After several years on hiatus, I’m thrilled to revive my all-time favorite project—the VisualSizer motor sizing software for Windows! It was time to bring this powerful tool back to life and make it even better for engineers and motion control professionals.
As mentioned on the home page, there’s a lot of work ahead—regularly updating this website, adding documentation, and more. However, the two most time-intensive tasks are reviving the software development environment and creating an updated motor database.
The Evolution of VisualSizer
Development of VisualSizer began in 1995 using the software environments of the time—starting with Visual Basic for MS-DOS (yes, MS-DOS!), followed by the early Windows versions. Over the years, I transitioned through all Visual Basic versions up to VB6, then moved on to C++ and, finally, C#.
The VB6 version remains the most feature-rich, but unfortunately, it no longer runs on modern Windows PCs. I customized this version for major companies like GE Fanuc, Siemens Energy & Automation, Oriental Motors, Schneider Electric, Baldor, Moog, Danfoss, Lenze, and more. Later, I delivered C#-based custom solutions to companies such as National Instruments, Emerson, and Novanta IMS.
The Next Challenge: A Generic C# Version
Despite these developments, there has never been a generic C# version of VisualSizer—one that supports a wide range of electrical motors from various manufacturers. The manufacturer-specific versions had hard-coded selection criteria, so I now need to extend the C# version to include filtering options for manufacturer, motor type, and other key parameters.
Technical Hurdles and Upgrades
Beyond software development, there are a few logistical challenges. The current C# version runs on a Windows 10 PC, which can’t be upgraded to support Windows 11—and with Windows 10 support ending this year, an upgrade is essential. Additionally, some older add-on modules won’t function on Windows 11. Fortunately, a new Windows 11 machine is ready with the latest Visual Studio installed. Now, it’s just a matter of obtaining and integrating updated add-ons.
Stay Updated & Get Involved
As the saying goes, there’s a lot to do and not enough time to do it. I’ll continue posting updates here and aim to have a distributable version of VisualSizer available in the coming months.
If you’re interested in getting a copy as soon as it’s ready, sign up for our newsletter. Rest assured, your name and email will only be used for project updates—no marketing, just meaningful collaboration. Right now, the focus is on rebuilding VisualSizer and making it better than ever.
