VISI 2021.0

Analysis | CAD

CAD analysis benefits from a new function which improves the suite of analysis shading modes. Draft Analysis has been added to the existing Undercut and Accessibility shading, performing an on-the-fly analysis of the draft angle. This uses the same technique as in the undercut mode, but extended to more ranges. The colours and angular value of each range can be changed by simply clicking on the colours or numeric labels on the graphics toolbar.  

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Repair Function | CAD

Repair functions used in the Repair Invalid Faces of Bodies command are now integrated in the Validate command. It is now also possible to zoom in on any potential issues using the Auto Zoom function.

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Reverse Module | CAD

Developments to the CAD Reverse module enhances the Reverse and Casting processes. The scanning operation has been improved with the shaded view, giving better and faster feedback. New Part Unfolding features have been added to encapsulate the unfolding process of linear and non-linear bends; the system is able to integrate adjustments made to the original part, rebuilding the changes to all unfolded stages in one-click. And Reverse projects now benefit from faster and more precise  surface creation.

With Point Scanning, the shaded point cloud is now shown during the scanning operation, giving the operator an immediate view of what has been correctly scanned, and if anything is missing.

An additional option has been added to automatically create a mesh as a scanning result, which he says is particularly valuable when a quicker, rather than detailed, result is needed.

Enhancements to probing during the Reverse process now detect the correct diameter of the part in relation to the position of the probed points. A Circle/Slot probing feature has been added for probing and designing a circle or slot, giving several options to guarantee the probed element is the correct size and in the correct position.

The new Curve probing feature allows the user to probe a curve alongside the part. This can save time where curves are used to identify the shape – they can be used to create the relative surfaces, avoiding the need to create  
a mesh first.

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Surface Creation | CAD

All features relative to surface creation when working on planes, radii and cones from the mesh, have been reviewed, leading to time savings, and better quality surfaces during model preparation. There’s now the ability to define the reference direction or surface of some constraints. While creating the surface, users can select a direction, and then add the constraint type – parallel, perpendicular or concentric.

A Mesh to Advanced Surface feature has been added for creating a good quality surface, representing an alternative to the standard Mesh to Surface command.

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Mould | Body to Mould

Additional options to existing commands, along with new items of functionality, make part position management considerably easier.

With Body to Mould, there is a new option to select multiple elements, including solids and surfaces, and move the selected bodies to the mould position. During the part positioning, ‘non-uniform scaling values’ can now be defined by the user, and the system automatically sets the relative shrinkage data in a special Assembly  Manager field (Bill of Material).

With Mould to Body, the system allows multiple element to be selected, including solids and surfaces, and to move the complete mould back into Body position. This will be valuable for operators using CMM to check tools in the body position. When they select the part to move back, they get an option to select multiple elements to go with the tool back to Body position.

When browsing mould parts, the system lists those which have been defined as ‘body to mould,’ showing all relevant data. And defined ‘shrinkage’ data can be edited in the ‘reset scale on parts’ function.

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Part Unfolding | Progress

To provide a powerful and complete solution to this new unfolding approach, additional features have been included for flanges and non-linear bends. The aim is to study and modify a part, preserving the links between the different unfolding steps.

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Part Definition | Progress

The Part Definition feature has been improved, giving better and faster part analysis, identifying the different face types, defining material, and setting linear bends unfolding. Different colours can be set, relating to different neutral fibre values, giving quick identification for unfolded linear bends and fibre value. After automatically analysing the part, VISI 2021 can now edit the faces recognition, giving a warning description, meaning the user can better understand why an operation has failed, making it easier to decide a different approach.

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Flange Unfolding | Progress

A new feature manages flange unfolding on the analysed part, and shows the result in preview mode, so the operator can evaluate the result and set different parameters, while preserving the link with the original part. This automatically recalculates the flanged part, meaning all linked parts can then be rebuilt in reference to a modification on the original.

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CAM Simulation

An interface with Hexagon’s G-code simulator, NCSIMUL Advanced comes as a cost option in VISI 2021. NCSIMUL manages the complete machining process from the NC program to the machined part. Its capabilities include automatic G-code reprogramming, G-code simulation and cutting tool management.

