Softpedia >Windows >Science / CAD >Techne CAD/CAM >  Changelog

Techne CAD/CAM Changelog

What's new in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.30.0 RC

Jul 16, 2014
  • The Cut List docking pane could be closed without a way to reopen it and the pane state was serialized to the registry so it would remain closed even after restart. The pane will now always be visible on startup (an assumption that it being closed is a rare event) and its visibility can be toggled via menu command.

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.29.0 RC (Apr 18, 2014)

  • Added comment to toolpath file warning if the origin is offset.
  • A couple of spelling corrections.
  • This is a release candidate. Debugging code turned off

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.28.0 Beta (Mar 24, 2014)

  • Snap to grid fixed.

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.27.0 Beta (Mar 19, 2014)

  • The snap to grid option would snap to the tick mark even when tick marks were turned off. Added ability to add or remove cuts from an existing group cut.

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.26.0 Beta (Mar 4, 2014)

  • For non-pocket/non-filled cuts that have islands, previously the boundary would be machined first, then the islands. Now islands are machined first.
  • The initialization of the DirectX interface moved to OnCreate. Should prevent display of white screen with DirectX warning message briefly showing during startup.
  • The machine configuration option to use variable speed spindle was not storing choice

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.25.0 Beta (Jan 29, 2014)

  • The tool library was not displaying the bitmap for the calculator symbol, or the copy to clipboard bitmap.
  • The tool library was not saving if the setting was set for a particular tool to have all its settings the same and for it to use all materials.
  • Clarified in documentation that for VBit style tools, the angle is measured from edge to edge, not relative to the center of the tool.
  • When generating tool profiles for use in the 3D preview, some of the algorithms made sloppy approximations, now mathematically correct.
  • The ellipse computation was doubling the origin position.
  • The arc computation was using overly lenient tolerance values when computing non-toolpath data. Showed when display polygons with rounded corners.

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.24.0 Beta (Jan 29, 2014)

  • Found a memory leak in error message routine for loading application configuration options when setup for non english language. Went through all code and changed any pointer (c++ baby) generation so use smart pointers if possible
  • Some items, mostly dialogs, were being created on the stack. Moved all to be on the heap. A couple were surprisingly large
  • For contour toolpaths was checking on some minimum movements and asserting (showing an error) if they were too small. Changed the tolerance to better reflect the machine configurations and will now just generate trace messages instead of errors
  • When importing the tool, machine etc database files if the application was syncing the files with other programs (a future possibility), the synced files would not update causing the imported files to get overwritten

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.23.0 Beta (Jan 29, 2014)

  • Changed an option in the machine configuration. Originally this was "Curve Approximation Length". It is now "Curve Approximation Tolerance". Almost all curves in Techne are approximated by short line segments. Before you specified the length of these segments. Now Techne computes an error for how far the segment is from the curve it is approximating. So curves that are very smooth can use much longer segments for approximation, crazy curves will get very short line segments.
  • Changed the algorithm for computing pocketed contours. Should run much faster with larger areas, possibly 5X increase speed.
  • For the design window many of the primatives that were being drawn with line segments. In any case where their is GDI+ primative of the same type, now using that instead of generating the line segments.
  • Grid settings are now saved between sessions.
  • With circle cuts, each time a new circle was started the default origin could shift. It will now be whatever the previous circle used. Also, ellipse, oval, rectangle, polygon, rounded rectangle, parallel lines, text.
  • When starting a new project, will use the same origin position style as the last project if configuration options say to use last session values.
  • When defining a new part, if metric units are the default will use more reasonable initial data.
  • Added a setting to the application configuration option to specify the maximum amount of triangles to use when rendering to DirectX. Saw a problem with DirectX 9 where although the system reports lots of memory available too many triangles would cause a DirectX no render. Will only be useful for older systems.

