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How the Excel application works):
The Excel file uses Visual Basic to drive the application and
an Excel worksheet to store the data base and reports. User
inputs design data into input boxes, selects a material and wire
diameter from pull down menus provided. User also selects
spring end type desired. Once the design data has been
entered, the user goes to a tab labeled "calculations."
User clicks the "calculate" button to review results
from the spring design data given. Modifications can be made
to improve the spring design if necessary and then recalculated.
Excel Database):
The application uses a worksheet in the Microsoft Excel file to
use as the data base for problems and the materials available.
Additional materials can be added or
existing data can be modified within the Excel file. The
material data base
contains materials with their respective properties. Another
Excel sheet is for printing reports of a particular problem save
to the data base.
Reports):
Reports can be generated for a problem from an Excel sheet for
any problem that has been saved to the database. Additional
notes can be added on the reports if needed.
Advantages):
The Excel application provides several advantages for the
user. They are as follows:
- Quickly calculates the design of a spring with the design
data given.
- Changes to the design data or material selection can be made
at any time and quickly recalculated.
- General guidelines on how to design a spring.
- Instructions on how to use the application.
- Problems can be saved, modified, deleted, and/or retrieve
from the Excel data base.
- Equations that were used in the application can be
viewed by the user.
- The Excel application, database, and report functions are
all contained in one file that has a small file size.
Limitations):
The Excel application has several limitations. They are as
follows:
- Only one application can be run at a time.
- The calculations assume round wire diameters only.
- Range of wire diameters are .004 thru .25 in .001
increments.
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