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Free Linux Finite Element Analysis / CAD Product? — Parallax Forums

Free Linux Finite Element Analysis / CAD Product?

OtterOtter Posts: 12
edited 2009-07-04 18:35 in Robotics
Hi Guys,

I know this post is totally a stretch to·be in a robotics forum, but the truth is that this question honestly is related to my robotics project, and furthermore, I really don't belong to any other discussion forums anywhere else·on the internet.

You are all I have.· And·here's the question:

I'm looking around for a free/shareware linux program that does finite element analysis and has the nifty graphic display to boot.· Things like this are available:
http://www.calculix.de/fw05lat.html

However, from what I've been able to gather, these programs have no programming language that they use for input.· AutoCAD, for example, uses AutoLISP for input which is great (but I have no $$).· Anyway, it is key that the program accept input in some sort of language since it would be accepting input from the programs I write... not from a human.

I have only begun my research, so I'm not an expert on this yet.· Any input would be appreciated.

Sincerely,

Otter.







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Comments

  • CounterRotatingPropsCounterRotatingProps Posts: 1,132
    edited 2009-07-04 18:35
    > ... in a robotics forum...
    Hi Otter,

    why not? It makes sense to me [noparse]:)[/noparse]

    calculix is under the GNU license, so the code must be available with the package. This is a neat and way-cool program, BTW.

    RE autocad vs freeware --- for these kinds of things, you often have to pay for it someway; either with your money or time [noparse]:)[/noparse]
    You might have to write your own front end.

    > key that the program accept input in some sort of language since it would be accepting input from the programs I write... not from a human.

    What language are you writing the programs in? There are a number of scripting languages that can be embedded fairly easily into existing code. A few that come to mind are: LUA, VBscript, JScript, Java(whatever), and PYTHON.

    I haven't looked, but suspect that for F.A. and graphics, there may well be libs for MATLAB and also in the PYTHON repos. (Scientists use PYTHON almost too much [noparse];)[/noparse] ... we have a few resident MATLAB folks here, BTW.

    hth
    -Howard

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