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.22.0 Beta (Jan 10, 2014)

  • When zooming in the design view, the zoom would not be smooth. Also added that when zooming using the mouse wheel, the zoom will be focused on the position of the cursor
  • For drill type cuts where the user specified the diameter of the holes, the code would previously generate a line based toolpath. It will now use arc commands to make the holes
  • Can use the middle mouse button to pan

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.21.0 Beta (Jan 10, 2014)

  • Using a drill type cut with hole diameter greater than the diameter of the tool, to use a specified hole size would not be read correctly from the file (would always read as use tool diameter). File format is OK, was code reading problem.
  • When using Techne, application settings can be saved between sessions. When using saved settings (state), each time a new design is started or an existing file loaded the settings in the 3D preview view would reset to those settings at the start of the session.

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.20.0 Beta (Jan 10, 2014)

  • The user specifies a ZigZag toolpath pocketing style for a specific cut. They close the toolpath dialog and then reopen it, the pocket style would show Contour although ZigZag was actually selected.
  • When changing the style of a cut to filled, an information dialog is display about toolpath location being inside the cut, outside, etc. The warning was shown even if the cut had not been defined yet. Warning is no longer shown if cut has not been layed out (is not an empty state).
  • A serious error when specifying offset toolpath generation, only occurs in complex cuts. The offset was opposite of specified (inward would actually be outward).
  • The ability to save state data (last used circle diameter for example, quality of mesh, etc) was broken in 1.0.19.0, fixed.

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.19.0 Beta (Dec 12, 2013)

  • The machine configuration options were not calculating equality correctly, may have affected whether configurations would have been stored correctly.
  • Adding multi-language support. Created string translation class.
  • The tool setup dialog, speed and feed was showing default entry twice in some circumstances.
  • Replaced auto_ptr use with unique_ptr
  • Upgraded the boost library to the most recent as of 12/2/2013
  • Did changes to many of the Techne library file formats. Added a timestamp for when the file was last saved. This is used in conjunction with a syncrhonization option for use in a forthcoming program Techne 3D. This will allow the two programs to optionally use the same tool library, machine configuration, etc but maintain separate files.
  • Shifted many files into a common use location so that they can be shared by multiple projects. Not only useful for maintenance purposes, but allows the file formats used by many data libraries to be maintained accross different programs.
  • Was stroring the applicaiton look option in the registry, moved it to the state file.
  • For toolpath files they need to be stored in ascii format. If the user was using certiain non-English unicode languages the text being saved would likley be considered corrupted by the NC control processor. Now all data is scrubbed before being writtin to files.

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.18.0 Beta (Sep 3, 2013)

  • The ability to override the default toolpath settings on a cut by cut basis would not store a change to the cut depth. The underlying error would have existed for many of the property sheet style dialogs. Changes were only updated to a given page when another tab was selected before hitting the OK button.

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.17.0 Beta (Aug 24, 2013)

  • Representation of a spline based on simply line segments was too coarse. This was especially noticable in toolpaths. Also tightend calculation for determining when line segments on a toolpath were collinear.

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.16.0 Beta (Aug 24, 2013)

  • Added session state storage for many options and cut values. For example if you set the background color for rendering it will be remembered next time you start the program. This works for many dialogs and ribbonbar controls, including many cut configurations.

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.15.0 Beta (Aug 20, 2013)

  • More help file updates, all context help should be live.

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.14.0 Beta (Aug 3, 2013)

  • Removed buttons on ribbonbar for controlling rendering in 3D view. May add back in later version.
  • Lots of help file updates, enabled context based help on many ribbon controls.

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.13.0 Beta (Jul 30, 2013)

  • Changed the tool configuration dialog(s) to tabbed style
  • For dynamically calculated tab dialog sections will query which font the tab is using instead of assuming global generic font
  • Updated help files
  • Throughout code replaced any hard coded array index limit to instead use countof to determine array sizes
  • Put in code to support multiple languages but it is not turned on yet. This is called MUI methodology. Relatively easy to implement for Vista and newer OS but is looking painful for XP
  • Using newest version of taskdialog library
  • Updated toolpath generation dialog

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.12.0 Beta (Jul 19, 2013)

  • Updated the tip information.
  • Changed the machine configuration to use tab dialog. Added some more checks for valid configuration.
  • All dialogs that use property sheets will dynamically calculate tab sizes.

