From my own experience, in creating XLRotor I wanted a comprehensive analysis tool for rotordynamics where user productivity is paramount. It was absolutely essential that the program execute lightning fast, be extremely easy to use, and avoid the use of model size reduction so as to always deliver maximum accuracy.

I’m confident that engineers who use XLRotor will be very pleased with the software and the results it delivers.

—Dr. Brian T. Murphy, PhD, PE

XLRotor Release Notes

Release 3.80 of XLRotor is now shipping and available for a trial download. The new version operates the same way as previous versions. All old analysis files are fully compatible with the new version. 

This version of XLRotor is compatible with Excel 2007.  However, Excel 2007 is presently quite slow when  it comes to charting.  Until Microsoft remedies this situation, we recommend using any previous Excel version.  Not just for Xlrotor, but for all your spreadsheet work.

July 04, 2010, Version 3.84

• Incorporated a new workaround for a known bug in Excel 2007 that sometimes prevents the Geo Plot from displaying and/or printing correctly.

• On bearing worksheets the charts which display the stiffness and damping coefficients will now utilize regular Excel cell ranges instead of defined names. This should eliminate occasional run time errors that happened when clicking the Update Curve Fits button.

• The new Modeling commands did not work correctly with torsional models. This has been fixed.

• Other minor changes to improve compatibility with Excel 2007.

June 16, 2010, Version 3.83

• Some minor fixes in the modeling command for creating stacked beams. Search for modeling in the online help.

• Fixed the Update Curve Fit command which is on all bearing worksheets. The command will now function properly when linear interpolation is being used.

June 6, 2010, Version 3.82

• The program can now automatically check the internet for version updates, and also can inform you when your technical support and upgrades period is due to expire.  These actions can also be turned off.; See Options|Other in the online help.

• The program can now be directed to automatically create shear and bending moment diagrams as part of a deflected shape calculation.  See Run|Deflected Shapes in the online Help.

• On API Level 1 and 2 stability worksheets, the input value for Critical Speed Ratio now offers additional ways to specify the subject mode. See API stability analysis in the online help.

• When generating an ODS chart of asynchronous response, a label in the chart would sometimes display an incorrect value for speed.

• Changes to XLHydroDyn to make convergence more robust.

April 20, 2010, Version 3.81

• Resolved an occasional crashing issue with some installations of Excel 2003.

March 27, 2010, Version 3.80

• Much improved compatibility with Excel 2007.

• Corrections in the XLJrnl lookup table database. This affects the coefficients for the 4 Lobe sleeve load on groove bearing, and 6 and 7 pad tilting pad bearings.

• New option to do piecewise linear interpolation for bearing coefficients. See Curve Fitting in the online Help.

• New Modeling menu with commands to speed up creation of models. Search for modeling in the online help.

• A new program named XLHydroDyn for design of fluid film bearings is now available as an extra cost option. Search for XLHydroDyn in the online Help.

• Internal workings of the FE solver have been extensively rewritten resulting in faster execution. This also lays groundwork for future enhancements.

• Fixed a bug where eigenvalues computed with the transfer matrix method could be incorrect if they were calculated after performing an asynchronous response analysis.

• Numerous other minor enhancements.

April 6, 2009, Version 3.75

• Improved compatibility with Excel 2007.
• Added new feature to API Response analysis. ODS plots can now be obtained for an arbitrary list of speeds. See API Response Analysis in the online Help.
• Xlrotor can now create animation files for any Excel chart, not just mode shape chart. See Animate in the online Help.
• Added a new command to the Xlrotor pull down menu to check the internet for the latest version of the Xlrotor software. There is also a button for this on the Xlrotor splash screen displayed during start up.
• When computing torsional critical speeds, a table of torsional critical speed margins at maximum speed is now automatically generated.
• When computing torsional critical speeds, mode shape output now includes the normalized stress at every station.
• The labeling of speeds in a polar plot of imbalance response has been improved.
• Fixed a bug that in rare instances caused the solver to stop without find a solution during response calculations. This could only happen when a bearing or seal contained cross coupled mass terms.
• Fixed a bug in the calculation of the angle of orientation for the major axis of response orbits.
• As part of mode shape output for undamped critical speeds, a table of strain energy is now produced.
• When doing a response analysis, rotational dof can now be output in radians. This is specified on the Imb’s worksheet.
• Other minor enhancements.