Most significant points are:

• Read and simulate any G-code and machine tool macros
• Preview toolpath G-code program analysis to detect errors before simulation
• Precise material removal and machine simulation
• Integrated G-code program editor for online modification
• Dimensional analysis
• Analysis and optimisation of cutting conditions

An enhanced waveform algorithm prevents tool damage around pegs (or thin walls) left during the milling process. Those areas are now identified, and the XY step reduced, smoothing the corners. This reduces tool stress, making damage or breakage much less likely.

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Wire

VISI 2021 introduces a new command, which duplicates an existing wire EDM machine, improving project management for manufacturers using two or more different models from the same machine manufacturer such as Sodick and Agie. 

 

 

VISI 2020.0

The 2020.0 release of VISI CAD/CAM improves the mould and progressive die design processes, along with enhancement to the Reverse module, specifically designed for the mould and die market.

Part Unfolding

New part unfolding technology has been introduced in VISI 2020.0, giving the ability to work directly on the original solid part without needing to extract the model’s skin.

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Sheet Metal Part Recognition

The sheet metal part recognition now provides an improved graphical representation of the part analysed, by identifying bends, planar faces and features. The advantage of the new technology is its associativity with the original model during the die design process, as it allows the original part to be edited, and changes to be made automatically on the study of the part.

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VISI Reverse

Enhancements to the Reverse module provide new functionalities for both Reverse and Casting processes, giving greater flexibility for both processes. Features such as clipping plane management for point scanning, planar face and draft analysis on mesh data, adapting a mesh to a boundary, and best fit, improve the reverse process from point scanning to solid model generation, and manufacturing.

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Compare Feature

A new Compare feature lets the user compare two entities, such as a point cloud, mesh, or solid, by checking the relative distance – the graphical results show different colors in reference to the distance ranges.  The system also shows the relative distance between the two selected entities during the comparison, by simply selecting a point.

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Meusburger Mould Tool Templates

Additional Meusburger Mould Tool templates (FB, FM and FW types) are now incorporated, including new plates as well as standard components. The new mold templates also include assemblies from the same supplier.

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VISI Flow Analysis

VISI’s Flow Analysis has been improved by new mesh group technology specifically designed for FEM analysis. It gives a high quality mesh, while reducing computation time, by providing new options to adapt and fit the mesh accordingly to the model’s shape. It’s possible to control the mesh orientation, the curvature of the model, and smooth the mesh on the transition area, leading to a higher quality, accurate Flow Analysis process.

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VISI Flow Lines

The flow lines in VISI 2020.0 can now be shown, highlighting possible ‘hesitations’ of the filling from isochrones. This is especially important, as hesitation occurs when the melt flow slows down or stops along a particular flow path, leading to possible asymmetrical and unpredictable flow patterns which can reduce part quality, caused by variations in surface appearance, poor packing, high stresses, and non-uniform orientation of the plastic molecules.

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VISI Flow Thermal Function

With thermal analysis becoming increasingly more important in optimizing mold cooling, the Flow Thermal function has been enhanced by improved coolant flow rate suggestions, giving an indicative value for a single cooling circuit, and an improved solid mesh definition for the mold cavity block, along with each axis, to offer more accurate results.

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Digimat Direct Interface

Thanks to a new direct interface between VISI and Digimat, data showing material local rigidity can be exported into Digimat for the structural FEM analysis process. MSC Software’s Digimat positions itself between the manufacturing and structural analysis by allowing chosen composite materials to be added to a new reference model to simulate and predict the molded part’s mechanical properties. By bridging the independent Flow injection molding and structural analysis environments such as MARC, APEX and ANSYS, Digimat provides added value with a more realistic stress analysis simulation. Extra data has been added to the material database to better match fibre characteristics, including information such as shape and length of the filler.

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Overall benefits include:

• Realistic structural analysis simulation
• Influencing design construction to improve the molded part’s mechanical behaviour
• Optimizes material selection and fibre properties to improve mechanical resistance
• Validate the part’s properties in reference to the mold design.

 

 

VISI 2019 R1

The 2019 R1 release of VISI software includes a boost for reverse engineering, along with a range of new and enhanced CAD/CAM functions for the mould and die market.

