What's New

This page describes recent changes in x3D Design.

This page discusses:

R2022x FD01 (FP.2205)

Working with User Parameters

You can now create parameters and define their values.
Benefits: User parameters can be very handy because they can be:
  • Defined or constrained by relations
  • Used as the arguments of a relation
For more information, see Working with Parameters

Creating Kinematics Contacts Between Bodies

You can detect kinematics contacts between two or more bodies during the simulation of the associated mechanism.
Benefits: You can simulate the motion of your model geometries and avoid clashes between bodies.
For more information, see Creating 3D Contacts

Enable Chain Selection for Convert Entity and Projection Curve

You can now use the new Select Chain context toolbar option to project and copy an entire chain of linked sketch entities or edges while converting sketch entities and creating projection curves.
Benefits: Converting entities and producing project curves is now faster due to the chain selection of sketch entities.
For more information, see Converting External Geometries and Sketches Creating Projection Curves

Enable Chain Selection for Convert Entity and Projection Curve

You can now use the new Select Chain context toolbar option to project and copy an entire chain of linked sketch entities or edges while converting sketch entities and creating projection curves.
Benefits: Converting entities and producing project curves is now faster due to the chain selection of sketch entities.
For more information, see Converting External Geometries and Sketches

Roll Back Behavior Improvements

After you finish editing a feature in a nonactive OGS set in the tree, the rollback shifts to its last position in the previously active set.
Benefits: The manual rollback to the previously active set is no longer required.
For more information, see Rolling Back Features in the Design Tree

Import ECAD Files

You can now import the ECAD (IDF 2.0 and 3.0) circuit board files in the work area.
Benefits: The ECAD files are useful in downstream applications for thermal simulation or electromagnetic analysis or for building enclosures.
For more information, see Importing Geometry

Updated Context Toolbar in the Sketch Environment

The context toolbar, when sketching in the work area, now provides the additional commands such as Extrude , Normal To , and Hide . In addition to this update, the touch toolbar also displays the Normal To feature.
Benefits: It is now easy for users sketching in the touch environment to use the Extrude , Normal To , and Show/Hide features.
For more information, see Tablet or Mobile Device Option Context Toolbars

Lock and Unlock Workflow Updates

The workflow of Lock and Unlock features is now slightly changed to keep it consistent with all the platform applications. The existing Lock Geometry and Unlock Geometry features are removed from the Tools section of the action bar. However, the context toolbar options remain unchanged.
Benefits: The behavior of Lock and Unlock commands is now aligned with all the platform applications.
For more information, see Locking and Unlocking Components

Print 3D Feature Enhancements

You can reposition and select geometries to exclude from the print envelope, and automatically orient geometries when using powder bed fusion 3D printers. Additional 3D printers manufactures are available, and selectable by the manufacture and technology.
Benefits: You can start the Print 3D command and select component geometries to remove from the print envelope. Just the visible geometries print. The Robot is available for rotating and positioning the geometry that works best for the print envelope.
For more information, see Printing 3D Models

Command Parking

You can temporarily park the current feature and create a reference or sketch entity to use in the dialog box of the parked feature without losing your work.
Benefits: You can park the open feature and create or edit a sketch or create a reference plane, then resume with the parked feature.
For more information, see Command Parking

Keyboard Shortcuts Displayed in Tooltips

You can display the keyboard shortcut in the tooltip for most commands when you hover your mouse over the command.
Benefits: Instead of clicking the command in the action bar with the mouse pointer, you can enter the command using a key or combination of keys from the keyboard. Hover over the command to display the shortcut in the title (top) of the tooltip.
For more information, see Keyboard Shortcuts

Smart Mate with Design Assistance

You can drag a component with one or more degrees of freedom and automatically create fully constrained mates with another component.
Benefits: The dragged component snaps into position and provides a preview of the mated solution. The mates display in the tree. You can accept, edit, or cancel the suggested mates.
For more information, see Creating Mates Using Smart Mate

Managing Model Compatibility Across Apps

You can upgrade or duplicate existing mechanisms or simulation elements to open and edit them in a different app from the role.
Important: Depending on the app used to upgrade or duplicate the mechanism, you might not be able to edit the mechanism and simulation elements anymore in one or more of the other apps.
Benefits: Upgrading or duplicating mechanisms and simulation objects allows you to edit them using features only available in a different app from the role.

Loft

You can now choose close the loft when you have selected either or both, Spine curve and Guide curve.
Benefits: You can close the Loft functionality by connecting the first and last sections, while using either or both, Spine Curve and Guide Curve.
For more information, see Loft and Loft Cut

Circular component pattern

You can now create circular pattern of a component in an assembly.
Benefits: You can create the Circular Component Pattern for any part in the assembly. Specify Instance angle or Pattern angle parameters to create the pattern.
For more information, see Creating Circular Component Patterns

Create construction geometry while sketching

You can now create a construction entity while sketching.
Benefits: You can enable the Construction mode to create construction geometry while sketching. The standard sketch enables, when the Construction mode is turned OFF.
For more information, see Working in Sketches

Import Revit files

You can now import geometry in the Revit file format.
Benefits: You can import Revit (*.rvt, *.rfa) files into the workarea of the app. The Revit files do not have any configurations to choose from.
For more information, see Working in Sketches

Restoring Unsaved Changes While Opening Models from Recent Content

You can now restore your unsaved changes even if you open your model from Recent Content on the home page.
Benefits: You can now choose if you want to open the restored version or revert to the permanently saved version.