May 18, 2008 , Version 3.70

• Xlrotor is now compatible with Excel 2007 (but see above note).
• The mode shape animator can now generate an animated gif file of the animation. See “animate” in the online Help.
• Xlrotor can create an animation file for any Excel chart whose frames are controlled by a single cell value.
• The online Help file is now a compiled HTML file (CHM). Windows Vista by default does not support old style HLP help files (to close a security hole). Xlrotor can be directed to use either the new CHM file or the old HLP file.
• There is now a printable and searchable manual in a single PDF file. See Start/Programs/Xlrotor/Xlrotor Manual.
• There is a new type of analysis call Maneuver Loads. Look for “maneuver” in the online Help.
• There are new features for performing “API” style of response and stability analyses.  This is a versatile tool that can be used to automate analyses.  See “API” in the online Help.
• Model levels which consist of a single station (like dampers and bearing supports) are now automatically depicted offset from the shaft centerline.
• Labeling of station numbers on the geometry chart can be suppressed by entering zero for the station increment.
• Imbalances can now be entered in units of gm-mm.
• When computing very large numbers of mode shapes or deflected shapes, the program now automatically starts a new sheet when the Shapes or Resp sheet is full.
• The Label Amplification Factor & Separation Margin command now takes a speed range instead of just maximum speed. See “amplification factor” in the online Help.
• Xlrotor routines are now easier to call from your own macros. See “macro” in the online Help.
• Amplification Factor is now a choice for the output of the real part of damped eigenvalues. See Options/Eigenanalysis in the online Help.
• When overlaying model geometry on mode shapes, you can now do multiple charts in one operation. See “overlay geometry” in the online Help.
• Various other assorted refinements.

June 21, 2007 , Version 3.60

• This program version requires a new USB type hardware security key. The USB key is black colored, and replaces all previous parallel port and USB keys (i.e. dongles). The new key does not require installation of any special drivers.
• Some minor fixes to the program.

April 28, 2007 , Version 3.52

• Fixes to improve compatibility with foreign language installations of Windows and Microsoft Office.

March 22, 2007 , Version 3.51

• Fatigue analysis has been added.  See “Fatigue analysis” in the online Help.
• Other minor fixes.