Reverse Engineering Features And Enhancements

As part of a larger synergy project for reverse engineering and casting, VISI 2019 R1 introduces an extended direct interface to multiple portable measuring arms and Leica scanning devices from Hexagon. Together with the enhanced dedicated module, it provides a reverse engineering solution, as well as the ability to generate casting and stock models from VISI’s existing modelling and machining environment.

It means that a points cloud can be loaded either directly or indirectly, and the relative mesh can be created by setting different options for refining and smoothing. Surfaces can be created automatically or semi-automatically by extracting different key geometrical references from the refined mesh. And scan data, stock or reference casting mesh models can easily be aligned to the original geometrical CAD model using dedicated commands to allow comparisons, gap analysis and optimised toolpath processes.

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Ejector Pin Labelling For Plastic Mould Design

The new ejector pin labelling functionality, which has been specifically produced for plastic mould designers, enables all the ejector pins in a mould design project to be identified in a table by a user-defined label. This feature simplifies the maintenance process of the mould itself where one or more ejector pins need to be replaced. It easily identifies any ejector pin for maintenance purposes, and updates it if it needs replacing.

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Conformal Cooling Channels For Plastic Mould Design

VISI 2019 R1 introduces a function for advanced sketching of conformal cooling channels. It allows the use of wireframe circuits, previously created  in CAD, along with selecting predefined or user sections, and automatically creates the conformal channels to form the desired cooling circuit. It’s also possible to edit those channels, even after subtraction from the mould insert.

All the information defined on the conformal cooling during the design phase are automatically managed by VISI Flow’s thermal analysis. The Flow thermal analysis itself has also been enhanced to provide a graphical temperature display on a dynamic section on the inserts. The result is a simplified process and time saving of the mould design and Flow analysis.

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Pressure Pad Management For Progressive Die Design

The blanking process has been enhanced, to set the faces on the model affected by the pressure pad, by simply defining the relative force to apply.  This allows the material to flow, based on the applied force on the pressure pad.  

Users can also set constraints to simulate the effect of a uniformly distributed blank holder force. It’s possible to define a friction value and the force value to be applied for the blanking phase. This leads to a more accurate blanking process, which gives additional support to the user during the design phase of the die.

 

VISI 2018 R2

The 2018 R2 release of VISI launches a new module for reverse engineering, along with new and enhanced functionality for both CAD and CAM processes, specifically designed for the mould and die market. Overall, VISI 2018 R2 contains almost 250 items of new and enhanced functionality, including updates to the direct modelling capabilities, which provide additional editing for both solids and surfaces.

Reverse Engineering Module

As part of a wider project for reverse engineering, the new VISI 2018 R2 officially launches a dedicated module which provides a reverse engineering module within VISI’s existing modelling and machining environment. It allows a points cloud to be loaded, and the relative mesh created by setting different options for refining and smoothing.

The Reverse Engineering module is completely integrated inside VISI. A point cloud can be loaded either from a Hexagon Romer Absolute Arm or an external file, and generate the desired, optimised mesh with special tools. This mesh can then be the starting point to create the relative surfaces through the modelling function, or used as it is for machining purposes.

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Edit Face Function

Solid bodies can be edited simply by moving or pulling the selected faces, and concentric faces can be automatically selected and edited accordingly. For example, the size of a pocket with holes – or the size of a solid body – can be changed with this new tool quickly and easily.

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Surface Extension | Fill Holes

Enhancements to both Surface Extension and Fill Holes means the designer can work directly on a solid body’s faces and not just on the surfaces, and provide considerable time savings on the solid model’s design and editing phase.

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Toolpath Mirroring

This new CAM function copies the current project, mirroring all its toolpath operations. This can be achieved on any 2-axis, 3-axis, 3+2-axis, and 4/5-axis toolpaths generated by VISI. It retains the original cutting directions for all the operations, and is a major time saver for preparing toolpaths on mirrored geometry, which is widely used in the automotive market.

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User Experience

The user experience has been enhanced with the introduction of a more intuitive and dynamic workplane management, improved face selection on solids, and new contextual toolbars.

