Ironcad

[sweat]

Hello,

I'm trying to figure out if labview could show the animation for Fuelcell diagram layout like in a GUI form.  I'm using IronCAD and in the process of designing the 3-D layout of the FC we are currently doing. This includes a simple design FC function like an  example box = fuelcell stacks, I do not know if the size of the entire system will affect labview display performance.

Also would complex piping design i'm starting on create problems like when it comes to the animation frame rate, would the dimensions with shape create errors in the processing?

I'm reading this book 'LABVIEW GUI Essential techniques' -author David J. Ritter, publisher is McGrawHill~Singapore. Book front page is what i'm trying to create. If possible i would like to make 2 type of animations one is .gif format and another one is a overall design in 3-D.

The design i was thinking of making like this

at PG 11 of www.netl.doe.gov/publications/proceedings/02/Hybrid/Hybrids2Tucker.PDF and the animation is

http://www.h2fc.com/reframe.php?top=/global/tech.shtml&bot=/technology/fuelcells/general.shtml but not this complex just to create the arrow directions if the FC in 3-D. Do reply i've got 12 weeks to go b4 my presentation report.

Ismadi

Temasek Polytechnic student

sweating_palm@hotmail.com (msn)

www.tp.edu.sg (main website)

http://www.tp.edu.sg/home/about/newsevents/ccd_pressrelease.htm?id=31988&year=2007 ( institution under these collaboration)

[Doug M]

Hi sweat,

So for doing 3D animations in LabVIEW, you have a couple of options.  One is to use a 3rd party tool to display an image or animation on a LabVIEW front panel using an ActiveX or .NET container.  This could be something like Flash or a gif animator or a web browser.

The other option is to program a 3D scene programmatically using the 3D Picture control (LabVIEW 8.2 or later).  You can create the scene manually, or load a ASE, STL, or VRML file and populate the scene.  For more information on the 3D Picture control see the LabVIEW Help.

[sweat]

Hello

My institution currently are using 7.0 and they've been sticking to this, my guess is it takes time to convince them to upgrade. So at the moment i've to use 7.0 and how would i obtain the neccessary file. Am i supposed to save it as (xxxx.wrml) from ironcad or maybe use paint to copy the pict. and set it to vrml?  Well gotta give me time to understand those 3 things -ASE, VRML, STL, but from my guess every cad software would have VRML.

I might happen to use a 3rd party tool how should i obtain the Flash, gif animator  or web browser program/software -free.

since i'm not too familiar with vrml and things that comes after that.... <.<

Ismadi 🙂

[Doug M]

Hi Ismadi,

If you are stuck using LabVIEW 7.0 your only option is to use ActiveX to call a 3rd party application that would display some type of animation.

[sweat]

Hi and thanks for the valuable information. Could you recommend me an activeX software which the software i'm using could work in, I also come across many types such as

VB ActiveX

<SCRIPT></SCRIPT> ActiveX Delphi

<SCRIPT></SCRIPT> ActiveX Visual

<SCRIPT></SCRIPT> Grid ActiveX

These are some of the few and which one would be appropriate?

Also my schedule in school are quit pack but i will always read the forum and post as soon as possible.

Ismadi

[Doug M]

Hi Ismadi,

I'm not familiar with the book you are referencing, however you can easily import .png, .jpg, or .bmp static images onto your front panel, however it sounds like you want to show an animation created in a 3rd party CAD package.  This is why I suggested using ActiveX.  ActiveX is a technology developed by Microsoft that allows Windows based applications to expose their methods and properties to other applications -- allowing other applications to control them programmatically.  For information on how you can use ActiveX in LabVIEW,
search the LabVIEW Help and the ni.com website for examples and tutorials.  You can also research the CAD software to see what functions it exports using ActiveX.