Author Topic: In Memory of Larry Cunningham's Stuntrib (Read 4753 times)

Kevin Wright · « **on:** September 30, 2016, 05:07:04 PM »

Hi Folks,
As a user and admirer of Stuntrib I am annoyed to find it won't run on my 64bit version of Windows 7.
If anyone has solved this I'd like to know how.

I know he had an excel version called StuntribX however I'm not aware of any publicly available release of it.
Again, if anyone knows where it can be found I'd appreciate a reference.

The important function I need is Stuntrib's ability to generate rib profiles with a constant trailing edge height and it's
ability to accommodate diagonal ribs. I have Profili 2 XT and it can't do it. The best I can do for now is generate rib profiles
with Profili, export the DXF files to TurboCAD and manually tweek them. It's a total pain!

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Kevin Wright

BillCalkins · « **Reply #1 on:** September 30, 2016, 05:37:45 PM »

I believe if you right click the program you can run it in compatibility mode.
I would have to fire up another computer to verify that.

Kevin Wright · « **Reply #2 on:** September 30, 2016, 05:50:30 PM »

Bill,
Stuntrib is a dos based program and is run via a bat file. I've set it's properties to run in xp compatibility mode with no success.
Kevin

phil c · « **Reply #3 on:** September 30, 2016, 06:46:21 PM »

If you can figure out how to do it, you can run a Virtual Box of one sort or another in XP and other versions of windows and install DOS in the Vbox. Set it up to run Stuntrib when DOS starts and it will act like a standalone program.

It's pretty simple to bet Oracle's Virtual Box to run in XP. I haven't quite figured out how to get it to access files though.

Kevin Wright · « **Reply #4 on:** September 30, 2016, 07:19:33 PM »

Phil,
I'd prefer not have to install XP to run the occasional Stuntrib. As you point out file creation could be a problem as Stuntrib creates DXF files.
Kevin

Tim Wescott · « **Reply #5 on:** September 30, 2016, 07:38:08 PM »

Actually, there's free versions of DOS -- you could make a virtual machine, install DOS on it, and get what you want.

Horrible, I know, but there you are.

A way to do this, if you want to mess with CAD programs, is to make a 3-D model of the wing as if it had an "all rib" core. Then slice it up and extract 2D profiles. It's essentially the computerized version of Bob Hunt's lost foam rib generation scheme, without the smell of hot polystyrene.

Kevin Wright · « **Reply #6 on:** September 30, 2016, 09:07:10 PM »

Tim,
Yes, but still a lot of work compared to the simplicity of Stuntrib. I'm taking a look at Stefano Durante's DevWing which looks like it can do the job.
I'll have to shell out E70.00 euro though. He also has a version that will generate G code for CAM processing.

Kevin

pipemakermike · « **Reply #7 on:** October 01, 2016, 12:02:24 AM »

I have a copy of Larry's spreadsheet based rib drawing tool. I have used it and it does work although there is no help available it should be obvious to anyone who has used a spread sheet.

I have attached a copy

Kevin Wright · « **Reply #8 on:** October 01, 2016, 04:58:42 AM »

Thank you, thank you. Hopefully this will save a lot of CAD work.
Regards,
Kevin

Tim Wescott · « **Reply #9 on:** October 01, 2016, 06:43:28 PM »

Quote from: Kevin Wright on September 30, 2016, 09:07:10 PM

Tim,
Yes, but still a lot of work compared to the simplicity of Stuntrib. I'm taking a look at Stefano Durante's DevWing which looks like it can do the job.
I'll have to shell out E70.00 euro though. He also has a version that will generate G code for CAM processing.

Kevin

Oh, I know -- 3D CAD makes it as easy to model a wing as a crankshaft. That means that it's up to you to detail what you mean by "wing".

Someone could write a macro for a 3D CAD program that would know what a wing is, but then it'd only work in that program.

Tim Wescott · « **Reply #10 on:** October 01, 2016, 06:44:51 PM »

I had heard a rumor that someone had gotten the source code and was going to re-write it, but I gather that the project never came to fruition.

Dennis Toth · « **Reply #11 on:** October 02, 2016, 01:00:34 PM »

Mike,
I downloaded the spreadsheet file and tried to change the setting but the results did not recalculate. Is there a macro button that needs to be refreshed? I'm running Windows 10, office 365 (2016 version of Excel).

Best, DennisT

peabody · « **Reply #12 on:** October 02, 2016, 01:09:01 PM »

Yup.....
I was rooting about here amid the chaos and found a CD that Larry had given me....included Stunt Rib and some building hints for his profile.....I couldn't open any of them.....sent the CD to John Brodak, who, after a bit, reported the same results....
Larry liked that fake Word program....
The plane tips were for Mo'Best, which I believe will be kitted by Brodak?
Edit for Mo'Best

dave siegler · « **Reply #13 on:** October 02, 2016, 02:28:27 PM »

there seem to be some vba macros in the project that do hte heavy lifting, but they are password protected.

so we will never know.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #14 on:** October 03, 2016, 02:39:26 PM »

I run StuntRib on DOSBOX in unix. Runs fine. Haven't run it in awhile, but it worked fine the last time used it. There's a DOSBOX version for Windows 8.1 so I assume it would work on other Windows systems.

Bob Reeves · « **Reply #15 on:** October 03, 2016, 05:17:03 PM »

Problem could be the security MS added to 7 and up. Some software assumes it can write to the hard drive as needed but MS felt that was a security risk and limited the ability. A really neat utility can be found on the internet that helps this. Google "Take Ownership". It is a registry hack that adds a Take Ownership entry to the right click menu when you Right click on a folder. Run it on the folder you are trying to run stunt rib from and see if it doesn't help.

Tim Wescott · « **Reply #16 on:** October 03, 2016, 05:32:28 PM »

Quote from: Randy Powell on October 03, 2016, 02:39:26 PM

I run StuntRib on DOSBOX in unix. Runs fine. Haven't run it in awhile, but it worked fine the last time used it. There's a DOSBOX version for Windows 8.1 so I assume it would work on other Windows systems.

I just tried it. Works, with a lot less trouble than a virtual machine would have been.

So -- StuntRib just gives you ribs, but no cuts for spars or leadouts or anything?

Randy Powell · « **Reply #17 on:** October 04, 2016, 10:37:46 AM »

My version does. I just run DOSBOX as an app then run StuntRib. It gives the ribs, cutouts for the LE, TE and spar if you add that to the commands. It exports in .DXF format or you can send it directly to the printer if you set it up that way.

Robertc · « **Reply #18 on:** October 04, 2016, 11:54:36 AM »

I have Larry's computer and have downloaded all his files...over 16,000 just dealing with stunt. I'll try and sort through them for the stuntrib programs he wrote. Just a bit tedious

Tim Wescott · « **Reply #19 on:** October 04, 2016, 11:57:21 AM »

Quote from: Randy Powell on October 04, 2016, 10:37:46 AM

My version does. I just run DOSBOX as an app then run StuntRib. It gives the ribs, cutouts for the LE, TE and spar if you add that to the commands. It exports in .DXF format or you can send it directly to the printer if you set it up that way.

I didn't see where to put that in -- can you post some screenshots or batch files or sumping?