAD scored well in 2D metrics

• Outscore Solvespace

• Good 2D alternatives

• QCAD outscored LibreCAD

• Difference in file compatibility

• DWG & SVG


FEA Programs

• FreeCAD (Calculix)

• Highest scored

• Small difference in scores

• Salome-Meca (Code_Aster)

• Operating system compatibility

• CAELinux

• Elmer

• Outscored in ‘Functionality’

• Underperformed in ‘Advanced Materials’



• Scilab/Xcos

• Highest scored

• Integrated Matlab alternative

• Functional Mock-up Interface

• Potential to integrate OpenModelica or Hopsan

• GNU Octave

• Little research into products

• Future studies of capabilities recommended


CONCLUSIONS


Conclusions

• Computer-Aided Design

• FreeCAD

• Finite-Element Analysis

• FreeCAD & Salome-Meca

• CAELinux

• Simulation Environments

• Scilab/Xcos

• Trend towards integrated products


Thanks for your attention!


Questions?


CAD Subcategories


Operating Systems

Operating Systems FreeCAD Solvespace QCAD LibreCAD OpenSCAD

Windows 7+ 1 1 1 1 1

Mac OS X 1 1 1 1 1

Linux 1 1 1 1 1

Total 3 3 3 3 3


Help & Support

Help & Support FreeCAD Solvespace QCAD LibreCAD OpenSCAD

Documentation 1 1 1 1 1

Forums 1 1 1 1 1

Tutorials 1 1 1 1 1

Wiki 1 0 0 1 1

Total 4 3 3 4 4


User Interface

User Interface FreeCAD Solvespace QCAD LibreCAD OpenSCAD

Graphical User Interface 1 1 1 1 1

No Programming

Required1 1 1 1 0

Command Line 1 0 1 1 0

Custom Tool Palette 1 1 1 1 0

Import Existing Designs 1 1 1 1 1

Macros 1 0 0 0 0

Installer 1 1 1 1 1

Total 7 5 6 6 3


File Format Capability - Import

Import FreeCAD Solvespace QCAD LibreCAD OpenSCAD

DWG* 1 1 1 1 0

DXF* 1 1 1 1 1

IGS/IGES 1 0 0 0 0

GCODE 1 0 0 0 0

OBJ 1 0 0 0 0

STP/STEP 1 0 0 0 0

STL 1 0 0 0 1

SVG* 1 0 1 0 0

Image Files* 1 1 1 1 1

Total 9 3 4 3 3

*2-dimensional file formats


File Format Capability - Export

Export FreeCAD Solvespace QCAD LibreCAD OpenSCAD

DWG* 1 0 1 0 0

DXF* 1 1 1 1 1

IGS/IGES 1 0 0 0 0

GCODE 1 1 0 0 0

OBJ 1 1 0 0 0

STP/STEP 1 1 0 0 0

STL 1 1 0 0 1

SVG* 1 1 1 1 1

PDF* 1 1 1 1 0

Image Files* 1 1 1 1 1

Total 10 8 5 4 4

*2-dimensional file formats


Design & Editing Functionality

Design & Editing FreeCAD Solvespace QCAD LibreCAD OpenSCAD

2D Drawing Tools 1 1 1 1 1

3D Modeling Tools 1 1 0 0 1

Parametric Modeling 1 1 0 0 0

Layer Manager 1 1 1 1 0

Snap Tool 1 1 1 1 0

Text Editing 1 1 1 1 1

Color Editing 1 1 1 1 1

Textures 1 0 0 0 0

Hatching 1 0 1 1 0

Transparency Options 1 0 0 0 1

Lighting Effects 1 1 0 0 0

Photorealistic Rendering 1 0 0 0 0

Extrude 3D Models from

Imported 2D Designs1 1 0 0 1

Create 2D Designs from

Imported 3D Models1 1 0 0 0

Total 14 10 6 6 6


FEA Subcategories


Operating Systems