Dynamic WORKPLANe Management

The dynamic workplane management provides greater flexibility and ease of use as the workplane is dynamically and automatically orientated as soon as the desired face of a solid is selected during any operation.

Faces Selection

Updates to the faces selection allows matching faces to be selected – it’s now possible to select matching faces by providing specific conditions such as planar, cylindrical and fillet face types, along with radius condition, orientation and colours, to dynamically select similar faces.

Contextual Toolbar

A contextual toolbar on active selection allows users to switch between the contextual functionalities, providing a simpler, more intuitive and rewarding user experience.

 

VISI 2018 R1

2018 R1 release of VISI provides a wide variety of new and enhanced items of functionality for both CAD and CAM, specifically for the mould and die market.

New Mould Tool Module

VISI 2018 R1 introduces a new Mould Tool module based on VISI’s Assembly-Ng technology. This redeveloped module provides greater flexibility when constructing supplier and non-standard tool configurations. Customisable templates, including the management of blank and predrilled plates, allow for easy tool layout creation and enhanced editing at any stage of the design process.

The new Mould Tool provides a greater level of flexibility for both tool creation and advanced editing. This allows for adjustments to be made at any stage of a tool designs development. All assembly components are automatically updated when plate adjustments are made including component cavity manufacturing data.

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Project Design & Manufacturing Technical Reports

The ability to create project design and manufacturing technical reports have been included within the systems snapshot manager using data captured throughout the CAD and CAM project stages.

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Plastic Flow Warpage Prediction Module

Further enhancements have been made within the plastic Flow warpage prediction module to improve result accuracy for complex technical polymers. These improvements have been achieved by a complete revision of the algorithms for the Holding phase. Pressure and flow rate calculation adjustments combined with the new shape solver, significantly improve the performance by reducing the calculation time up to 40 per cent.

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Sheet Metal Developments

Sheet metal developments in the progress strip development area and blank prediction include the ability to manage constraints of specific faces of a blanked component. It is also possible to define the face constraint in X or Y, or in both directions, which is particularly useful for designers who want to blank only specific area’s of a model for step by step stage unfolding. In addition, the process of managing strip layouts using double component geometry has been enhanced to reduce the development time of a 3D strip design.

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CAM Developments

CAM developments include faster geometry preparation, and an enhanced 2.5-axis chamfering strategy which provides many quality updates including intelligent approach and retract points, advanced obstacle management, and significant speed improvements.

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3D Waterline Milling

New adaptive stepdown capabilities can now manage variable Z steps for each independent area within the same piece being machined.

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CAM Navigator User Interface Improvements

User interface improvements to the CAM navigator will see the build process status on the operation itself allowing the process manager to be switched off if required. Tool sheet reports have been updated where the user can benefit from the enhancements to the snapshot manager. In addition, or anyone requiring hole information generated from the feature recognition, there is also the added benefit of exporting the data to csv files for external use.

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Sharing process knowledge

Sharing process knowledge is key to tracking the digital thread throughout the entire manufacturing process. A new VISI-to-PC-DMIS interface enables PC-DMIS to read the native VISI CAD file directly with annotation and points previously defined in VISI loaded automatically into PC-DMIS to be used for quality control purposes.

 

VISI 2017 R2

VISI 2017 R2 provides new and enhanced functionalities for both CAD and CAM processes, specifically designed for the mould and die market.

New Springback | CAD

When the sheet metal part is removed from the die, and the forming forces released, material elasticity will cause the part geometry to experience springback. The new Springback prediction functionality is designed to reduce the time and cost of a typical trial and error approach to solving this long-standing industry issue.

The Springback prediction tool uses the starting nominal part, material data and blank calculation to generate a second mesh of the product geometry including springback adjustments. The designer can then use the relative compensation tool to achieve a morphing on the original surface set to generate the compensated surfaces to produce an accurate sheet metal part. This will provide major benefits to the die market by reducing the time of the ‘design to manufacturing’ process and by reducing the cost of a typical trial and error approach to solving this long-standing industry issue.