February 11, 2007 , Version 3.5

• The FFT button can now be used to compute the frequency spectrum of any Excel data.  See “FFT” in the online Help.
• There is a new option enabling peaks in response plots to be automatically refined so they will have enough points to be accurately defined.  See Options|Response in the online Help.
• System damping and mass matrices can now be exported.  See “export” in the online Help.
• Dyrobes file importer now supports conical beam elements.
• A new example file illustrates how to use an Excel macro to copy Xlrotor results to a Word document.
• Three new option settings for sorting and display of damped eigenvalue results.  One option enables backward modes to be plotted with negative frequencies.
• XLGasLaby – An all new analysis worksheet for compressible flow labyrinth seals.  Computes rotordynamic coefficients and leakage rates for teeth-on-rotor, teeth-on-stator or interlocking seals.
• Cross-hatching of the model geometry chart can now be done by material, density, modulus or element level.  A legend can also be included.
• A new option for the Geometry Chart for labeling added weights with their values.  Symbols and labels can be customized.  See “Options/General” in the online Help.
• A new option to write all model data to a macro in the code-sheet of every analysis result worksheet.  This feature helps document your work.  See “Options/General” in the online Help.
• The switching of imbalance response plots from Bode to Polar format now also creates synchronous orbit plots including a key phasor notch and a scroll bar for sweeping the plot through the analysis speed range.  Look for “Bode” in the online Help.
• Updating of the model geometry is now faster.
• Mode shape animator can now save the animation frames to individual GIF files which you can use to create animation files.
• Improved error checking throughout.
• Bug fix in the Rosenbrock integrator that affected models that use constraints.
• The model summary table at the bottom of the Stations worksheet has been expanded, and new defined names have been created that make it convenient to reference these values elsewhere.  See “Stations Worksheet” in the online Help.
• The SolidWorks exporter now runs much faster, supports conical elements, and exports each element level to a separate sketch.
• Bearing worksheets are now permitted to be hidden using Excel’s Format/Sheet/Hide menu command.  This can reduce clutter in files with many bearing and/or seal worksheets.
• Linear response output can be in units of displacement (e.g., mils), velocity (e.g., ips), or acceleration (e.g. g’s).  See the “Imb’s Worksheet” in the online Help.
• Purely structural spring elements like trunnions can now be retained when performing an undamped critical speed analysis.
• In an XlTorsion file there are new inputs for Minimum Machine Speed, Name of Reference Shaft and Critical Speed Margin.  The torsional interference diagram and torsion critical speed table have likewise been enhanced.
• In an XlTorsion file, linear forced responses can now be output in units of velocity.  See “Orders Worksheet” in the online Help.
• A true 3 dimensional plot of operating deflected shapes can now be generated when doing a deflected shape analysis.  See “Run|Deflected Shapes” in the online Help.
• Rotor models can now be imported from an XLTRC² Excel workbook file.
• On XLJrnl worksheets the name of the currently selected bearing type is now placed in a worksheet cell for ready reference.  See “XLJrnl Worksheet” in the online Help.
• On XLJrnl worksheets, every time a Run is executed, the analysis inputs are documented in a cell comment in the Kxx column. See “XLJrnl Worksheet” in the online Help.
• The XLBallB2 and XLShSeal worksheets now allow any of the inputs to be speed dependent.  Look for “speed dependent inputs” in the online Help.
• When called from a macro, the command for labeling amplification factors on response peaks now can be passed an optional argument for MCOS, and it returns an array of the properties of the response peak(s).  See “Label Peak Amplification Factors” in the online Help.
• On the Cplg’s sheet, the contents of the column named Type are now used in the titles of load charts for both linear response and transient response analysis.  See “Cplg’s Worksheet” in the online Help.
• On the Torsional Interference Diagram ( Campbell plot) an excitation line representing a synchronous motor slip frequency can now be created automatically.  See “Orders Worksheet” in the online Help.

March 7, 2005, Version 3.1a

• Bug fix. In all versions since 3.05, if the first bearing defined on the Brg’s worksheet was a constraint (PINNED/RIGID/GUIDED), this would cause incorrect results for the following analysis types: Response, Deflected Shapes, Static Deflection and Transient. This bug does not affect any type of eigenvalue or mode shape analysis.
• Bug fix. For torsional models only, under certain circumstances updating the Beam’s worksheet would cause an Excel run time error.

November 2, 2004, Version 3.1

• There is now a step-by-step tutorial, Xlrotor Tutorial.PDF. See the XLRotor pull down menu in Excel or the XLRotor menu on the Windows Start button. Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader..
• Support for conical beam elements. See the Xlrotor/Options/General dialog.
• Can now use mm for shaft length units. Just change the units in the column heading for Station Length to "mm". The program will change the rest when you Update Geometry.
• Can now use radius or diameter for shaft geometry input. See the Xlrotor/Options/General dialog.
• Animator has been completely rewritten. Now animates both 2D and 3D lateral and torsional mode shapes, single-level and multi-level. Also animates mode shape with full model geometry.
• Can now compute mode shapes for all roots on a selected chart series.
• Geometry chart now uses different symbols for PINNED, RIGID and GUIDED connections.
• Can now import RBTS-ARMD lateral rotor models. On the Xlrotor/File menu.
• Demo version is no longer time limited. Can analyze any model with up to 5 stations. Can also run any analysis with any of the included example files.
• Speed improvements to model updating.
• Other miscellaneous improvements to the user interface.
   

