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Text File | 1994-01-05 | 4.5 KB | 112 lines | [TEXT/EDIT] |
- Here it is! Finally! WingMaker 1.0b
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
-
- Why did you write this?
-
- I wrote WingMaker to life easier for the model aviation experimenter.
- There are several programs out for the PC that do this sort of thing,
- and it was time that the Macintosh had something too. It is my hope that
- more competitive and interesting model airplanes are created as a
- result of this program. More competitive? People have known for some time
- that swallow shaped wings are more efficient in rough air than constant chord
- wings. Ever want to design and build a Spitfire but decided on a Piper
- Cherokee because of its simple "Hershey bar" wing? Ever want to try out
- a favorite design with a slighty different airfoil? This program will
- help you do it.
-
-
- What's it do?
-
- Lets you make airfoils or wing ribs based on standard airfoil coordinate
- listings as provided in most airfoil handbooks. The airfoils are rendered
- in a "Paint" format at 72 pixels per inch.
- You specify how many airfoil sections to print by entering chord lengths
- into the list. WingMaker 1.0b will print one airfoil section per chord
- length. You may enter as many chord lengths as you wish.
-
-
-
- I'm having trouble with the data entry.
-
- The data entry can be very efficient if you follow these guidelines:
- Use a ten keypad if you've got one. Go to the first field (the X
- stations) Use your left hand as a guide on the source document--the
- airfoil handbook. Put your right hand on the ten keypad--middle finger
- on the 5 key. Type in the first value including decimal points or
- any mathmatical expressions then press enter with your pinky. The cursor
- will automatically drop down to the next line allowing you to enter the
- next value. When you have finished with the X stations, press Tab and
- the upper Y stations will be highlighted in black. Start typing in the
- Y station values--any old highlighted values will disappear allowing
- you to enter new ones quickly. Repeat this process until all fields
- are filled in. Once you get used to this, you should be able to enter
- a new airfoil in just a couple of minutes.
-
-
-
- I don't want to do data entry, I just want to see an airfoil.
-
- Simple, look at the airfoil description in the upper right. Is this
- the airfoil you want? If yes, press the "Render Airfoil" button in
- the lower right. If not press the open button (mid-left). Up will
- pop a window asking you to open an airfoil file. Choose the one
- you want and click OK, then press "Render Airfoil."
-
-
- Okay, so I've just created a whole bunch of airfoils and I'm staring
- at them on the screen, and I'm not sure what to do next!
-
- Though the resolution isn't that great, HyperCard allows you to make
- on-screen changes to the airfoil sections using standard MacPaint-like
- tools. You might want to go to each airfoil and paste on some spar
- notches, or work out what kind of leading edge you are going to use.
- You can easily answer questions like "I'd like to use a 'D' spar, I
- wonder what that's going to look like on this tapered tip design?"
- You can move around to different pages of airfoils using either the
- left and right arrow keys or they HyperCard command-2 and command-3
- keys.
-
-
-
- I'm still staring at them on the screen, I want a hard copy!
-
- Fine, use the HyperCard print card option of the file menu to print
- one page of airfoils at a time.
-
-
-
- What's that stripe down the middle of my airfoil?
-
- That is the camber line. It will probably be an option in a future
- release of WingMaker, but for now you are stuck with it. It is
- useful for airfoil designers to see the camber line because the
- it is what you typically start out with before you flesh it
- out with the thickness. Also it is useful for those who enter
- their own airfoils from airfoil tables. Camber lines should be
- smooth and usually curve in one direction. If you see a slight
- wobble in your camber line, you might re-check the numbers you
- entered from the airfoil table to be sure there were no mistakes.
-
-
-
- This is fun, I want to do more, how do I get back to the main screen?
-
- press command-1 or right or left arrows until the main screen appears.
- Note: after running through the program a few times, you might accumulate
- many screens of airfoils. You can get rid of them by moving to the card
- containing the airfoils and either pressing command-delete or by selecting
- the "delete card" menu selection.
-
-
- What do I do if I have problems or find a bug?
-
- Direct any questions to:
-
- Marlin Mixon
- 8513 Wallingford Avenue North
- Seattle Washington 98103
-
- 206/870-4367
-
- marlin@u.washington.edu
-