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.11.0 Beta (Jul 19, 2013)

  • Ability to export and import application data files. These are the tool database, material database and machine configuration. This allows one person to create a tool database and share it with other application installations. Also if the user needs to do an uninstall and then reinstall, they can retain the configurations.
  • Updated help files.

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.10.0 Beta (Jul 10, 2013)

  • Install and install over existing installation works with retaining current settings on upgrade. The only remaining issue is that if there are multiple users on the computer and each one has used the program then during uninstall only the user who is running uninstall will have their local settings removed. And in all cases the "5 Percent" folder will remain in the user local directory. Only the folder not files, so impact to system is trivial
  • Updated dialogs, main one being the part configuration
  • Updated help files
  • No implemented yet, but organized layout to eventual support multi-language. For now will likely require Vista or newer OS

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.9.0 Beta (Jun 19, 2013)

  • Created state class for application to store individual user settings into a file instead of registry. Each user gets their own file, while machine and tool settings will be constant for all users.
  • Under Vista and newer OS the file permission for configuration files was not writeable for non-admin users.
  • Added user selectable configuration options, for now only a few.
  • Added a reset configuration command to restore all data files to a default state.
  • Many help file fixes.
  • Installer sets permission of all user data directory to everyone generic all.
  • Installer will allow user to not install DirectX 9 on Windows 7 or newer. Will not show preview handler install options for Windows XP.
  • Will not remove user data file upon uninstall. You can manually remove these by removing the directory ?C:\ProgramData\5 Percent?, this will be a hidden directory. Its only about 60K of files. Working on installer fix for this

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.8.0 Beta (Jun 8, 2013)

  • Added a comment field to the part description - the information flow into the toolpath creation dialog. This information gets included as a comment in the toolpath file. The information also is available to the Windows search function if preview handlers are installed.
  • Toolpath file will test for nested comment symbols and restrict any line to single matched symbols.
  • Created preview, thumbnail and search handlers for the Windows Vista and later OS. File format will store preview image.
  • Changed installation routines, lots of little things including changing the GUID of the installer for each install.
  • Now storing application data files into the all users location, previously the files stored in the main techne directory. Things like the tool database, etc. This should mean that when user upgrades version they don't lose existing configuration. Under XP (possibly Vista) there are no permission settings so files in the Techne directory could be updated. Under 7 file changes were discarded.

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.7.0 Beta (Apr 27, 2013)

  • The context sensitive (F1 key) help should work.
  • Select of Oval shape cuts more accurate.
  • Major bug in convex null algorithm, mostly seen when trying to select a combination style cut. Fixed it, also added code to remove collinear points.
  • For consistency, if a line based cut is closed, clicking in its interior will select it even if it is not designated as filled. All other cut types operate this way.
  • Changed the default tolerance for points being equal to 0.0001 from 0.001.
  • When generating toolpaths, it was hard coded the value to use to determine two sequential points are the same. Will now test if this value against the user defined curve approximation value and use whichever is smaller.
  • Changed the way selection occurs. The mouse will symbol will change when a cut can be selected. Also, if multiple cuts overlap, the closest cut will be selected.
  • Added routines for calculating distance from point to geometric objects/cuts.
  • For rounded rectangles, changed calculation routines to use symmetry to calculate boundary.

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.6.0 Beta (Apr 12, 2013)

  • The layer settings dialog threw error when deleting a layer.
  • The display rotate option was not enabled.
  • For DirectX 11 new pixel and vertex shaders.
  • Changed multiple help files.
  • Added "Offset" label to text cut configuration.
  • If the program is just started and you load an existing design, the preview is zoomed very far out (looks like a dot). Need to reset the part options to reset the preview. Updating views was not processing a NO_HINT suggestion correctly in photoview class.

