ViaCAD 2D/3D V6 New Features

ViaCAD 2D/3D V6 represents a significant upgrade relative to the inaugural release of ViaCADV5.0.0 with over one hundred and fifty documented changes. Some of the highlighted featuresare listed below.

3D Modeling UpdateThe underlying modeling kernel wasupdated providing improvements toblending, chamfering, shelling,Booleans, and direct face editing.

Architectural ToolsThe 2D architectural tools providesfast drafting tools for creating walls,windows, and doors. Featuresassociated with these tools include:--Automatic healing withneighboring walls--Auto-dimensions--Attach doors, windows, andcustom symbols--Support for custom wall styles(user patterns & colors for multiplematerial regions)

Performance BoostsSignificant boosts in visualizationincluding:--200X Faster Hidden Line (Mac &PC)--6X Faster Dynamic Repaints (Mac& PC)--2X Faster Static Repaints--Level of Detail for additionalperformance

3Dconnexion SupportThe SpaceNavigator device driversare now recognized by ViaCAD.This includes support for Mac OSX(Universal Binary), Windows XP,and Vista. Use the SpaceNavigatorto dynamically zoom, rotate, andpan views into your data models.

Multiple ViewportsViewports provide a graphical userinterface to display the samedrawing in multiple views. Eachview may have a differentorientation, which provides theability to see an objectsimultaneously in isometric, side,front, and top views.

Gradient & ImageBackgroundsThe preference dialog box nowprovides features to specify two andfour color gradients. You can alsospecify a JPEG or BMP file as abackground.

Color Per FaceUsers can now apply colors perface. Use the Deep Select tool toselect a face and then pick a colorfrom the pen menu.

New Using WizardThe New Using Wizard dialog boxprovides the ability to create a newdrawing file from a collection ofcustom settings or selection of anexisting file from a template.Quickly set up a drawing formechanical or architectural layouts.

Single Click Fill & HatchClick in a region of trimmed oruntrimmed curves to hatch or fill.Resultant hatch is auto trimmed andremains associative to theneighboring untrimmed curves.

New Verify ToolsUse the new Bounding Box tool todetermine the rectangular boundingvolume of an object. Or verify thecurvature circle at any location of acurve.

TurboCAD Mac ™ NativeFile SupportViaCAD 2D/3D V6 reads TurboCADMac ™ V1, V2, & V3 includingpreserving the history tree for rapiddesign modifications.

Improved SketchUpSupportMost SketchUP files now read infaster and save to smaller size.Facet smoothing is nowimplemented for better visualization.

New Arc & Circle ToolsOne point circles and two point arcswere added. The two point arcpreserves the start and end locationwhen you modify the radius.

New Polygon ToolsIntelligent slot and roundedrectangle tools added to thepolygon tool palette.

Align DimensionsThe Align tool was enhanced torecognize dimensions. Use thealign tool to organize text positionsof dimensions.

Picture BackgroundTransparencyImported images now have anoption that supports backgroundtransparency, a nice feature whentracing over imported images.

Dynamic Linear ArrayThe Dynamic Array tool will createand distribute copies based on thestarting reference point and cursorlocation. As you move the cursor,the angle and number of copiesincreases or decreases. Thespacing value describes theabsolute distance between eachconsecutive object.

Profile ToolsFeature based solids such asextrusions, sweeps, and lathes arecreated from collections of 2Dcurves called profiles. When youdisplay Concepts Explorer, you willsee a “Profile Surface” entity thatcontains a list of curves defining aclosed profile. Right clicking on theProfile Surface entity displays amenu that provides new options toreplace the entire profile or add acurve to the existing profile.

Protrude/CutoutThe protrude and cutout tools nowinclude an option to extrude relativeto the profile face.

Interoperability--Improved AutoCAD Compatibility--OBJ Export--Export JPEG--Import JPEG--Publish to Web