VTube-STEP v2.2

Revision 2.2 Back to VTube-STEP Back to VTube-STEP Revisions Back to VTube Software Updates (for LASER Mode) Back to VTube-LASER

• See VTube-STEP Customer Support Page to download the latest version.

ENHANCED: Graphics 3X FASTER

VTube-STEP graphics are now 3 TIMES faster than in previous versions. Plus the graphics are more stable.

NEW: Robomac Wire-form Bender Communications

VTube-LASER and VTube-STEP can now communicate with Robomac wire-form bender controls using the Robomac PART data file protocol. VTube-STEP can EXPORT data to Robomac benders using the protocol. VTube-LASER can SEND and RECALL data to/from Robomac benders for full corrections loops. See the VTube Robomac Communications knowledgebase page for a guide to setup the VTube for communications with benders using the Robomac PART file protocol.

NEW: WIREFRAME Feature For the MODELS

The WIREFRAME feature allows you to toggle a wireframe on the surface of the solid models. The new feature can often give better clarity for straights and arc sections in the tube. (This was a customer-requested feature.)

NEW: Popup Menu Options for Viewport

There are several new options added to the viewport popup menu.

NEW: X, Y, and Z Span Values in Reports

The SPAN values of each of the part's axes can be reported on as of this version. This means that the total volume the part takes in its current orientation can be reported in three 3D distances. (This was a customer-requested feature.)

NEW: Import UTE Bender XML File Data

VTube can now import the centerline XYZ data from UTE XML files. The data imported is centerline XYZ data, diameter, linear unit used, and radii. (This was a customer-requested feature.)

NEW: MOUSE WHEEL CLICKS Toggle VTube between ORBIT Mode and PAN Mode

Play the video on the right to see this new feature working. The graphic viewport now switches between ORBIT mode and PAN mode when you press the mouse wheel button. Press right click to change back to SELECT mode from either ORBIT or PAN. (This was a customer-requested feature.)

NEW: Improved Folder Selection Dialog

In the Path Manager's NEW PATH window, the PATH dialog was not very user friendly compared to the open dialog window, so we changed the folder selection dialog to look like an open file dialog. It is much easier to view and use than before.

REPAIR: Default Project SAVE is FIXED

This version includes an important fix to a bug introduced accidentally in 2.1.x that could corrupt the default configuration file when operators saved new defaults.

ENHANCED: Calculation Precision Increased Significantly for Short Straights

The calculation precision for short straights and very small holes is MUCH improved in this version. The end straight and the straight between bends 1 and 2 shown in the image on the right are 0.001 inches (0.0254 mm) long. (Click on the image to see a closeup.)

NEW: Detects New Paths to Allow to ADD to Path Manager

As of this version, when VTube detects a new path from any OPEN or SAVE dialog that is not already in the Path Manager, it will offer to store the new path in the Path Manager with this ADD dialog.

NEW: Save VTube Project Files in Older File Versions (v2.2 - Beta 9)

VTube now allows you to save projects in one of over 50 older project file versions for compatibility with older versions of VTube. The feature is available whenever the Save Dialog appears. Choose the file version in the "Save as type" box. Whenever VTube senses that you are about to save a project file in an older version, it will warn you with a dialog like the one shown below.

FIXED: Erasure Issue of Collected Entities in STEP Mode (v2.2 - Beta 10)

Previous versions of VTube-STEP could sometimes randomly erase collected entities during the centerline calculation. This issue has been fixed.

NEW: Popup Menu Additions (v2.2 - Beta 13)

The popup menu now includes toggles for Auto Zoom and Perspective mode. (This was a customer-requested feature.)

FIXED: Bender Output Path - SV Network Tab Menu (v2.2 - Beta 14-20)

This menu now correctly uses the Benderlink network setup path when you select a bender number. The output data now always uses the springback values in Part Setup to calculate the outgoing straights and bends. The output data now compresses the bender data if split bends are present. (For example two adjacent 90 degree bend angles become a single 180.)

CHANGE: Security Change Required by New Windows Security Updates - Network Socket Logic (v2.2 Beta 20)

We made an important change to the Network License Manager networking portion of the code for Windows compliance. VTube used to open an IP socket using 0.0.0.0, then assign a working IP address based on the configuration. As of November 2015, some Windows started throwing a critical error to VTube when VTube attempted to open the IP connection like this. So now VTube opens sockets with at least a local address of 127.0.0.1 - which is allowed by Windows.

ENHANCEMENT: Compressed Bender Data Sent to Benders When Split Bend is Active (v2.2 Beta 20)

Split Bends are used for any two adjacent bends that form a single larger angle bend. For example, they are used for models with 180 degree bends. VTube must form a centerline with two 90 degree bend angles to solve for centerline intersections. However, the LRA data sent to the bender must be compress each split bend back to a single bend before sending it to the bender. So when split bends are found in a tube when sending Supravision Network data to a bender, VTube-STEP now assumes that they must be recombined in the LRA data before sending that data to the bender in the Bender Output menu.

NEW: Springback Table Creates a Database of Values for Reuse (v2.2 Beta 23)

The new Springback Table lets you store springback and elongation values for reuse in other projects. The values are stored in a persistent configuration file that keeps the values the same between projects. Right click on the white column in the Part Setup menu to access the new table.

NEW: Alpine and CSM M4 Export Filenames Are Now Limited to 20 Characters Maximum (v2.2 Beta 30)

Alpine and CSM M4 controls cannot use more than 20 characters in the part filename, so VTube-STEP and VTube-LASER will stop any export with filenames that have too many characters.

CHANGE: Default LRA Rotations Set to 0 Rather than -90 (v2.2 Beta 30)

The LRA grid now shows default rotations of 0 degrees rather than -90 degrees. This solves issues where it make sense to start with 0 degrees of rotation when entering bender data to calculate XYZ centerline coordinates.

NEW: Display Unbent Tube Only

Now you can display the unbent tube alone by using this new switch in the viewport pop-up menu.

Miscellaneous Changes

• Save Project now no longer displays the VTube Path Manager or Save Dialog when it already knows the project filename (listed in the project filename box in the upper left corner).
  
• The installation program will no longer overwrite the previous persistent configuration for VTube. For example, you will no longer have to setup the Network License Manager values every time VTube is installed. You will no longer have to reconfigure these persistent values every update. (beta 14)
  
• FIX to radius changes in the LRA Grid: The LRA grid now stores any manually entered radius value change properly. In previous versions, a manually entered radius change in the LRA would be stored improperly in the next row down.
  
• Updated the German language file.
  
• Updated the Chinese language file.
  
• Updated the Japanese language file.
  
• Fixed incorrect English captions in the user interface.
  

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