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New Safety zone visualisation | CAD

When a designer is validating the part for formability, a new graphical analysis representation mode will subdivide the results into six possible zones that occur during the forming process:

Strong Wrinkle Tendency - Slight stretch in one direction and compression in the other with material thickening. Wrinkles are very likely to occur.
Wrinkling Tendency - Stretch in one direction and compression in the other with slight material. thickening. Wrinkles may occur.
Low Strain - Minimal stretch or compression in either the major or minor directions.
Safe - Area below Forming Limit Curve where failure is not likely to occur.
Marginal - Area between the safe and fail zones where the forming process is marginally safe.
Fail - Area above Forming Limit Curve where splitting is likely to occur (localized thinning).

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2.5 Axis Pocketing | CAM

The new 2.5 Axis Pocketing strategy provides toolpath quality improvements, an optimised toolpath on open features (shorter toolpath) and provides the ability to machine from a stock model. When the stock model is defined the new Pocketing strategy is able to identify the areas where it is necessary to remove the material and adapt the toolpath to produce passes only where necessary.

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2.5 Axis Waveform | CAM

The new 2.5 Axis Waveform strategy (previously available in 3D roughing), delivers high speed machining technology to maintain constant tool cutting load, constant cutting feed rate, and smooth toolpath movements which avoid sharp changes in direction which maintains the machine tool’s velocity.

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2.5 Axis Remachining | CAM

The new remachining strategy, based on the new Pocketing technology, inherits the same enhancements and advantages provided by the Pocketing strategy. The rest area recognition is achieved automatically based upon the reference operations selected. The computation of the rest material is using a new computation engine that is shared with 3 Axis CAM strategies.

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3 Axis Enhanced Roughing - Remachining | CAM

The enhancements achieved on the Roughing and Remachining strategy provides a more reliable and higher quality toolpath. The residual material algorithm has been enhanced to provide a better quality residual area output. The result is an improved toolpath quality and an optimised toolpath in reference to the residual area computation.

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New Electrode Machining | CAM

The new Electrode machining module automates the electrode design-to-manufacturing process. It benefits from collecting the manufacturing information added during the design phase, and automatically passing the data to the CAM cycles. This will significantly speed up the process of electrode manufacture and reduce the potential risk of possible input error.

As there are often a substantial number of electrodes required to be machined for each mould, the new Electrode machining module delivers major time saving benefits for the mould production.

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Other important enhancements introduced in the latest VISI 2017 R2 release are:

• New Product Launcher which is a customisable software starting window which provides access to the complete suite of installed VISI applications. The launcher also has dedicated areas for the users most commonly used tools which can be added by drag & drop, as well as displaying the VISI social media channels.
• Improved user experience with high quality toolbars to support 4k monitors
• Updated CAD translators to support the latest geometry formats
• Improved Wire EDM technology and software fixes

 

VISI 2017 R1

Significant developments in CAD and CAM functionality in the latest release of VISI, from Hexagon, give users additional speed and quality throughout their design and machining processes.

• Speed improvement to the picking process with support for dynamic ‘drag & drop’.
• Dynamic zoom to and from an area on the screen by holding down the space bar. “This is particularly valuable to zoom in on a particular aspect of a large component on screen.”
• Intelligent chaining for joining wireframe elements together.
• Single right hand mouse click to confirm commands, instead of ticking a box with a keystroke.   

And for CAM, an update to geometry management means individual pieces are no longer limited by a specific project. “It gives greater freedom in picking the piece, obstacle or stock, allowing any combination. This is also used for picking faces and face lists, all managed in a much more user-friendly interface, and driven inside the operation itself. Everything is now linked to the operation, not the project, and all geometry is managed interactively, picking the specific pieces or faces that we want to machine.”

Auto Ballooning | CAD

Several auto ballooning enhancements have been made within the Assembly Manager, providing additional control when adding BOM ballooning within the plotview. These include automatic positioning using multiple axis and removal of duplicated balloons, providing clearer results.

Manufacturing Drawing | CAD

The creation of manufacturing drawing data has been improved by the addition of a number of additional view property settings.  To simplify the creation of cut away views of complex geometry “outbreak section depths” can be automatically measured and edited by on screen selection.

