Punch! ViaCAD v14 2D3D

BOM Fraction Measurements

The Bill of Material Create BOM feature has a new option to support fraction measurements. To use this feature, select the Attributes and BOM dialog box from the Tools menu. Select your objects and associated a data set such as CutList properties. Apply to selected. Now select the Create BOM option to create a table. In the BOM Settings dialog box, select the Decimals pull down option. And then Select Fractions to display measurements as factions of feet and inches.

PBR Photo Rendering

PBR, or physically based rendering, is a method of rendering computer graphics that aims to accurately represent the way that light interacts with different materials in the real world. In PBR rendering, the appearance of a material is defined by a set of parameters that describe its physical properties, such as its roughness, reflectivity, and transparency. These parameters are used to calculate the way that light reflects off the surface of the material, taking into account the angle of the light source and the surface normal, as well as the surface's roughness and other properties.

One of the key benefits of PBR rendering is that it allows for more realistic and consistent results, as it is based on the physical properties of real-world materials rather than arbitrary artistic choices. This makes it particularly well-suited for applications where photorealism is important, such as architectural visualization, product design, and film and game development.

Key user interface components to PBR rendering include:  

• Photo Render Tool Palette

• Rendering Cameras

• Render To File

• Render Window

• Render Settings

 For a quick introduction to Photo Rendering with V14 see the video below:

Photo Render Tool Palette 

The Photo Render tool palette provides access to many of the tools used to create photo rendered images. The tool palette is access from the Tools menu bar “Photo Render” option.    

Laser Light

The laser light adds a direct light source that emits a focused beam of light. Laser Lights are defined by a start point, end point, radius, and gain. The start point defined the laser start while the end point defines the direction of the light. The radius value defines the cylinder region of light. The gain defines the strength of the light.

Paraboloid Primitive

The paraboloid primitive provides a means to create a quadric surface from one-, two-, or three-point definitions. Use a paraboloid to create a reflectors/radars, automobile headlights, solar furnaces, antennas, and aerodynamic tips. The Paraboloid primitive is located in the solid primitives tool palette, last tool item. The one-point paraboloid has a base center, and three radius values. The two-point paraboloid has a base center, end. The three point has two points defining the base diagonal, and one point defining the height. Each method provides a data entry window interface to change the associated radius values.

Gripper Non-Uniform Scaling

The Gripper has a new graphic widget to perform non uniform scaling via a handle. To use this feature, display the inspector and select the gripper properties tab. Then select “Enable Gripper”. The non-uniform scale graphic is the red, blue, or green box display along the associated axis. Select, hold and drag over the box to scale along that particular axis.

Red scales along x
Blue along y
And Green scales along z

You can scale curves, surfaces, or solids. Use the data entry window to scale a precise amount.

Area Dimension

A new dimension tool was introduced to support area-based measurements. To access the Area Dimension tool tear out the dimension tool palette and select the area dimension tool icon. The area dimension works with collections of closed curves or polygons. There are two options accessed through the data entry window.

1. Leader Line Dimension
2. Text at Centroid

Select Pick Leader Line Dimension. And now select the collection of curves or polygon. Then select the arrow location and text location. Now change the area method to text at centroid. And select the polygon. The area dimension is associative to the curves originally selected. Modifying a curve will update the area dimension. The Area dimension also work with a collection of curves used in a constrained system. In this case, updating any dimension value, will update the area dimension.

ACIS Modeling Kernel Update

The core modeling kernel was updated to support a newer version from Spatial.  The new update provides greater increases in quality and robustness and improvements in modeling tasks such as booleans, blending, chamfering, sweeps, skinning, healing, and faceting functionality.

Interop Update

The SAT and SAB data translators provide a neutral file format for precisely sharing curve, surface, and solid modeling data.  Third party app supporting SAT/SAB file formats include AutoCAD, Inventor, Fusion 360, SolidWorks, and SolidEdge.

The 2D PDF export is a new method of sharing vector and font-based data with other applications. Vector data such as Lines, arc, circles, and splines are supported. Additionally, text and dimensions annotations are supported. Line styles and pen weights are also supported. Surfaces and Solids are exported as wireframes.

The DWG, DXF, PDF, and DAE translators provided through the Open Design Alliance (ODA) were updated to support the latest enhancements and performance boasts.  Additionally, minor enhancements were made supporting sharing of text and dimension data.

The SketchUp import/export technology was updated to support the lasted SDK.   This includes support for newer versions as well as maintenance updates for sharing data between the applications.

Ten new solid modeling tools were added into ViaCAD 2D3D. These tools extend the already powerful solid modeling capability with the following tools:

• Two rail sweep
• Cutout Solid
• Protruded Solid
• Skin Solid
• Pipe
• Hole
• Boss
• Trim
• Push/Pull