VisCAM: New version 5.0 released

Update information VisCAM 5.0

Detailed information in PDF format for download

Subsequently, all improvements of the new version 5.0 are described in detail.

1. Checking the part quality:

The new function "check part quality" allows a quick and clear check of the quality of a STL model.

Analyse the part quality and check for STL errors

To get a quick overview, the review status of each error category is shown with some easy to understand graphical symbols. In addition, geometric details such as the volume, surface area or the dimensions of the part are displayed.

The "check part quality" function is called automatically when you import an STL file, but it also can be called at any time afterwards to verify the error status e.g. while repairing the STL file.

2. Delete noise objects:

With the new function "Delete noise objects", it is much easier to find and delete useless or problematic objects of a STL model.

Easily detect, select and delete noise shells

Such noise objects can be separated solids without any volume or single surfaces with a very small surface area, for example. Also single, unconnected triangles can be found and deleted quickly with the new function.

The function allows the automatic detection and separation of a part. All individual objects of a model are listed with additional information such as volume, surface area, triangle numbers, unmatched edges, etc.

Noise objects are detected automatically by defined test criteria. Test criteria's can be a minimal surface area, volume or number of triangles. Detected useless objects can then be deleted directly.

Many selection and display options assists you to find individual objects within the shown part geometry. In addition, for each selected object, an image of the object is shown in the selection list of the function. Therefore, also very small individual objects can be detected and found within the part geometry.

3. Advanced triangle reduction:

To reduce the number of triangles, two new methods are available, which enables a higher triangle reduction with lesser loss of detail (see figure).

Both methods can also include a minimum triangle quality given as an additional reduction criterion. Therefore, the new methods are particularly useful for the preparation of triangle meshes for FEM systems.

The new method "Fast with quality" allows the fast reduction of triangles considering the triangle quality at medium accuracy.

Selective reduction of triangles with a minimum loss of details

The new method "Precise with high quality" generates a reduced triangular model with maximum accuracy to the original model and high triangle quality.

4. Create new surface triangles (Remeshing):

With the new function "Remesh triangles", the surface of a STL model can be recalculated with new triangles ("remeshing").

Generation of triangular meshes with defined triangle quality (Remeshing)

The existing model geometry is not significantly altered by the remeshing function. In fact, a new triangle mesh with a defined triangle quality can be produced with the remeshing function. Particularly for high resolution manufacturing process, the remeshed triangular mesh could result in an improved surface quality of the part.

To generate the new triangle mesh, among others, the minimum required triangle quality, the minimum and maximum edge length, the maximum surface area and the maximum allowed deviation from the original surface can be specified. Therefore, the remeshing function is also suitable to generate optimized triangle meshes for FEM systems.

5. 3D cutting tool:

The function "Trim and cut" was extended by the new cutting method "3D surface polygon". This new method allows to cut out surface regions with a 3D polygon, that was directly created on the triangle surface of the STL model.

Use a surface following 3D poly-line to extract part regions

The 3D poly line is created by clicking points directly on the model surface. The system automatically generates the shortest connection between the selected points. While the poly line is created, selected points can be moved, deleted or redefined at any time. So the 3D polygon can easily be adapted to the part geometry.

After the creation of the 3D polygon the surface region enclosed within the polygon can either be cutted out, separated or copied.

6. Drill holes:

The new function "Drill hole" can be used to quickly add drill holes to a part.

The position of the drill hole is shown directly on the part surface and can be changed with the mouse. The drill hole is always created along the normal of the selected triangle. The shape of the drill hole can either be circular or rectangular. The diameter can be defined freely.

Easily drill holes with defined length or remaining wall distance

7. Z-Compensation:

The new feature "Z-Compensation" moves all downward directed triangles of a part by a defined value in z-direction.

Especially on stereolithography, but also partially on laser sintering a slightly deviation in z-direction caused by Overcure can occur. This oversize can be compensated by the z-compensation in advance.

Attention should be paid to the fact, that caused by the movement of the triangles in z-direction intersections in the triangle surface can occur. This depends on the value of the z-movement, whereby usually very small values between 0.1 - 0.5 mm should be used. Optionally the option to resolve triangle intersections can be called directly after the z-compensation. So triangle intersections can be repaired.

Move all down-facing triangles up the z axis before building

8. Volume supports:

The new module "Volume supports" enables the creation of support material below the overhang regions of a part up to a defined slope angle.

Create volume supports up to a defined slope angle (STL part and slice data)

The new feature creates a solid volume support for each overhang region. The contact area of the volume support follows the part surface at the overhang region. Usually volume supports are created down to the platform. If the overhang region is located in an undercut, the volume support gets limited by the lower undercut surface of the part.

The volume supports can be created up to a defined slope angle on the part. Additionally, volume supports can be created either individual or unified together with Boolean operations.

Volume supports are handled separately from the part. Thereby different build styles (hatches) can be used for volume supports and the part. The build path for volume supports and the part can be exported separately in many file formats like for example ISO G-Code.
So, VisCAM is now able to create and prepare volume supports which can be build in a second material (e.g. for FDM like processes).

9. Individual Supports:

VisCAM offers two new methods to create and use individual support structures.

The first method creates at a first step volume supports for a part by using the new function "Volume supports" (see above). In the second step, a freely designed STL structure can be integrated to the volume supports with the function "Generate structures". The individually generated support structure finally replaces the solid volume supports (see left figure).
Each solid object can now be classified in VisCAM either as part, volume support or wall support, whereas the classification can be changed afterwards. It is therefore possible to create supports in an external CAD system, import them as STL file and classify them as supports subsequently (see right figure).

Generate lattice supports or use CAD designed supports

10. Solidscape Interface:

The existing 3D printing function was extended by a direct interface to the Modelworks Software of the company Solidscape.

VisCAM asks Modelworks on existing machine configurations and displays them in a list, where the desired configuration can be selected directly in VisCAM. For each configuration the ID, slice thickness as well as the description text is displayed (see figure below).

Direct integration and control of the Modelworks software from Solidscape

After the selection of a configuration VisCAM automatically starts Modelworks in the background. The prepared build job will then be processed with the selected configuration by Modelworks and finally transferred to the software "BView".

All Solidscape machines are listed in the VisCAM machine database and the build preparation for Solidscape machines can now directly be done in VisCAM. Beside STL file fixing and editing VisCAM furthermore offers very efficient functions for orientation, placement and nesting of parts on the build platform. The assembled build job in VisCAM can directly be transferred to Modelworks which then creates slices, hatches and supports according to the selected configuration in VisCAM.

In addition, it is possible to slice the build job in VisCAM and just transfer slice data to Modelworks which then only creates hatches and supports. Slicing in VisCAM is very fast, precise and can furthermore handle erroneous situations like intersecting or overlapping triangles as well as a wrong triangle orientations. Therefore, VisCAM can often create correct slices from STL files, that are often problematic for slicing software from other manufacturers.

11. Extended Slice Interfaces:

12. General Improvements:

Acting on our users suggestions further improvements have been introduced for better handling and usage of the program as well as various reported bugs have been fixed.