Hacker Chronicles 2/HACKER2.BIN/712.README.NOW

Text File | 1993-01-21 | 5KB | 120 lines

INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING MECHAN .. VERSION 93-1 .. JANUARY 21, 1993

MECHAN is a program for the Kinematic or Dynamic Analysis of Multi-Loop
Planar Linkages and Gears.  It was written by Prof. C. W. Radcliffe at
the University of California, Berkeley, for use by students enrolled in
mechanical engineering courses in Mechanisms and Dynamics of Machinery.

MECHAN should be useful to all mechanical engineers who need to
model and analyze planar linkages, gears, or geared-linakges.

For those familiar with the theory of three-position synthesis of planar
linkages three additional bonus programs are included on the diskette.

CPLRAN.EXE ... Plots coupler point curves for a fourbar linkage driven
               by the coupler rather than an input crank.  If you want
               crank driven curves try MECHAN with data file FOURBAR.

STDFORM.EXE .. Three position synthesis based on the SANDOR-ERDMAN
               standard-form equations.

THREE.EXE..... Two or three position synthesis based on the SUH-RADCLIFFE
               constraint equations - displacement matrix method.

MECHAN is very simple to use once the user becomes familiar with
the notation which is described in the on-line help file.  To see the
results for a geared-linkage press ENTER in answer to all prompts the
first time you run MECHAN.  For addiitional help select the help option
OPTION 5 from the MECHAN main menu.

Registered users may call for additional help.  Leave a message on the
answering machine if I am not home.  Please be sure to include your name,
address, and telephone number.  Please speak slowly and clearly.

                    Prof. Charles W. Radcliffe
                    571 Silverado Drive
                    Lafayette, CA 94549
                    [phone]

Continuing users are expected to register.  A contribution of $25.00
from individuals or $50.00 from companies or educational institutions
will register you as a user.  Please send all contributions to the
address given above.  Please feel free to make copies and distribute
to students or other potential users.  Students need not register.


MECHAN can be installed and run with files on:

1. A hard disk
2. A single 1.2 mb or larger capacity floppy disk
3. Programs on a 320 kb floppy and data on a second 320 kb floppy disk

MECHAN is written in Microsoft GWBASIC 3.2.  To use the enhanced animation
features of version 93-1 you must have GWBASIC or BASICA version 3.2 or
higher and a EGA or VGA color monitor.

The file INIT must be edited and changed to reflect the individual
features of your system.  You can edit the file (or create a new file)
using the INIT.EXE program provided on the distribution diskette. At the
DOS prompt enter

init     ... then follow the prompts.

MECHAN will provide a high resolution animated color display with an EGA or
VGA color monitor (screen 9).  To get EGA hard copy you must have DOS 5.0
or a screen dump program compatible with your printer.  Use the PRINT SCREEN
key in either mode but run GRAPHICS.COM before starting MECHAN.

MECHAN will provide 640x200 resolution in black and white on a CGA
monitor.  When teamed with an EPSON or IBM dot matrix printer you can
get quite acceptable hardcopy by using the PRINT SCREEN key on the
keyboard.  You may have to put MECHAN in CGA mode (screen 2) for those
times when you want HARD COPY with PRINT SCREEN even though you normally
run in EGA mode for the animation and color. This can be done easily at
the initial prompt when you run MECHDR or MECHPL. Be sure to execute
GRAPHICS.COM before you start MECHAN if you plan to use PRINT SCREEN.
If you have DOS 5.0 and a HP Laserjet II printer enter GRAPHICS LASERJETII
at the DOS prompt >.

The MECHAN93 files are stored as a self-extracting file MECHAN93.EXE.
If you have a hard disk you can direct the files to any directory
described by its full pathname.  As an example assume you want all of
the MECHAN files to be installed in directory C:\MECH.  The full
command line syntax is

mkdir c:\mech         (Make a new directory C:\MECH)
cd c:\mech            (Change to directory C:\MECH)
a:mechan93            (Expand the compressed files from A: to C:)

If you have a dual floppy system you may wish to have the programs
on one diskette in the A: drive.  In many dual floppy systems the A:
drive is a high-density 1.2 mb drive.  All of the MECHAN files will
fit on a 1.2 mb floppy with approximately 600 kb left for your own
data files.

If you have a dual 320 kb system all is not lost.  In this case you
must create three disks, one each for PROGRAMS, DATA, and PLOT files.
The PLOT files take the most space.  When initially setup, as indicated
below, both DATA and PLOT files will be copied to the DATA diskette.  Later
you may wish to store excess PLOT files on a separate disk in order to
allow more space for data files on the DATA disk. If you have a high
density drive A: and a low density drive B: it will be more efficient to
mount the PROGRAMS disk in drive B: and the DATA disk in drive A:.

Before you start check the file INIT. You can either enter

type init

or create a new INIT file by running init.exe.  To run init.exe enter

init

Once the INIT file is correct you may start MECHAN by entering

mechan