Using Excel to graph SusProg3D data
This Excel tutorial uses Excel V16. Check the supported versions of Excel here.
This tutorial demonstrates a method for displaying multiple SusProg3D calculated data items graphically.
This tutorial uses the Nascar demo file, but you can use your own data.
Start SusProg3D, and open the demo file, Nascar.s3d
Go to Roll&Bump. Make sure that you are using [Front], and do a
Roll&Bump Calc.
Your screen should now look something like this.
If you have other graphic elements showing, then go to the Display tab, then Control. Untick all the items in "Show" except IC lines. Because we are only calculating the basic roll and bump geometry, other elements (like the shock absorber and springs) are not calculated and may display incorrectly.
Go to the Tools tab, then Calc2Excel. This will open the "Export calculated data to Excel" dialog.
If the number of calculated data points is greater than the Excel range, then
all Excel cells will be blank, so make sure that the Excel range size matches
the Roll&Bump calculation range.
The required number of cells is shown in the "Export calculated data to Excel" dialog. For the
camber graph we only need the front bump and
droop data points.
Go to Windows Start, then All Programs, then Microsoft Excel. It will open with Book1 and Sheet1.
Add some text to cell A1, "Travel", B1 "LH" and C1 "RH"
This tutorial has 13 data points in bump and droop. If you have more data
points, then increase the range of cells by the appropriate number in the
following instructions.
For example, if you have 21 data points then A12 will become A22, B12 will
become B22, etc.
It is OK to make the block of cells larger than required, the required cells will be populated with data and the extra cells will remain blank. But if the block of cells is smaller than required, then all cells will remain blank. In this case click on "Show Excel log" and see the error messages.
Select the block of 13 cells A2 to A14. Then go to Formulas -> Defined Names
-> Name Manager or use Ctrl + F3.
Click on New. Name this group S3D_B_Point_Bump, change the Scope to Sheet1, and then OK.
Repeat with a second block of 13 cells, B2 to B14, and name as S3D_B_Point_Camber_LH, scope as Sheet1. OK.
Repeat with a third block of 13 cells, C2 to C14, and name as S3D_B_Point_Camber_RH, scope as Sheet1. OK
Back to SusProg3D, and close and reopen the "Export calculated data to Excel" dialog.
Because Excel was open, SusProg3D will connect to the currently open workbook,
Book1, and to the worksheet, Sheet1. If
you had closed Excel before doing the Calc, you will need to use the Open button
to open the required workbook.
Leave it open, don't close the dialog as this is the connection between
SusProg3D and Excel.
Go back to the Roll&Bump tab, and Calc.
The three blocks of cells will now update with the travel and camber
values.
Now, back to Excel.
Highlight the cells A2 to C14, then go to Insert -> Charts. Choose the
chart type "Scatter" and the subtype "Scatter with smooth lines
and data".
The graph will be selected, so you can edit its properties.
Right click on the chart tile and change it to "Front wheel camber".
Right click on the graph, then go to Select Data. This will open the Select Data Source dialog.
Under Legend Entries (Series) select Series1 and then Edit.
Change the Series name to "Camber LH", the Series X Values to Sheet1!$B$2$B$14, and Series
Y Values to Sheet1!$A$2$A$14. Click OK.
Repeat for Series2 changing the Series name to "Camber RH", the Series X Values to
Sheet1!$C$2$C$14, and Series Y Values to Sheet1!$A$2$A$14.
Click OK.
Back in the Select Data Source dialog click OK.
You should now have a graph showing the LH and RH wheel camber curves.
Because they are the same, you only see one.
Now we will change the static camber of the LH wheel (and make it different to the RH wheel).
Go back to SusProg3D, and go to Geometry. Make sure it is [Front] and [LH].
Then Alignment.
Change the Camber to 0.5 and "untick" the "RH identical",
then "Apply". This will leave the RH camber at the original setting
and change the LH camber to the new setting. Do not close the dialog, just move
it out of the way if you wish.
Now go to Roll&Bump and Calc. The graph will update, and you will see the
two curves. Also, because the Alignment dialog was left open, it has also
updated with the calculated values. And, of course, the display has also updated.
Tutorial developed using Excel V16 and SusProg3D V5.106A on Windows 10 (64-bit) Nov 2020