Tutorial: Creating Propeller CAD Models using Matlab OpenProp and Solidworks
Вставка
- Опубліковано 25 сер 2024
- I demonstrate how to use the propeller design tool "OpenProp" and then use it's built-in output tools to generate a point cloud which can be imported into solidworks.
engineering.dar...
www.mathworks....
www.solidworks...
Links to files:
drive.google.c...
Reminder of changes:
- Change "Make_SWrks_flag" to a 1 in geometry.m
- Update Export_Solidworks_V18 to create individual files for each section curve and project the curve in the z axis to a plane. Comment out or delete everything in the file and replace with the following:
function [] = Export_SolidWorks_v18(filename_SolidWorks,Np,Mp,Z,X3D,Y3D,Z3D)
clockwise = 1; %change to zero for counterclockwise rotation facing front
english =1; %1 for in. 0 for meters
filename_length = size(filename_SolidWorks,2); %takes in name of propeller run (from bottom right of GUI)
foldername = filename_SolidWorks(1:filename_length-4); %designates a folder name
mkdir(foldername); %creates the folder for the files
cd(foldername); %enters the folder
%section curves
for k = 1:Mp %loops through the (20 default) radial pannels, creating a section curve xyz file for each
filename_SolidWorks_improved = strcat('SectionCurve',num2str(k),'.txt'); %makes a file name
fid = fopen(filename_SolidWorks_improved,'wt'); %opens the file
for j = [1:Np,Np+2:2*Np-1,1] % (2*Np-1 points) does not double print the leading edge
if (english)
if (clockwise)
fprintf(fid,'%f,%f,%f,
',X3D(k,j,1)*39.3700787,Y3D(k,j,1)*39.3700787,Z3D(k,1,1)*39.3700787);
else
fprintf(fid,'%f,%f,%f,
',X3D(k,j,1)*39.3700787,Y3D(k,j,1)*-39.3700787,Z3D(k,1,1)*39.3700787);
end
else
if (clockwise)
fprintf(fid,'%f,%f,%f,
',X3D(k,j,1),Y3D(k,j,1),Z3D(k,1,1));
else
fprintf(fid,'%f,%f,%f,
',X3D(k,j,1),Y3D(k,j,1)*-1,Z3D(k,1,1));
end
end
%(k,1,1) is used for z to project all points onto same plane,
%repeating the original z coordinate. 39 is used as the conversion
%from meters (default for openprop) to inches (default for american
%solidworks). If statement included using clockwsise flag above for
%to change rotation direction. If statement also included to change
%between metric and english
end
fclose(fid); %closes each file
end
cd ../ %exits out of the folder when finished
end
Can anybody tell me how to decide thrust on the body
Ya. That's a tricky but easy enough one. You need to have an idea about how much drag your body (vessel/hull/craft) has at the speed you want it to go. This involves some iteration and usually involves making a propeller model with some guess as to the top speed. First, run a CFD simulation of your body at the speed you want it to go and do a measure on the drag of the body at that speed. Then, using Openprop, design a propeller to provide the required thrust equal to that drag at the given speed and see what the required torque to turn the propeller is (or power which is proportional to rotational speed and torque). Is this torque/power lower than your power-plant can provide? Great! You can go faster, so increase the speed of the body and run the CFD again, then make a bigger prop, and see what the new torque is. Is the required torque too high? Then your propeller cannot provide the thrust needed which means body has too much drag at that speed. Therefore, you either need a more efficient propeller (which can be changed by messing with gear reductions, changing the blade shape, number of blades, etc.), lower drag body (if you can redesign it), a more powerful power-plant (if you have the space/capability), or you just are not going to be able to go that fast. I hope this helps. Let me know if you need any more help!
Thank you this video saved me for my project
Thank you very much for this!
Thank you, man! Really been a great help for my project.
Gracias amigo, todo funcionó a la perfección. Thanks a lot.
how about make contra rotary propeller
thank you very much
it works
Hi there I wanted to ask as to how I could export the files to Fusion 360?
This video was soo helpful, thanks a lot man! One question though, can openprop simulate dual propellers (contra rotating)?
Love you bro❤️
Extremely helpful, thank you so much.
I have one question: is this program useful for air applications as well? I need to design a propeller for a drone but I'm not sure that this software's results are realistic for low density fluids as well. What do you think?
I have no idea! I would recommending the software developer as all I did was mess with the outputs. I have little fluids experience.
if i wanted to change the rake and skew of the propeller how to do it
skew is an option on the table at the beginning. I remember seeing "raka" or maybe "raca" somewhere which I assumed to be rake angle. may have been in the code though. Sorry I can't remember for sure.
1:45 " ... the open prop m is what you're gonna want to open in SOLIDWORKS..."??????. Would it be better saying MATLAB?
yes. thank yoh
Hello Alan, I want to consult you about a subject about openprop.I want to set the torque of the propeller to a constant value, how can I do that?