April 22, 2004, Version 3.07

• The feature for exporting the system stiffness matrix to a text file now works for torsional system models in addition to lateral models.
  o Fixed a few small problems with the drawing of geometry plots for torsional models.
• Fixed a bug concerning RIGID/PINNED/GUIDED constraints. The program did not always handle chained constraints correctly. This concerns situations where station i is constrained with station j, and station j is constrained with station k. The net resulting constraint between i and k was sometimes setup incorrectly.
• NEW – For torsional mode shapes added a new option in the XLRotor/Options/Eigenanalysis dialog box. When drawing torsional mode shapes all branches can be shown on a common centerline (this is the old way), or side branches can be offset to the side the same way the geometry plot is drawn.
• Fixed a problem with error checking of torsional models. The program would sometimes not allow a coupling to connect two stations within the same level.
• In the file LUBE.XLS there was an error in the formula for computing specific heat from the lubricant’s specific gravity and temperature. The specific heat was listed for information only, so this bug does not actually affect the XLRotor program in any way.
• Fixed various small problems with the user interface.

3/7/2004, Version 3.05

• Added some new features to enable control of program output when running user macros. This helps user macros run faster. Search on the word “macro” in the online Help for details.
• New feature: exporting of system stiffness matrix to a text file. In the online Help search on “stiffness matrix” for details.
• New feature: material property boxes on a model geometry plot now have popup tool tips that show the material property values. Tool tips are limited to 32 characters, so code truncates at 32.
• The formats used when generating new worksheets of eigenvalue results can now be customized in the XLRGRPH.XLS template file.
• Fixed bug affecting a lateral transient analysis that has both a variable rotor speed AND has at least one RIGID, PINNED, or GUIDED constraint.
• Fixed minor bug affecting transient analysis with lateral models that had no bearings, or torsional models that had no couplings.
• XLRotor will now execute properly with Excel’s option setting for worksheet formula recalculation is set to either Manual or Automatic. Used to require calculation be set to Manual.
• Added some new examples, including showing how to do proportional damping in torsional models.
• Various changes to provide better support of languages other than English.
• Improved model error checking performed on each analysis run.

9/07/2003, Version 3.02

• Added option to orient geometry chart vertically.
• Added an example file showing how to use a macro to perform iteration with a pseudo-nonlinear model, like a hardening spring in a bearing.

8/14/2003, Version 3.01

• Added option for GUIDED connections.
• Can now import DYROBES lateral and torsional rotor models. On the XLRotor/File menu.
• Eigenvalues for torsional models are now computed without the need for grounding springs.
• When you change the chart formatting on a damped roots worksheet, those formats are now retained when you overwrite the sheet with a new set of roots.
• Some new example files.
• Other minor enhancements to the user interface.

6/11/2003, Version 3.01

• Fixed problem with handling of RIGID and PINNED connections in certain types of multi-level models.
• Fixed some minor problems with the user interface.
• Changed the program in how it assembles bearings which connect two stations which are not at the same axial location.
• Two Excel utilities called Chartool and XLRotor Tools are now installed by default. See the files Chartool.doc and XLRotor_Tools.doc for descriptions.
• Torsional mode shapes are now placed on the same worksheet with the torsional eigenvalues, instead of on a separate “Shapes” worksheet.

3/26/2003

• Fixed problems with use on a computer operating in a non-English language.
• Fixed some compatibility problems with Excel 2002.
• Improved the data written to the XLRotor.txt tracking file.
• Removed some obsolete menu commands.
• Added Chartool Excel charting utility to the installation CD (can also be downloaded at 00574ee.netsolhost.com).
• Improvements to the RAPP/PUP file importer.
• Added a table of final conditions to the Transient worksheet, which is overwritten after every transient analysis.
• Fixed problems that sometimes caused XLRotor to crash Excel while starting up.
• Numerous other minor fixes and enhancements.

1/2/2003

• Fixed problem with the XLRotor custom pull down menu. The XLRotor menu was causing Excel’s custom toolbar file (named EXCEL.XLB, or similar) to gradually get larger. The problem has been corrected, but it may be required to manually delete the EXCEL.XLB file to rid it of erroneous content. Deleting the file is recommended if the file is larger than 100 kilobytes.

