ViaCAD 2D/3D™Precision 2D Drafting and Modeling

Version 7.0

Release Notes

Copyright © 2010 Punch! Software, L.L.C.

All rights reserved. This document, as well as the software described in it, is furnished under license andcan only be used or copied in accordance with the terms of the license.

Except as permitted by such license, no part of this document can be reproduced, stored in a retrievalsystem, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise,without the prior written permission of Punch! Software, L.L.C.

Punch! Software, L.L.C. reserves the right to improve, enhance, and revise its products without notice.

Punch! Shark LT is a registered trademark of Punch! Software, L.L.C. All other product names mentionedin this document are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective manufacturers.

The information in this document is furnished for informational use only, is subject to change withoutnotice, and should not be construed as a commitment by Punch! Software, L.L.C. Punch! assumes noliability for any errors or inaccuracies that may appear in this document.

Credits

All terms mentioned in this book that are known to be trademarks or service marks have been appropriatelycapitalized. Punch! Software cannot attest to the accuracy of this information. Use of a term in this bookshould not be regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark or service mark.

ACIS® is a registered trademark of Spatial Inc.

Portions of this software are copyrighted by Spatial Inc.

Special credit to Jolyon Yates for icon tool design.

Contents

Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 6

General .............................................................................................................................................................. 7Windows 7 Certified .................................................................................................................................... 7Compact File................................................................................................................................................. 7Compressed History ..................................................................................................................................... 7Units Saved With File .................................................................................................................................. 7Pen/Text/Dim Saved with File..................................................................................................................... 7Custom Display Resolutions........................................................................................................................ 73Pt Scaling.................................................................................................................................................... 8Snap Filters ................................................................................................................................................... 8

Apparent Intersection .............................................................................................................................. 9Midpoint .................................................................................................................................................. 9Centroid ................................................................................................................................................... 9

Linked Mirror ............................................................................................................................................... 9Paste Options .............................................................................................................................................. 10PrecisionPoint............................................................................................................................................. 11

User Interface ................................................................................................................................................. 13Inspector ..................................................................................................................................................... 13Gripper ........................................................................................................................................................ 13Custom Tool Palettes ................................................................................................................................. 14Navigator .................................................................................................................................................... 16Layer Manager Updates ............................................................................................................................. 16Audio Prompts............................................................................................................................................ 16Right Click 1............................................................................................................................................... 17

Modeling.......................................................................................................................................................... 18Extend Bend ............................................................................................................................................... 19Sweep Options............................................................................................................................................ 19Drill Point Angle ........................................................................................................................................ 21Cover with Holes........................................................................................................................................ 21Preserve....................................................................................................................................................... 22Retain Engulfed Features ........................................................................................................................... 22Match Vertices............................................................................................................................................ 22Two Rail Sweep Options ........................................................................................................................... 23Translate Along Path.................................................................................................................................. 23Meshing Parameter Options....................................................................................................................... 24

Drafting ........................................................................................................................................................... 25Extend ......................................................................................................................................................... 25Verify Perimeter ......................................................................................................................................... 25Point Distribution Options ......................................................................................................................... 25Dynamic Spline Construction .................................................................................................................... 25Hole CenterLines........................................................................................................................................ 26New Display Methods................................................................................................................................ 26Offset Section ............................................................................................................................................. 26Break-away Section.................................................................................................................................... 27Center Line ................................................................................................................................................. 28Center Line Bisector................................................................................................................................... 28

Point Style Options..................................................................................................................................... 29

Interoperability ............................................................................................................................................... 30SketchUp V7............................................................................................................................................... 30AutoCAD 2010........................................................................................................................................... 30Macro File Import ...................................................................................................................................... 30

Itemized Feature List...................................................................................................................................... 32

Introduction

Punch! Software is pleased to announce the next major release of ViaCAD 2D/3D v7.ViaCAD is a 2D/3D modeling package that provides a set of 2D drafting and 3D modelingtools used to create digital prototypes.

With over 140 new features, v7 represents a significant update. Some of the noteworthy newfeatures include:

UsabilityThe Gripper An intuitive interface to move, rotate, and scale objects in 3D.Custom Palette User defined tool palettes for your favorite combination of tools.Inspector Easily access and set pen, text, and dimension attributes.

3D ModelingExtend Bend New features for creating ribs and lips.

2D DraftingPrecisionPoint Versatile interface to specify points in a variety of reference

systems.Splines Dynamic creation for Bezier, control point and interpolate splines.Extend Extend curve by length, to point, or to another curve.Dimension New centerline dimension toolsDraw Views New 2D views for break-away and offset sections.