Model Properties in Modelling | CAD

Model properties can be set during the Modelling process.  VISI Product Support Manager John Cockerill says: “Any model manufacturing and purchasing data can be added and controlled by simply selecting the model geometry from the working environment.  Added data is automatically inserted into the Assembly Manager interface, providing a more interactive method of controlling modelling data.”

Mould Design | CAD

New functionality has been added to the Mould Design module, allowing the user to validate the effect of a cooling channel circuit.  Size and positioning can be effortlessly extracted from model geometry and inserted into the Cooling Validations step-by step workflow for a thermal analysis of a mould’s temperature conditioning system.

VISI Flow | CAD

For VISI Flow modules, the precision of warpage calculations has been enhanced by adjustments within the filling & holding algorithms.  These adjustments take advantage of additional data within the material database, which has been increased with the addition on new material grades.

Strip Enhancements | CAD

For VISI Progress users, a number of Strip enhancements include the ability to manipulate a strip’s width, height and component angle from the graphics area, which simplifies the strip layout process.  In addition, calculated Shear / Bending / Flange stress data is provided for every individual step of a strip’s development.

Automatic Wire Points Creation for Punching | CAD

Also added for Progress users, is a new function for automatically creating wire points for tooling punches.  The diameter / position and multiple start points are all managed from the graphic area interface.  All created wire data is automatically recognized within the CAM and Wire modules.

CLS License Manager | CAD

Improvements to the CLS License Manager now give the ability to create specific profiles and options for each user operating across a multi-seat network.

Waveform Roughing | CAM

Hexagon’s powerful and game-changing Waveform roughing technology is included for VISI Machining. Waveform’s proven cutting strategies increase material removal rates and productivity, while prolonging tooling life. The high speed machining strategy maintains a constant tool cutting load by ensuring consistent tool engagement with the material.

Rest Roughing | CAM

On Rest Roughing, instead of having to create separate dynamic incremental stock based on the previous operation, VISI 2017 R1 handles the process automatically. “The user simply picks the previous operation, and the system automatically creates this stock within the operation.” This is invaluable for 3+2 work knowing that the correct stock will be used on the tilted operations.

2D Milling Profiling | CAM

Again, specific Hexagon Group technology – this time a new, specially-developed engine – is creating a new profiling strategy for 2D milling. John Cockerill says it improves reliability and output, and provides multiple options for cornering, used for keeping or removing sharp corners on profiles. Old profiling will be converted automatically, and there are improvements to speed, obstacle and cutter compensation management, along with intelligent collision checking.

 

VISI 2016 R1

VISI 2016 R1 CAD delivers a number of enhancements to the graphical user interface (GUI), and major updates for sketching and element editing. Other significant items include developments to Parts Revision, Snapshot, a new combined view/section within the plotview and updated CAD translators.

The development focus for VISI Mould and VISI Progress was aimed at design efficiency and user experience. Mould makers will see significant enhancements to cooling, component libraries and a new tool for lubrication grooves. Die makers will benefit from major 3D strip upgrades and 'instance' support for punches.

VISI 2016R1 has seen CAM development focus on toolpath reliability, calculation time, simulation and tooling databases. The improvement of the user experience continues with consolidation of commands to simplify toolpath generation and maintain consistency across 2D & 3D toolpath dialogue boxes.

Migration tool / Update settings | Modelling

An enhanced migration tool is available to automatically update Settings/Configurations from a previous version of VISI. This tool allows the update of all relevant configuration files, profiles, custom settings and libraries, databases, CAM settings (tool databases, machine tool configuration, compass configurations), Mould/Progress libraries and others (please refer to the on line help of this tool for a complete description). This tool can be executed at the end of the installation or by running the shortcut installed under the VISI 2016 R1 application within the START menu.

Network Saving | Modelling

VISI 2016 R1 delivers significantly improved speed when saving files across the network. The system will initially save a local file (from where you are notified when complete, and can continue to work) before saving the file to the desired network location as a background operation.

User Interface / Picking / Graphics | Modelling

Quick Access Toolbar management available on the top bar - A new quick access toolbar is available above the top bar providing access to the standard/system functionalities. Updated icon sets relative to product categories are also available.
 