First release of version 3.0 of XLRotor

• PINNED and RIGID bearing connections
• Automated embedding of bearing worksheets into rotor files
• "Quick Bearings"
• XlJrnl module allows speed dependent inputs
• More example files, >75
• Transient analysis via numerical integration
• User defined nonlinear elements in VB, Fortran, and C
• Transient results in time, orbit, and FFT plots
• Analyses automatically documented with cell comments
• New torsional analysis capabilities
• Multi-branched systems, open and/or closed
  • damped torsional interference diagram
  • damped mode shapes
  • linear response to harmonics (engine orders, etc.)
  • operating deflected shapes
  • transient analysis: startups, electrical faults, etc.
• Fixed bug in handling of Gear_Ratio for torsional analyses. This bug only affected torsional mode shape output for certain types of torsional models.

Version 2.03

• Fixes incompatibility with the version of Excel that ships with Office XP.
• Enabled XLRotor to find the printer port security key even if the computer was booted without the key attached.

Version 2.02

• Fixed a bug with the XLRotor/Run/Static Deflection command. For models created in SI units, this command was computing the static deflection due to mass in kg, instead of weight in Newtons.
• Widened all the textboxes used for chart titles in the XLRGRPH.XLS chart template file.
• General improvements to error checking. Fixed some incompatibilities with Excel version 2000.
• All XLRotor files, new and old, contain a macro called ButtonHandler. This macro is called whenever you click an XLRotor button that appears directly on a worksheet. This macro is now updated automatically with new code each time you open an XLRotor file.
• In the XLBallB.XLS ball bearing analysis templates, fixed problem with the Update Curve Fit button. This problem was specific to Excel 97 and up, and did not occur with Excel 95.
• Created a new option for generating a Damping Factor Map as part of a Damped Eigenanalysis. There is a check box for this option in the Options/Eigenanalysis dialog box.
• Corrected bug introduced in the 10/18/2000 version that placed the wrong title on bearing load plots created by the Run/Response command.
• Fixed XLJrnl to not permit specifying a negative journal load.
• Fixed problem that sometimes caused the geometry plot of multi-level models to appear incorrect.
• XLRotor 2.0 and later will no longer run with Excel 5.0 (the last 16 bit Excel version). Excel 7.0 or later is now required.

Updates during 2000

• Improved error checking to catch invalid bearing inputs. Fixed problem where incorrect label was placed on Shapes worksheet for certain types of mode shape output options.
• Improved error checking to catch invalid station numbers for imbalance definitions and response outputs.
• Added option to suppress "Done" message boxes displayed at the end of all analysis commands. Other changes to better allow customer-written Excel macros to run multiple XLRotor analyses in succession.
• New menu commands added to export model geometry to SolidWorks, AutoCAD or the ROMAC Modal program. For SolidWorks a Visual Basic macro is created which can be executed within SolidWorks. For AutoCAD you can export to either a Visual Basic macro or to a DXF file. For the ROMAC Modal program, an input file is created in that program's input format.
• A new menu command has been added to import a complete rotor/bearing model from a RAPP/PUP input file.
• Command for labeling Amplification Factor (AF) on a response plot can now also label the Maximum Continuous Operating Speed (MCOS) and Separation Margin (SM)
• Created "XLRotor Tools.XLS" file containing macros which can be useful in files other than just XLRotor files. Place this file in the Excel/XLStart directory.
• Added option in the Options/Eigenanalysis dialog box to allow turning off the display of the Root Locus plot.
• Added the choice of Overwriting a Response or Shapes worksheet.
• Added the choice of "Yes to All" when adding new options to an older XLRotor rotor file.
• Fixed problem with the "Label Amplification Factor" command. Sometimes the half power point interpolation was not done using the best available points.
• Added new command to the Run menu to compute Static Deflection.
• Improved the "normalizing" of mode shapes.
• Created new menu commands to Show/Remove material property boxes from the Geometry chart.

Updates During 1999

• Made compatible with Excel2000 (Excel version 9.0)
• Initial pre-release of XLRotor 2.0, the new multi-level version of XLRotor.