I see you commented a while ago so I'm sorry for not getting back to you quicker. I'm not sure if you still need assistance but I'll give it a shot anyway. The torque required to rotate a propeller at a certain velocity is dependent on the velocity of the propeller through the water and the speed you are trying to rotate it at. these are both design constraints that are easier to specify from design requirements than torque on the propeller. basically two values should be fixed to determine a third. for example, if you have a vessel which must travel at a maximum speed of 20 knots and your engine is capable of applying 1,000 foot pounds of torque, guess and check the number for RPM until you arrive at a number equal to your desired torque. Hope this helps. let me know if I can do anything else
Cool Thanks
Very helpful video. But I am facing problems running the geometry.m and Export_Solidworks_v18.m script files. I am not good at Matlab. So it would be very helpful if you could show us the whole running process. Thanks in advance.
The changes to the code are done in the text editor and the openprop code is subsequently run as normal. I would make the video but I no longer have access to Matlab as I have graduated from my university. Sorry. Any tutorial will work to show the running process
sorry for the late reply so I'm not sure if this help is still needed but I'll give it to you anyway. I would recommend looking at a tutorial on how to run open prop. My tutorial intentionally only covers the steps required to model a propeller in a design software as that was a gap in knowledge that I found existed in the tutorials on UA-cam at the time. those codes don't actually get run. there is a gui for it.
Is there a way of exporting out the entire propeller including the hub out of open prop?
following the exact process I described is the best advice I can give you. there seem to be limitations in the openprop code such that it sort of models visually a hub that you have no control over
I do not have Matlab and I was able to get the OpenProp examples to run on Octave. My question is how one can accomplish iterative designs using just Octave. Are there alternative commands in Octave to generate the GUI screen?
I'm sorry I don't have octave. if you can get to the point where you can export the curves then the process should be the same
I copied everything exactly as you said but when I try to run Export_Solidworks_v18.m I get an error and no text files are produced. What should I do differently?
Use the openprop GUI as before. The only script that you run from the Matlab screen is the first one.
I have a question about the hub, because it isn't keeping in mind, the root part. How can export it in solidwork as well?
Don't know, sorry. it seems like open prop visually models a hut that you have no way of exporting and the first slice is your best bet of creating a root using the loft feature I demonstrated in the video
Hello Alan I am struggling to design an axial fan geometry used in air cooled heat exchanger such as Cofimco fan. Please can you help me. Any suggestion will be welcome
I am sorry! I have very little fluids experience
Why can't I create a folder ?
" DefaultPropeller_SolidWorks_v18
even though I've changed the code
So you are running the code but a new folder is not generated?
Hi Alan!. I had done the steps mentioned at the video but when I add the files you shared and run the openprop with my own characteristics of design it doesn't deliver the same "design performance" in comparison with the original openprop. I just want to get the txt files of my own parameters. I hope could you help me, it its very importan for me because i am using this tool for my thesis. I am from México, sorry if I commit some mistakes with my english. Greetings!
Hi Rodrigo! Id love to help in any way. I'm a little lost. Where is the deviation in what you're expected to receive from openprop?
Also, feel free to direct message me your email address as that may be quicker if you are in a time crunch
I cann't download openprov from that page, could you share the files?
if you are using Google Chrome, try with another internet browser, it worked for me!
Hello bro. First of all, thank you very much for this video you made, it was very helpful but I have 2 questions.
First, we used the openprop program to design a 3-blade propeller. However, with the method you have made, there is only one blade and unfortunately we cannot receive the data of the hub. How can we get Hub's data ?
My second question is, why did you assign the plane you assigned in Minute 18 at a distance of 1.5 inches?
Thank you very much if you can help me with these questions.
hey sorry for getting back to so late. I'm not sure if this is even still helpful but I'll give it a go. admit 18 I assigned the offset plane at 1.5 in because I have a 3-in diameter hub. for the three-bladed prop, I would suggest that you just take one of the blades since they should be symmetric and do some sort of revolve symmetry which I can't explain exactly how to do without knowing what program you are using. please let me know if I can help any further!
@@ArduinoAlan it is not efficient for me now but thank you for your reply :)
Hallo
Why can't I create a folder ?
" DefaultPropeller_SolidWorks_v18"
thank you
did you paste the code in the description?
Hey Alan! Thanks for this video. I want to increase the number of input values from 10 to 20 i.e the r/R, c/D, Cd ..... values. Is that possible?
Hi! Sorry for the late reply. You can. On the openprop main screen, there is a number you can input called section profiles or something like that. Change that to your desired number. Unless it has been changed, because the GUI only supports adding 10 chord to diameter ratio numbers and other parameters like that, you will have to hard code those values
@@ArduinoAlan thank you so much!
Hello,. Nice video.
but Could you explain how to export file to solidworks?
For Solidworks importing (is that what you mean?), start at 13:52, but really the whole video is relevant
hello
which software Matlab
thank you
I used R2017b
hello
Can you send me the file?
Geometry
Export_SolidWorks_v18
thx
there is the code in the description as well as the links now