Converting a Picture to a Sketch

You can convert an inserted picture into a 2D sketch.
Benefits: Converting a sketch allows you to more quickly create geometry from a picture by determining the edges of an object of interest and converting those edges to graphical entities which in turn are made into a 2D sketch.
For more information, see Converting a Picture to a Sketch

R2022x GA

Transforming Geometries

The following new transformation commands are available: Translate, Rotate, Symmetry, Affinity, Scaling, Axis to Axis.
Benefits: The scope of the app is extended.
For more information, see Transform Section

Creating Spirals

You can now create curves in the shape of spirals.
Benefits: Spiral features created in Generative Shape Design can be edited in the app.
For more information, see Creating Spirals

Creating Polylines

You can now connect several points to create a polyline.
Benefits: The scope of Lines commands is extended.
For more information, see Creating Polylines

Creating Multiple Points and Planes

You can create several points and planes on a curve in one operation.
Benefits: Creating wireframe geometries is faster.
For more information, see Creating Multiple Points and Planes

Creating Multiple Geometric Elements

You can now create several instances of an existing geometric element in one operation.
Benefits: Creating wireframe geometries is faster.
For more information, see Repeating Objects

Creating Planes Between Parallel and Intersecting Planes

You can now create a specified number of planes between two planes in only one operation.
Benefits: The productivity is increased.
For more information, see Creating Planes between Other Planes

Creating Parallel Curves

You can now create a curve parallel to a reference curve.
Benefits: The scope of the Wireframe commands is extended.
For more information, see Creating Parallel Curves

Isolating Elements

You can now cut the links between a geometric feature and its reference geometry.
Benefits: Isolating elements transforms a geometric feature into a datum element.
For more information, see Features Section

Inverting the Orientation of a Geometry

You can now reverse the orientation of a surface or curve.
Benefits: You can work with 3D shapes created in Generative Shape Design.
For more information, see Inverting the Orientation of a Geometry

Creating a Blended Surface

You can now create a surface between two wireframe elements.
Benefits: You can work with 3D Shapes created in Generative Shape Design.
For more information, see Creating a Blended Surface

Joining Elements

You can now assemble adjacent elements to create one element.
Benefits: Joining elements lets you work with single elements to reduce the number of manipulations.
For more information, see Joining Geometries

Saving to DXF

You can now export parallel faces from your model to a DXF file using Save as DXF  from the Tools section of the action bar. 
Benefits: This is useful in the manufacturing process for specifying views and all the faces in that view.
For more information, see Saving to DXF

Flexible Sub-Assembly

You can now create repositionable sub-assemblies using the Flexibility context toolbar option that you can access from the Design Manager Tree. 
Benefits: You can make sub-assembly components flexible in their parent assembly. You can use the flexible components in another parent assembly while keeping their ability intact.
For more information, see Making Sub-Assemblies Flexible

Adding Threads to Design Elements

You can now add threads to the design elements.
Benefits: This allows you to create physical threads. You can also switch between physical and cosmetic threads.
For more information, see Threads

Viewing Sketch Offset Dimension

You can now see the sketch offset dimension in the dialog box callout.
Benefits: The sketch offset dimension is now available in the dialog box hence easily visible.
For more information, see Sketch Offset

Accessing Sketch from a Dialog Box

You can now create or edit a sketch directly from the dialog box that appears when you edit an element.
Benefits: When in a feature dialog selection field requiring a sketch or axis for instance: you can use the options available in the three-dot menu to create or edit a sketch, plane, or axis. You can then go back to the feature without losing any of your previous input.
For more information, see Dialog Boxes

Checking Hole Alignment

You can now check the hole alignment in the design.
Benefits: You can check the alignment of the holes with the Hole Alignment feature.
For more information, see Hole Alignment

Measuring Objects

The user interface and workflow of the Measure tool is enhanced.
Benefits: The Measure tool is enhanced to improve workflow and efficiency.
For more information, see Measure

Tangent Propagation in Fill Surface

You can now select Tangent Propagation for each selection field in the Fill Surface dialog box.
Benefits: Tangent propagation in each selection field can act independent of each other.
For more information, see Creating a Filled Surface

Using the Design Assistant

While creating your model, a new Design Assistant icon is displayed when similar command suggestions are available.
Benefits: This new icon is easier to identify from other toolbar commands.
For more information, see About Design Assistance for Sketch

Printing a 3D Model

A new option lets you offset the selected base, to fit the model into the print envelope of the 3D printer. Several other options have been added to detect clearance, hollows, and thin walls in the model.
Benefits: These changes help align the model properly within the 3D printer's envelope and identify potential print problems.
For more information, see Printing 3D Models

Shortcut Rings

Shortcut rings are available for all the modeling dashboard apps.
Benefits: You can use shortcut rings for quick access to commonly used commands.
For more information, see Shortcut Rings

Specifying a Mouse Control

Three preferences are now available to let you select a mouse profile for manipulating viewpoints in your dashboard app: CATIA, SOLIDWORKS, and 3DEXPERIENCE.
To specify this option:
  1. Select Me > Preferences.
  2. From the Mouse Control area, select the required option. By default, 3DEXPERIENCE is selected.
Benefits: You can gain easier access to viewpoints in your dashboard app by specifying the mouse profile option that best fits your needs.
For more information, see Mouse Controls

Opening Components without Subcomponents

When you import or open a component that does not have any subcomponents, the component displays with a specific icon in the tree.
Benefits: You can now distinguish the components with subcomponents from the components without subcomponents .

Importing and Exporting Geometry

You can now import or export geometry in the ACIS file format.
Benefits: The ACIS format gives the flexibility to import or export a geometry in *.sat, *.sab, *.asat, *.asab file types.