InteroperabilityUpdated AutoCAD 2010 and SketchUp V7

These new features are designed to improve your productivity while continuouslyproviding a user interface conducive for our users to innovate new designs. On behalf ofPunch! Software, I’d like to welcome you to the new release of ViaCAD 2D/3D v7.

Tim OlsonVice President Development

Punch! Software

General

Windows 7 CertifiedShark FX has passed the necessary tests to achieve the compatible with Windows 7Certification.

Compact FileThe File:Compact File option will remove temporary objects from the file, compacting itto its smallest size.

Compressed HistoryCompresses a file history to minimize file size.

Units Saved with File

The units are saved with the file.

Pen/Text/Dim Saved with FilePen and text attribute default values are saved with the file.

Custom Display ResolutionsThe resolution category located in the Preference dialog box allows the user to definecustom settings for object display resolutions.

ResolutionThe resolution drop down defines which resolution setting you will customize.Curve AngleThe angular measurement between two adjacent vectors.Facet AngleThe angular measurement between two facet normals sharing a common edge.

3Pt ScalingAll products now support the latest 3Dconnexoin devices for Windows XP, Vista,PowerPC, and Intel based Macs. Be sure to download the latest drivers from

Snap FiltersThe Window:Snap dialog was updated to include four new snap options. The newoptions are:

Apparent IntersectionMidpointCentroid

Apparent IntersectionThis option calculates the projected intersection of two curves.

MidpointThis option calculates the midpoint of two user specified locations.

CentroidThis option calculates the centroid of a user selected object.

Linked MirrorThe Linked Mirror tool creates an associative, mirrored copy of on or more objects.

Paste OptionsThe Paste Options dialog box provides settings regarding how items are pasted into thedrawing using the Edit:Paste command. The dialog box consists of location andattributes for pasting using the below conventions.

Paste In PlacePreserves the original location of the objects in the paste buffer.

Paste At Last ClickInserts the paste buffer objects at the last click location.

Paste To LocationThe user specifies a location for the paste buffer objects.

Reference

Displays a drop down defining how the paste buffer objects are aligned

to the user location for Paste At Last Click and Paste To Location. Optionsinclude:

CenterUpper LeftLower LeftUpper RightLower Right

These references are relative to the current work plane.

Preserve LayersThe Preserve Layers check button will keep the original layers of the objects inthe paste buffer. If this is not checked, the pasted objects will use the currentconstruction layer.

Preserve Pen StyleThis option when enabled will keep the original pen styles consisting of color,weight, and pattern. If this is not checked, the pasted objects will use the currentpen color, weight, and pattern.

PrecisionPointThe PrecisionPoint tool provides a means to rapidly enter explicit data to create andmodify geometry. Options include data entry using absolute XYZ coordinates, relativecoordinates, distance along entity, and percent along entity.

User Interface

Inspector

GripperThe 3D Gripper provides an intuitive user interface to transforming objects.

Custom Tool PalettesThe deep select tool now provides the ability to perform certain local operations on faces.

Custom Tool PalettesThe Custom Tool palette options provide a means to create user defined tool palettes.

New Palette

Transparent Palettes

NavigatorThe ViewBall has been updated and renamed Navigator.

Layer Manager UpdatesThe deep select tool now provides the ability to perform certain local operations on faces.

Drag to reorder

Flatten

Select Objects In Layer

Pen Style Override

Hold Shift Key to suppress repainting of layers when turning on/off layers.

Audio PromptsThe Audio Prompts check button enables speaking of the message line prompts. This isparticularly useful with tasks such as 3D digitizing where reading the prompts is difficult.

Right Click 1The right click content menus were updated with additional options.

Modeling

Translate Along PathThe translate along path has an option to “reference surface normals”. Enabling thisoption will align the selected object with respect to the normals of a surface.

Using the Reference Surface Normals Option1 Press the Option (Mac) or Ctrl (PC) Key to enable option.2 Select the translation path for the object.3 Select the copy origin. This location from the selected body will be

translated to a location on the translation path.4 Select two points for the alignment axis. This axis will be aligned

with the surface normal calculated from the location on the path.5 Pick body for normals alignment. The surface normals will be calculated

from this referenced body which can be a surface or a solid.

Translate Along Path with Surface Referencing

Extend BendThe Extend Bend tool will lengthen a solid by the specified amount and introduce a bendof given angle and radius.

Sweep OptionsThe one rail sweep tool has an options dialog box to further control the behavior of thetool.

Sweeping Options

The dialog box provides options to control:Miter TypesControls how material is added along paths that are not tangential.Bend RadiusDisplayed when using the Bend Miter type to set the radius added material.Simplify NURBs to AnalyticsConverts NURB surfaces into analytics where possible. Analytics typically take up less memory and provide faster calculations.Allow Self IntersectionsEnables sweeps to self intersection along the path.

