VTube Update History 4.2 - November 2023

Version 4.2.1364, November 28, 2023

Report value tokens related to bend angles can now be appended with a comma followed by an integer to offset any array item related to bend angles (bend angles, radii, and arc lengths) down or up rows in the bender charts inside the HTML reports. This allows for creating charts compatible with benders with non-standard row placement of the bend angles in the bender charts. (An example is the Chiyoda bender data order.)

This new capability allows bend labels, angles, radii, and arc lengths to be shifted to another row in the bender charts like this:

These are the HTML report tokens for which this new shift feature is available:

array_index (this inserts the bend number starting at 1 - see above)
array_a
array_a_fullspringback
array_a_unbent
array_radius_lra
array_dofbend_lra
array_radius_lra_unbent
array_arclength
array_ameas
array_radius_lrameas
array_acor
array_aerr
array_abendersetup
array_radius_lra_bendersetup
array_abender_plus_adjustments
array_LRAdeviation_Adeviation
array_LRAdeviation_ATol
array_LRAdeviation_Aoot

All value types are related to bend angles.

HTML example:

<vtube_val>Array_Ameas,+1</vtube_val>

This ",+1" will shift all the measured bend angles in its table to the next row.

This is an example of the CHIYODA report now included with all VTube-LASER installations:

Version 4.2.1362, November 27, 2023

A bug for the VTube-STEP guide window would cause VTube-STEP to close when a Collection process started. This bug was only present in the previous build 1359 (released on November 24, 2023). No other builds have this bug. If you use VTube-STEP to collect straights from an imported model, then please install this new version.

Download the latest version from https://www.advancedtubularsupport.com/.

Version 4.2.1359, November 24, 2023

NOTE: If you use VTube-STEP to collect straights from an imported model, please update to 4.2.1362 (above).

A new Absolute COMPRESSION BENDING grid is added to the VTube-STEP user interface.

The new grid changes the terminology to match the MIL-D-9898 spec. Column headers have been changed to match that spec in both Absolute Draw bending charts and Absolute Compression bending charts.

The CONRAC report template now includes a new bender table with compression bending the C distances.

To allow for this new table, a new <array_length_master_conrac_compressionbend> value token was added to the html report logic.

New additions were made to the VTube-LASER Master XYZ popup menu:

1 - Insert XYZ point at the midpoint of two bends.

2 - Insert XYZ point at the midpoint of two intersection points.

3 - Insert a new 3D intersection point to form a bend between two centerlines.

Minor debugs were added.

Version 4.2.1353, November 20, 2023

Change: VTube no longer reinserts the default path "C:\Users\Public\Documents\VTube\" in the VTube Path Manager when the users delete it.

Change: Saving the default project state in System Options is much faster.
(It no longer automatically saves a backup of the current configuration. Backups could take too long as they grew in size, and users do not use this backup feature.)

Version 4.2.1347, November 14, 2023

Change: A new ROMER Cimcore DOCS import option was added to the System Option's Import Options menu to control how VTube sets part numbers from imported DOCS files.

This change impacts the VTube-STEP Import menu:

The two choices are:

1 - Use the DOCS filename as the VTube part number during import.

2 - Use the DOCS internal part number as the VTube part number during import.

They are found in the Import Options tab inside the System Options window.

The option setup is stored in the global configuration file. This means that it will change the way all project setups act globally.

Version 4.2.1346, November 9, 2023

Change 1: We added help for complex commands to explain better what the commands and features do. The "More Info..." text will be displayed in the menu grids when more information is available with a mouse click.

Change 2: The SOLIDWORKS Builder now separates the true views for assemblies. Previous versions would overlap the true views of assemblies.

Change 3: The SOLIDWORKS Builder now creates extensive logs that can be sent to us for technical support.

See this help page for an explanation: How to Find VTube SOLIDWORKS Builder Log Files

Version 4.2.1341, November 2, 2023

Build 1341 is the second release on November 2, 2023. Build 1340, released first, had a bug that would not allow VTube to save the latest project file format.

Imported models can be displayed in VTube-LASER.

This allows VTube-LASER to display tubes with components around the tube.
Add imported models by copying models from VTube-STEP.
VTube-LASER models will not change again until a new copy occurs.

New Imported Model Menu

A new Imported Models menu was added to the accordion menu on the right to allow the imported model display.

About the Imported Model Menu

Item 1: Model: Imported allows users to display the model in the main LASER viewport.
Item 2: With Sync to MASTER Visibility enabled, the imported model will only display if the MASTER model is visible.
Item 3: Model: Imported in Measure Guide Viewport allows users to display the imported model in the guide viewport (see below).
Item 4: The copy command allows users to copy the imported model from VTube-STEP into VTube-LASER.
Item 5: The delete command removes the imported model from the viewports in LASER. It does not delete any other project data.

Imported Models in the Measure Guide Viewport

The Measure Guide Viewport will display the imported model if Model: Imported in Measured Guide Viewport is enabled.

Exported STEP Files Will Contain the Imported Model

When exporting to STEP files in VTube-LASER, the imported model will be included in the exported STEP file if displayed.

Additional Things to Know About This Feature

When the imported model is displayed, the Refresh (F2) feature automatically Zooms All (F3). Turn off the imported model if you want the view not to Zoom All automatically.
The imported model will be stored in a parallel file with the same name and ending with a ".VTP.vtlasermodel" filename extension like this:

If you no longer want the imported model to display in a VTP project, rename the .vtlasermodel file or delete it.
You can temporarily delete any part of the model from the screen when in select mode. However, when you press F2 or Refresh, the entire model will reappear.

Other Changes in this Build

Other Change 1: Floating control windows for VTube-STEP and LASER now have much better position control for multiple screens.
Other Change 2: Checkboxes in the accordion menu on the right didn't always work properly. They have been repaired.