New graphical icons at the top of the GUI to Apply/Cancel/Pg Down/Pg Up which allow you to step backwards & forwards through the current operation.
 
New Brush selection by open and close polyline.
 
Improvements to the Enhanced pick provides the ability to capture relevant points on virtual intersections, moves snap point along a virtual line (parallel to axes, perpendicular to segments, tangent to circles, etc ).
 
Hidden line removal and Hidden lines in different style modes have been enhanced and can be used completely during all modelling operations. Options are available in the Settings command for the colour, transparency and style of the hidden lines. New Antialias management improve the graphics representation to avoid the segmentation of lines.
 
The ability to highlight a relevant point and type an exact offset. When the cursor is on a relevant point, it is possible to simply enter the values for the offset or distance point when moving along a relevant direction.
 
Contextual icons on the M2 list - Pressing the right mouse button (M2) or the mouse wheel when inside the command will display the relevant icons typically available in the left-hand icon bar, at the position of the mouse cursor. This simplifies access to the picking options and minimises the cursor movement.
 
Mouse buttons configurations can be adjusted to configure the most commonly used graphics movements to specific mouse buttons and actions.
 
Speed enhancements when saving files on a network drive. All files are first saved locally (in the tmp folder), from when it is possible to continue to work with the WKF. After this operation, a second thread is started to copy the file onto the network in the background.

Edit Elements & Sketching | Modelling

New Edit element command for the modification of wireframe entities. Double click on the wireframe entity to enter Edit mode. This can be used on segments, circles, arcs, curves, profiles, and polylines.  This command allows the modification of shape, position and dimensions.
 
Sketch circles and Sketch lines enhancements - These commands have been improved using the new enhanced pick concept where the potential results are graphically displayed, and can be selected by using the Space bar. Combined selection between Elements and Points has been integrated in these commands.
 
New option to create a Segment/line tangent to two curves within the Sketch command.

Parts Revision | Modelling

Enhancements to the Parts Revision manager include the ability to define the revision field as a Number, String, or String+Number. Other improvements include the ability to use the Part revision code as part of the file name when saving Plotview pages, the ability to plot a table with the complete list of part revisions.

Snapshot | Modelling

Improvements to the Snapshot manager include the ability to force a white background for image production, and the ability to work in Plotview mode and copy the snapshot to the clipboard ready to paste in other documents. It is now possible to save the snapshot list as separate image files (Bmp, Jpg, Png, Tif).

Automatic Wire Points Creation for Punching | Modelling

Enhancement on the Plotview Manager - Views, sections and details (and relative hierarchy) are now shown in the tree of the Plotview manager Pages
 
View information is now displayed in the properties zone relevant to the selected node in the tree. For example, if selecting the page node, only the relevant information of the page is displayed, while if selecting a view, only the relevant information of the view is presented.
 
New Outbreak section in Plotview - The ability to create a portion of a section inside a View (to create a combined view/section). It is also possible to determine the outer boundary format and the depth value for the section.
 
Other Plotview enhancements include :
 - Improvements on the arrows position for partial sections
 - An option to show only the layers or the parts used for view creation within the view properties dialogue
 - An option to select the parts in 3D environment within the view properties dialogue

CAD Interfaces | Modelling

In addition to continuous quality improvements and enhancements on CAD translators, the main new capabilities for 2016 R1 are:
- Presentation of file Preview increased performance
- 3DPDF Writer enhancements for saving models in this format (performances, white background, fit on the screen)
- DXF/DWG Reader general refurbishing
- DXF/DWG update of Teigha libraries to 4.01
- CATIA V5 Reader permits hole attributes mapping
- Inventor support of 2016 files
- UG Reader to support Layer Categories for Parts
- Import/Export -  Unicode Support for 3D translators

Cooling | Mould

CAD transformation commands are now automatically notified and managed within the Cooling system. When selecting a cooling channel during a translation operation, the system automatically selects all of the relevant the cooling parts (solid, 2D and standard elements). After the CAD transformation (including copy), the system will automatically update the relative cooling structure within the cooling toolbox.