(a)Mitered (b)Bend (c) Crimped

Miter Options

Crimped Sweep with Self Intersection

Drill Point AngleThe View: Shade Options dialog box was enhanced to support performance options that

Drill Point Feature Parameter

Cover with HolesThe Cover Surface tool now supports covering planar bodies that include interior cutouts.

Preserve HistoryThe fillet chamfer tools now automatically add/remove curves to preserve the history forcovers and profiles.

Retain Engulfed FeaturesThe blending has an option to preserve cutouts or protrusions.

Match VerticesThe Skin Solid data properties attributes located in the Inspector now includes an optionfor turning on/off Match Vertices. This option suppresses the vertex-matching-algorithmwhich ensures that all profiles consist of the same number of coedges. A heuristicapproach is used to determine which vertex pairs are good matches. Profile coedges arethen split where additional vertices are needed. This option is forced to TRUE if thecoedge numbers of the profiles are not equal. Its default is true.

Two Rail Sweep OptionsThe Two Rail Sweep surface was updated to support additional options. The two optionsare Maintain Height and Arc Length Distribution located in the Object Info dialog box.

Meshing Parameter OptionsThe Mesh Parameter dialog box was updated to include options for:

Adaptive FacetsFringe Settings

Drafting

ExtendThe 2D architectural tools provides fast drafting tools for creating walls, windows, anddoors. Features associated with these tools include:

Extension User InterfacesTO Curve

By DistanceDynamically

Extension MethodsCubicLinear

Quadratic

Verify PerimeterThe perimeter tool is located in the Verify Menu. Objects that are selected will be usedto calculate the perimeter. Objects must be selected prior to selecting theVerify:Perimeter tool.

Point Distribution OptionsThe 2D architectural tools provides fast drafting tools for creating walls, windows, anddoors. Features associated with these tools include:

Dynamic Spline ConstructionThe Interpolate, Polygon, and Bezier spline construction methods were updated to refreshthe spline as you move your cursor. Additionally the close spline algorithm was updatedto produce smoother G2 joints at the common end point.

Hole CenterLinesHole centerline dimensions are automatically added with the “Hole Centerline” optionchecked in the Draw View Properties.

New Display MethodsThe Draw View Properties dialog Edge format drop down has two new additionaldisplay methods. The new methods are Gouraud with Edges, and Phong with Edges.

Offset SectionThe Offset Section tool creates a sectional drawing view through a cutting plane bent atright angles to features as though they were in the same plane. A frequent use for Offsetsection is to provide a section view through a variety of hole centers.

Using the Offset Section Tool1 Select the Section View Tool icon from the Model to Sheet tools.

2 Select the Offset Section Tool.

3 If a draw view is not active, click in the draw view that will contain thesection annotation.

4 Enter locations for Offset corners. Right click when completed.5 Move Offset draw window into desired location.

Break-away Section

The Break-away Section tool lets you define regions of a part you want to break away to display interiorfeatures of a part.

Using the Break-away Section Tool6 Select the Section View Tool icon from the Model to Sheet tools.

7 Select the Break-away tool.

8 Select the closed curves to define the break away region.9 Pick a draw view from which to define the depth to the break.10 Pick a point to define the depth.

11 Drag the new section view to a location on the drawing.

Center LineThe Center Line dimension tool references two points defining the centerline start andend. Use the overlap value to control the extension above the referenced points.

Center Line BisectorThe Center Line Bisector tool references two lines. The bisector of the two lines definesthe center line dimension.

Point Style OptionsThe Point tool was enhanced to support different styles within the tool bar. Four differentstyles are accessed from the drop down menu.

Interoperability

SketchUp V7The Google SketchUp importer now supports V7 file formats.

AutoCAD 2010Product has been updated to support AutoDesk’s latest DXF  and DWG data formatsthrough 2010. Additional improvements for handling text and dimensions were alsoadded for import of this file format.

Macro File ImportThe Macro File Import will read and process a list of textual commands. The commandsprovide options to create and manipulate geometry.

Command Parameters Comments$$ Signifies a comment string#Line X1,Y1,Z1, X2,Y2,Z2 Start and end point

#Arc X1,Y1,Z1, Radius, A1, A2 Center, radius, start and endangle

#Circle X1,Y1,Z1, Radius Center and radius

#Cylinder#Box#Cone#Sphere

Move BodyID, X1,Y1,Z1, X2,Y2,Z2 Moves a body a vectorRotateX BodyId, X1,Y1,Z1, Angle Rotates a body about the x

axis a given angleRotateY BodyId, X1,Y1,Z1, Angle Rotates a body about the y

axis a given angleRotateZ BodyId, X1,Y1,Z1, Angle Rotates a body about the z

axis a given angle

#Subtract BodyId 1, BodyId 2 Subtracts Body2 fromBody1

#Intersect BodyId 1, BodyId 2 Intersects Body2 withBody1

#Union BodyId 1, BodyId 2 Adds Body2 with Body1

#Extrude BodyId, Height, Angle Creates an extruded bodyassigning it BodyId fromthe recently created curves.Extrusion distance is alongz axis.