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.5.0 Beta (Mar 9, 2013)

  • Found a problem that appeared only in 32 bit build using DirectX 9 although no reason it should not have occurred in other builds.
  • Was using an array of XMMATRIX values, the XMMATRIX uses registers and this seems to have been the issue. Converted any non local storage using XMMATRIX to XMFLOAT4X4 instead.
  • For DirextX11 version for design preview made machined areas lighter than uncut areas. This makes it easier to see cuts. This takes place in the shaders. Will be enhancing the shader in next release. Also playing with the line antialias setting. Turned it off on this build, debating whether the enhanced look is worth thicker toolpath lines.
  • Increased default jog speed.

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.4.0 Beta (Mar 2, 2013)

  • Fixed ASSERT in rotate editor when command is finished. Fired when multiple cuts being rotated.
  • Changed ASSERT test when generating a simple polygon that has holes when it shouldn't to a ATL trace message.
  • When computing contour based pocket toolpaths, the failsafe value calculation now uses abs value when computing distances.
  • Found special case in pocket contours toolpath where the cut is so small that no pocketing occurs, was ASSERTing but this is a valid case.
  • When importing adobe illustrator and eps files, now have option of specifying filled areas will have the toolpath be on inside of area, not just on the outline of the area.

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.3.0 Beta (Feb 26, 2013)

  • The toolpath direction (climb versus conventional) was wrong in some instances.
  • The displayed toolpath direction in the preview had direction arrows backwards.
  • Improved the way toolpath direction symbols look.
  • Fixed normal calculation for direction symbols.
  • For DirectX11 users, will now display rapid toolpath movement direction symbols.

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.2.0 Beta (Feb 14, 2013)

  • Big change in the 3D preview, will now use DirectX11 (on Windows 7) and then downgrade to DirectX9 on other systems.
  • Installer saying its 64 bit in title on 32 bit install.
  • When creating a continous boundary toolpath could get duplicate points. Most often seen with circle cuts.
  • Removed assertion test on toolpath direction symbols scaling value, now shows a trace message.

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.1.0 Beta (Jan 21, 2013)

  • Added speed and feed calculator accessed from tool configuration dialog.
  • Updated all help files related to dialogs.
  • Changed toolpath cut direction to be set on as a configuration parameter in the tool description instead of being set on a toolpath cut level basis. Will cause change it tool library file format and design file format.
  • Was not saving that tool should use different settings for a non-default material.
  • Not able to set plunge type in tool geometry.
  • For drag type tools the boundary and interior direction can go either way.
  • Updated the tool library included with a better selection of tools.

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.0.13 Alpha (Jan 12, 2013)

  • Under XP the 3D preview shows a DirectX not found message. Bug remains (need to find XP computer to run developer environment on in order to debug).
  • Was seeing a black background intermittently when showing the main button menu. Have switched the popup menu to initiallize to the system default animation, the default is no animation. Seems to have cured problem.
  • Showing "Pane 1" in the lower left pane. Not sure what we want here, for now it is blank.
  • In the ribbon we were showing true type fonts and device fonts. In the text cut dialog we showed only true type. The documentaion on device fonts is a little vague about their use in the way we do things, so we will only use true type fonts for text based cuts.
  • The rounded rectangle cut defaults to a filled style. Changed to unfilled for consistency with all other cuts.
  • With line cuts changed so that if an operation is performed that in turn results in the select operation becoming active, the select operation tab is NOT made active, although it will become visible.
  • Added information dialog when changing the fill state of a cut.
  • Getting an ASSERT under XP during Ribbon initialization testing. It showed 0 categories, which is weird but OK.
  • Cleaning up and adding various help files.

