ANALYZING HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS THROUGH COMPUTER INTEGRATION.

The conventional design of a hydraulic system is an interative (repetitious) process which usually starts by drawing a schematic diagram. The designer evaluates a circuit by first selecting specific hardware and performing hand calculations to estimate its performance. Based on these rough design calculations, a prototype system is built, tested to determine actual circuit performance, then redesigned to meet specifications. This process continues until satisfactory results are obtained, a time consuming and expensive venture. Computer-aided design (CAD) techniques can be used to streamline the process. An accurate computer simulation of a hydraulic system can substitute for the hardware prototype in all but the final testing and design stages. Time and money spent during the initial process can thus be reduced dramatically. Here is the integrated approach we used to design and analyze hydraulic systems, using computer-aided design and drafting software, and simulation programs.