Operating SystemsSalome-

MecaFreeCAD Elmer

Windows 7+ 0 1 1

Mac OS X 0 1 1

Linux 1 1 1

Total 1 3 3


Help & Support

Help & SupportSalome-

MecaFreeCAD Elmer

Documentation 1 1 1

Forums 1 1 1

Tutorials 1 1 1

Wiki 0 1 1

Total 3 4 4


User Interface

User InterfaceSalome-

MecaFreeCAD Elmer

Graphical User

Interface1 1 1

No Programming

Required1 1 1

Command Line 1 1 0

Macros 1 1 0

Installer 0 1 1

Preprocessor 1 1 1

Postprocessor 1 1 1

Graphical Geometry

Modeler1 1 0

Total 7 8 5


Mesh File Import

Mesh ImportSalome-

MecaFreeCAD Elmer

CGNS 1 0 0

DAT 1 1 1

INP 0 1 1

MED 1 1 0

MSH 0 0 1

STL 1 1 1

UNV 1 1 1

Total 5 5 5


Geometry File Import

Geometry ImportSalome-

MecaFreeCAD Elmer

BREP 1 1 1

GCODE 0 1 0

IGS/IGES 1 1 1

OBJ 0 1 0

STP/STEP 1 1 1

STL 1 1 1

VTK 1 0 0

XAO 1 0 0

Total 6 6 4


Functionality

Functionality Salome-Meca FreeCAD Elmer

Linear Static 1 1 1

Nonlinear – Large

Displacements1 1 1

Nonlinear – Contact 1 1 0

Transient Linear 1 1 1

Transient Nonlinear 1 0 1

Natural Frequency 1 1 1

Linear Buckling 1 1 1

Acoustic 1 0 1

Heat Transfer 1 1 1

Electric/Magnetic 0 1 1

Fluid Flow 0 1 1

Fluid Structure Interactivity 1 0 1

Solid Structures 1 1 1

Shell Structures 1 1 1

Beam/Rod/Tie 1 1 0

Total 13 12 14


Advanced Materials

Advanced MaterialsSalome-

MecaFreeCAD Elmer

Anisotropic Materials 1 1 1

Composites 1 1 0

Hyperelastic/Rubber 1 1 0

Plasticity 1 1 0

Viscoplastic/Creep 1 1 0

Piezoelectric 0 0 1

Total 5 5 2


Simulation Subcategories


Operating Systems

Operating Systems Scilab OpenModelica Hopsan

Windows 7+ 1 1 1

Mac OS X 1 0 0

Linux 1 1 1

Total 3 2 2


Help & Support

Help & Support Scilab OpenModelica Hopsan

Documentation 1 1 1

Forums 1 1 1

Tutorials 1 1 1

Wiki 1 0 0

Total 4 3 3


User Interface

User Interface Scilab OpenModelica Hopsan

Graphical User Interface 1 1 1

Block Diagram 1 1 1

Command Line 1 1 1

Scripting 1 1 1

Debugger 1 1 0

Installer 1 1 1

Total 6 6 5


Simulation Capability

Simulation Capability Scilab OpenModelica Hopsan

Controller Design 1 1 1

Real-Time Simulation 1 1 1

Optimization 1 1 1

Transmission Line

Modeling1 1 1

Co-simulation 1 1 1

Total 5 5 5


Additional Capabilities

Additional Capabilities Scilab OpenModelica Hopsan

2D Plotting 1 1 1

3D Plotting 1 1 0

Frequency Analysis 1 0 1

Signal Processing 1 0 0

Image Processing 1 0 0

GUI Development 1 0 0

Instruments Control 1 0 0

In Browser Simulation 1 1 0

Total 8 3 2


Interoperability

Interoperability Scilab OpenModelica Hopsan

C/C++ 1 1 1

Fortran 1 0 0

Java 1 1 0

Matlab 1 0 0

Modelica 0 1 1

Python 1 1 1

Simulink 1 1 1

Tcl 1 0 0

Total 7 5 4

Science

Bachelorverteidigung