DMM Varkon Tutorial

A Beginner's Guide to the
Varkon
Parametric Modeling and CAD Application Development System

By
David M. MacMillan

Ferndale, Michigan
1998

NOTE: This tutorial is not finished. Unfinished sections are marked with an asterisk ("*").

Contents

  1. Contents (you are here)
  2. Why Varkon?
    1. What is Varkon?
    2. Other Alternatives
  3. Installation
    1. Environment
    2. Download
    3. Installation
    4. Configuration
    5. A Note on projekt_1
    6. mbsc Setup
    7. Plotter/Printer Driver Installation
    8. X Window System Resources
      1. The X Window System Resource File
      2. Pen Colors
      3. Buttons
  4. Project Setup
    1. What is a Varkon Project?
    2. Running Varkon for the First Time
    3. projekt_1 in Detail
    4. Making a New Project
    5. Editing and Compiling MBS Code
  5. Coordinate Systems
    1. Visualizing a Coordinate System
    2. Establishing a Local Coordinate System
    3. Direction of Rotation
    4. * Orientation of Geometric Entities
    5. * Summary: Local, Global, Basic
  6. */2 Overall Model and MBS Program Structure
  7. * Simple 2D Drawing
  8. * Simple 3D Geometric Modeling
  9. Using 3D Geometric Models in 2D Drawings
    1. Method 1: By Positioning the Model
    2. Method 2: By Using Projected Views
  10. */2 Hidden Line Removal
  11. * Shading
  12. Utility Models
    1. Show Widths
    2. Show Pen Colors
    3. Show lfonts (Line Styles)
    4. Square 2D Grid
    5. * Square 3D Grid
    6. * Visible Coordinate System in 2D
    7. * Visible Coordinate System in 3D
  13. Printing and WWW Presentation
    1. Units
    2. * Autoplot, Manual Plot
    3. Plotting and PostScript
    4. * Drawing Scale and GIF or JPEG Image Conversion
  14. * Project Control
    1. * RCS
    2. * make
    3. * Automatic Revision Numbers
  15. Automation, Animation
  16. * Component Models
    1. * Box, 2D
    2. * Box, 3D
    3. * Drafting Sheet
    4. * Solid Rod
    5. * Hole in Plate, 3D
  17. Example: Pendulum Demo
  18. * Example: Modeling a Square Cylinder Oscillating Air Engine
  1. Bugs?
  2. Wishlist

Abstract

This is a tutorial on using the Varkon ® parametric modeling and CAD application development system.

Varkon was developed, and is owned and marketed, by Microform AB in Sweden. The Linux version is available under license at no cost. Varkon also runs on other platforms; please consult Microform AB for further information.

This tutorial was developed by an individual user of Varkon who has no connection to Microform AB. This tutorial is neither a product of nor endorsed by Microform AB.

Linux Penguin by Larry Ewing
Official Linux penguin logo by
Larry Ewing, lewing@isc.tamu.edu

My purpose in writing this tutorial is to encourage the use of my favorite computing platform, Linux, for Computer Aided Design (CAD), modeling, and drafting work. (Information on Linux is available from a variety of sources, including Linux Online (www.linux.org)). Varkon is a powerful tool for these purposes, but it requires a mindset different from that of conventional CAD and modeling programs. It can therefore be difficult for the beginner. This tutorial is aimed at the beginner; it neither covers Varkon comprehensively nor deals in any depth with Varkon's more advanced capabilities.

Of course it must be admitted that behind this altruism is simply my own effort to learn Varkon. I'm a beginner here, not an expert. While learning to use Varkon, I realized that the notes I had to keep were not really all that different from a tutorial. It took very little additional effort to transform them into one. I guess the point here would be that this tutorial is not only for beginners, but is written by a beginner. The methods I outline here for doing things aren't necessarily the right ones or the best ones - they're simply the methods that worked for me.

Legal Matters

With the exception of any material noted as being in the public domain, the text, images, and encoding of this document are copyright © 1998 by David M. MacMillan.

The author has no relationship with Microform AB, and this Tutorial is neither a product of nor endorsed by Microform AB.

"Varkon" is a registered trademark of Microform AB, Sweden.

This document is licensed for private, noncommercial, nonprofit viewing by individuals on the World Wide Web. Any other use or copying, including but not limited to republication in printed or electronic media, modification or the creation of derivative works, and any use for profit, is prohibited.

This writing is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but "as-is," without any warranty of any kind, expressed or implied; without even the implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

In no event will the author(s) or editor(s) of this document be liable to you or to any other party for damages, including any general, special, incidental or consequential damages arising out of your use of or inability to use this document or the information contained in it, even if you have been advised of the possibility of such damages.

In no event will the author(s) or editor(s) of this document be liable to you or to any other party for any injury, death, disfigurement, or other personal damage arising out of your use of or inability to use this document or the information contained in it, even if you have been advised of the possibility of such injury, death, disfigurement, or other personal damage.

All trademarks or registered trademarks used in this document are the properties of their respective owners and (with the possible exception of any marks owned by the author(s) or editor(s) of this document) are used here for purposes of identification only. A trademark catalog page lists the marks known to be used on these web pages. Please e-mail dmm@lemur.com if you believe that the recognition of a trademark has been overlooked.

Version 1.15, 1998/06/17. Feedback to dmm@lemur.com
http://www.database.com/~lemur/vk-varkon-tutorial.html

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