#Sweep#Revolve BodyId, X1,Y1,Z1, X2,Y2,Z2,

AngleCreates a revolved bodyassigning it BodyId fromthe recently created curves.Angle is the amount theprofile is revolved about theaxis specified from the twopoints.

Itemized Feature List1. Compact File2. Compressed History3. Units Saved with File4. Pen/Dim Saved with File5. Custom Display Resolutions6. Three Pt Scale7. Snap Midpoint8. Snap Apparent Intersection9. Snap Centroid10. PrecisionPoint: Absolute11. PrecisonPoint: Relative12. PrecisionPoint: Distance Along13. PrecisionPoint: Percent Along14. Linked Mirror15. Paste In Place16. Paste At Last Click17. Paste To Location18. Paste Reference Location19. Inspector: Object Info20. Inspector Pen (replaces Pen pull down menu)21. Inspector Dimension(replaces Dimension pull down menu)22. Inspector Fill (replaces Pen Fill pull down menu)23. Inspector Text(replaces Text pull down menu)24. Custom Tools New25. Custom Tools Delete26. Custom Tools Show27. LayerManager drag to reorder28. LayerManager Select Objects in Layer29. LayerManager Flatten30. LayerManager Pen Style Override31. Audio Prompts32. Right Click Zoom All ViewPorts33. Right Click Zoom Select34. Right Click :Show All :Points35. Right Click Hide All :Points36. Right Click Show Points37. Right Click Show Direction38. Right Click : Change all selected39. Tube Bend40. Sweep with Miter Option41. Hole Drill Point Angle42. Planar Covers with cutouts

43. Fillet Chamfer: Preserve History44. Fillet:Retain Engulfed Features45. Sweep:Match Vertices46. 2 Rail Sweep:Arc Length Distribution47. Translate Along Path: Align Normals48. Mesh Option: Adaptive Facets49. Mesh Option: Fringe Settings50. Extend Curve To Curve51. Extend Curve By Distance52. Extend Curve Dynamically53. Verify Perimeter54. Point Distribution: Options55. Dynamic Spline/End Point Closing56. Hole Centerlines in Model to Sheet57. Model To Sheet Display Methods (Gourad/Phong with Edges)58. Break-away Section59. Offset Section60. CenterLine Dimension61. CenterLine Bisector Dimension62. Point: Style Options63. SketchUP V764. Option to set tool palette transparent (mac only)65. Smart Dimension and LogiCursor snapping66. Dimension Standards now default to scale with text height67. Macro Import68. Butt, round, square end caps for line drawings69. New thick slash arrow head type70. ISO, DIN, GOST, BSI support for interior extension lines71. DWG import now supports pen weights72. DWG import now reads light entities73. DWG import now supports leader line dimensions74. DWG Import for AutoCAD 2010 file format75. SmartDimension of circles/arcs now support inside arrows76. Snap filter now supports a Center option77. Added remove leader option to balloon dimension types78. Added text font filter to eye dropper tool79. Windows 7 certification issues80. Added leader line, lights to DXF/DWG import.81. Improved hatch support on inport from DXF/DWG.82. Updates for multi line text import from DXF/DWG.83. Text now supports more than 256 characters when imported from DXF/DWG.84. Unit type now supported with DWG/DXF import/export.85. UV coordinates no longer saved until needed to save some memory.86. Option to allow self intersection pipes.87. Thick slash arrow head type added.88. More font sizes added in font menus.

89. More colors added in color menus.90. Smart Dimension now smarter for radial and diameter dimensions. Creates inside

dimension if cursor inside and outside if outside.91. Added remove leader option to balloon dimensions.92. You can now do plus/minus tolerance format with user override text.93. CenterMark dimensions now explode into lines using Change Object.94. Added support to dimension sides of a polygon.95. Smart dimension radial and diameter dimensions now interactively allow you to

place around the circle/arc as well as distance away from circle.96. Arrow size dialog increased in size for improved look.97. Connect curve now shows all gaps.98. Updates to Divide curve.99. Added show all/hide all Mesh in right click menu.100. Added double buffer to door into wall tool for pc for smoother use.101. Added show points, show direction, change direction in right click on object.102. Added zoom to select, zoom all viewports to the right click menu in a window.