Lubrification Grooves | Mould

A new Lubrication Groove command has been developed for 2016 R1. This command allows to creation of lubrication grooves on the selected face of the plate using builders that provides the user with a number of shapes & customization parameters.

Parts Replacement in Instances Management | Progress

This improvement applies any modification to the original master part geometry to be automatically added to the 3D strip without any rebuild, significantly saving time during the process. This new methodology provides an automatic associativity between the reference parts and the strip design. It is also possible to define Punches in the Strip using the instances management. This means that punches can now be managed as instances within the project (including the ability to extrude punches). Therefore any modification to the parent geometry will be replicated on all instances.

Multiple strip analysis - Using 2016 R1 it is now possible to review multiple strip parameter configurations as a separate 3D strip design. This is particularly useful during the estimating phase, where the user may work on more than one strip project to evaluate the best solution.

Elements Configuration | Standard Elements

An updated tool to edit 3D component libraries provides additional capabilities for easy catalogue selection, easy editing of element properties and better element and Rule table editing. There are also new options when inserting standard components to “Remember Settings” which allows the user to define all parameters within the insertion mask, and recall for a different scenario.

Material Database | VISI Flow

Completely revised material databases are available for VISI 2016 R1. Any grade has been verified using the TESTISO reference model so to provide the correct linear shrinkage values. The following databases have been reviewed and updated at present:

ABS.mdb ABS-BLENDS.mdb ASA.mdb COC.mdb COPOLYESTER.mdb (new) IONOMER.mdb MABS.mdb (new) LCP.mdb

PA46.mdb PA6.mdb PA66.mdb PA11.mdb PA12.mdb PA-OTHER.mdb PPA.mdb PLAST.mdb (the generic materials of the above families)

Calculation Time Improvements | CAM 2.5D

2.5D CAM operations are now supported by the process manager. This allows the user to continue to work with VISI during the toolpath calculation build. Please note, when operations are generated by running the Compass command, the toolpath build from the process manager is not supported; therefore the system is locked until the toolpath build is complete.

Improved Linking | CAM 2.5D

VISI 2016 R1 introduces an improved linking algorithm to minimize rapid movements, significantly reducing the number of entries into the stock material. The standard roughing option optimises the cut direction (climb / conventional) and also mills the island contours. This new linking algorithm links all different zones, with a shorter path. The combo-box “Stay a depth” activates the link optimization when the step-over method “In to Out” and “Out to In” are used.

Enhancements on Zigzag method (Pocketing, Facemill, Milling) | CAM 2.5D

VISI 2016 R1 introduces new functionality to create the contouring step at the end of a zig-zag roughing pass. In previous versions, this was only available before the zig-zag roughing pass. When the zig-zag roughing is executed before the contouring step, a ramp approach is required and automatically created. Please note that the ramp approach follows a backward path along the zigzag path, to reach the Z level to start the roughing pass.

New Engine (64bit) | CAM 3D

5 Axis strategies (and 3 Axis ISO Machining) | CAM

Hexagon Tools Quick Editor | CAM

Simulation | CAM

The analytic material removal technology has been completely reworked to increase performance and quality.
 
The comparison tool, has been totally rewritten to increase quality and performance. It is now integrated into the main graphical window.
 
Improved mesh export - For a large mesh model, small details can have a significant impact on your simulation. High-quality details can highlight the most important cuts but at the same time the entire simulation process can become slower due to the fact that large data is being processed. Different levels of quality are also now also in the exported mesh.

Toolpath Enquirer | CAM

This new command allows users to perform different types of analysis on the selected toolpath. For example it is possible to highlight linear toolpath elements that are shorter than a given length or to verify if there are vertical arcs in the toolpath.

Post Processor | CAM

Improved sub-program management for 2.5 Axis operations.  Any equal Z levels can now be transformed into a NC sub-program, which is useful to manage modifications quickly on a CNC machine.

Wire EDM | CAM

Wire EDM developments include and updated 64bit toolpath engine, improvements to the 4 axis offset, support for M45 (Drain Tank) for the Fanuc CNC, which is useful to thread the wire more successfully.
 
Finally the Automatic Feature Recognition engine has been improved to find constant tapered features (while on V21 all conic geometry were recognized as 4 axis features).