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.0.12 Alpha (Jan 12, 2013)

  • Changed toolpath dialog so that you can only specify length units, instead of length and time.
  • The text editor has a font combo box that takes forever to load. The problem control is now initialized in a background thread at startup.
  • The preview for circle generated toolpaths could leave off the last circle.
  • The circle generated toolpaths when used with drag type tools can now have connected toolpaths.
  • Erroneous warning messag being generated with drag type tools, ZigZag toolpath, connected paths with boundary option.
  • Circle generated toolpaths can take a slightly too aggressive cut (rounding error problem).

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.0.11 Alpha (Jan 12, 2013)

  • The circle generated toolpaths did not implement the non-connected toolpath option or the manually specified overide of stepover value. The do now
  • Fixed error the zig zag style toolpaths could not be specified for circle geometry cuts
  • Throwing warning to get newer version message
  • Drag tool should work now
  • For ZigZag toolpaths, the boundary of the path may have incorrectly been set to the non-finish quality in certain circumstances
  • When previewing drag toolpaths, the paths will always be drawn above the part instead of the actual depth level

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.0.10 Alpha (Jan 12, 2013)

  • Toopaths will now use the GCode/ShopBot arc commands when generating circles. Should result in smaller toolpath files, marginally higher quality circles. Code will also use edge tool settings because with circles we can be sure when edge versus slot milling is occuring. Code is lightly tested, visiually inspect toolpaths.
  • A saved design uses ID information for tools and materials that are stored in separate configuration files. Application does checking at load time to see if tools and materials of a design make use of valid values. If not, user can udate.
  • Bug when generating toolpath where default material always used in feedrate

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.0.9 Alpha (Jan 12, 2013)

  • Previously the order of making cuts was to do all normal cuts first, then any drill type cuts no matter how they were ordered by the user. Now the order will be correct.
  • Slight change in file format, designs using previous versions will not work in this version.

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.0.8 Alpha (Jan 12, 2013)

  • File format for part and tools has changed
  • Redesigned the toolpath point class to hold data with instructions to set spindle speed, type of milling. Previously the toolpath group class held this info
  • Updated feed rate computation method for 3D movements
  • Changed ramping angle from being hard coded, so being user setable on a tool by tool basis
  • Change toolpath start method to have a tool level default value instead of machine level
  • Changed some of the startup GCode commands
  • Will now turn off spindle if a tool specifies 0 RPM speed, used in drag operations
  • All ASSERTS in the toolpath generation will not fire if the abort flag is set
  • Generation fo ZigZag toolpath allocated array sizes incorrectly
  • Computing the time for machining was wrong when the speed units used seconds

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.0.7 Alpha (Jan 12, 2013)

  • The part preview will now utilize all cores on multi-core systems to render. Only doing it on preview, for real toolpath creation will continue to use a single thread.
  • Repaired errors in thread termination routines.
  • Now test for multi-core capability, if found the start of preview rendering will occur sooner.
  • Found possible error when using shared pointer accross threads, fixed.
  • Converted all dialogs that self destroy to Factory creation model.
  • Removed all references to AfxEndThread (turns out has significant memory problems).
  • Moved critical section variable to application object instead of document space.
  • Moved many objects that use shared pointers to be on heap instead of stack.
  • Using std::shared_ptr instead of boost::shared_ptr
  • When creating data for a threaded toolpath, now clone cuts and send that instead of polygon representations of cuts.
  • Selecting a round part geometry caused error.
  • Added abilty to turn off or select low quality previews

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.0.6 Alpha (Nov 16, 2012)

  • Finished implementing drilling type cuts.

New in Techne CAD/CAM 1.0.0.5 Alpha (Nov 15, 2012)

  • Adds a drilling capability that is not fully implemented. Specifically saving/loading of designs with a drill cut is not tested, but generating toolpaths should work.
  • There was a reported bug creating an ASSERT when trying to save a toolpath that hopefully has been fixed.