What's New

Import/Export of External Data

You can now import and export external data from and to a database.

In addition, the new command Document Traceability manages and verifies the status of corresponding documents.

Benefits:

This enhancement completes the existing file-based system.
Importing/exporting from and to a database keeps an attachment between the Composites Design 3D shape and the VPM document in the database.
Document Traceability verifies the synchronization status of documents.

For more information, see Import, Export, and Manage External Data Preparing for Import/Export of Files Manage the Traceability of VPM Documents

Composites Parameters: Adding Laminates

A laminate can now be defined by a Thickness Ratio.

Benefits: You can define a Composites layup as a thickness with various ratios (percentages) of plies per orientation.

For more information, see Adding Laminates

Composites Parameters: Defining a Main Stacking Sequence

The Main Stacking Sequence tab has been enhanced.

Benefits: This enhancement lets you create and improve Main Stacking Sequences directly, not only by importing/exporting a file.

For more information, see Defining a Main Stacking Sequence

Grid Panel: Multiple Sub-Staggerings of Reference Element

You can now select several sub-staggerings of a reference element, and edit their ramp definition in one shot, from the dialog box or from the context menu in the 3D area.

Benefits: This enhancement reduces the work time.

For more information, see Edit Several Sub-Staggerings

Ramp Definition: Offset Customization

You can now change the ramp definition type without losing the offset customization.

Benefits: This enhancement reduces the work time and errors.

For more information, see Specifying a Ramp Definition

Ramp Definition: Preview

The preview of the centered ramp definitions, and of drop plies with same layer level on same curve has been enhanced and is now correct.

Benefits: Correct preview improves productivity and reduces rework.

For more information, see Specifying a Ramp Definition

Local Drop-Off and Manage Drop-Off

The user interface has been enhanced.

The dialog box now opens with the size you specified at your last access.
Ply data information now appears in a dedicated area of the dialog box, to avoid overlap between the texts and the cross section of ply drops.
Several selection commands have been added in Manage Drop-Off.

Benefits: The user experience is quicker, and more comfortable.

For more information, see Creating a Local Drop-Off Managing Drop-Off

Producibility for Hand Layup: Guide Curve

Two computation options have been added: Constant Angle and About Curve.

Constant Angle: The warp angle at the seed point remains constant along the entire guide curve. This option is useful when the rosette is defined along a curve: The theoretical and actual directions along the curve are identical.
About Curve: This option models the deposition of unsheared fabric along the guide curve. It is more efficient than using a narrow order of drape region around the curve.

Benefits: These two options complement the existing Snap to Axes option to define the warp angle with respect to the guide curve.

For more information, see Guide Curve Options

Producibility for Fiber Placement: Propagation Type

Propagation types have been modified.

ATL Priority Angle
ATL Priority Steering
AFP Priority Angle
AFP Priority Steering

Benefits: This enhancement provides a baseline tape simulation for the main propagation methods of Priority Angle and Priority Steering. Subsequent courses are limited to paths parallel to the preceding course. The simulations support both a conventional axial material deformation model, and a sheared model supported by experimental systems supporting CTS (Continuous Tow Shearing).

For more information, see Start the Producibility for Fiber Placement Strip Propagation Modes

Flattening

A Location Point Creation Wizard has been added to the dialog box.

It creates location points from a reference point and the number of flattens per row, or from a pattern.

Benefits: This enhancement provides an automatic creation of location points for flattening.

For more information, see Use the Location Points Creation Wizard

Splice Plies and Splice Plies from Producibility

The algorithm has been enhanced.

Each cut-piece now has one limit contour (no intermediate limit contour).

Benefits: Performance is improved.

For more information, see Creating Splice Plies Creating Splice Plies from Producibility

Estimating the Number of Cut-Pieces

You can now see the estimated number of cut-pieces from the producibility table and the stacking management table, provided a producibility feature exists.

Benefits: Since the ply width often exceeds the width of the material roll, you need to know whether cut-pieces are required or not. This enhancement automatically provides the information, from the producibility and the material roll width.

For more information, see About Estimated Cut-Pieces Editing Producibility Parameters from the Producibility Table Displaying Information in the Stacking Management

Numerical Analysis: Refinement Factor and Display Normals

Two options have been added: Display Normals and Refinement Factor

When the Compute analysis with ply and core shape simulated at thickness option is selected, the computation is based on tessellating entities at surface level and elevating each triangle to the corresponding thickness. You can now display the normals used for elevating each vertex of the tessellation triangles. The normals direction and their density help you specify the refinement factor.

Benefits: You can adapt the accuracy of the numerical analysis to your requirements by editing the refinement factor, based on the display of the normals.

A low refinement factor provides more accuracy, but requires more computation time. A higher refinement factor is quicker, but the analysis is less accurate.

For more information, see Performing a Numerical Analysis

Multiple Core Samples: Thickness Information

The table in Multiple Core Samples has been enriched with the individual thickness for impacted entities (Plies/cores/cut-pieces). A check box has been added to export the information.

Benefits: Previously, you could see the total thickness at the core sample point. To retrieve the individual thickness, you had to retrieve the corresponding material thickness through several manual steps, even more if multiple core samples were impacted. This enhancement directly provides the information.

For more information, see Creating Core Samples

Multiple Core Samples: Thickness on Butt Plies

The computation of the thickness for points lying on butt joints has been corrected.

Benefits: The computed thickness is now correct.

For more information, see Creating Core Samples

Multiple Core Samples: Identifying Zones

You can now create several Core Sample Groups

You can

Manipulate each Core Sample Group in the dialog box panel.
Hide/show a Core Sample Group.
Name each Core Sample Group.
Group the identifiers.
Export the Core Sample Groups individually or as a whole.

Core Sample labels are more readable and movable.

You can select an Iso-Thickness Areas Group as the reference entity, to create a Core Sample Group and its labels from the ITA Group points.

Benefits: You can identify zones with the same thickness, and name them. Design, stress, and manufacturing departments use this information to communicate.

For more information, see Creating Core Samples Editing Core Samples

Material Excess

Material Excess has been enhanced to extend plies in a staggered manner, to create a ramp.

Benefits: You can drop the plies in staggered manner beyond MEOP to create a ramp.

For more information, see About Material Excess Defining the Material Excess

Iso-thickness Junction Wizard

Two check boxes and one button have been added

Optimize the input junction lines
Create junction lines in new Geometrical Set
Edit ITPs to inspect and edit ITPs.

Benefits: This enhancement

Quickly corrects small inaccuracies in the Junction Lines Set.
Ensures that the elevation height/offset equals the thickness specified by the ITP.
Gathers the junction lines in a Geometrical Set.
Makes the subsequent creation of a solid from Iso-Thickness Areas easier.

For more information, see Using the Iso-Thickness Junction Wizard

Solid From Iso-Thickness Areas

The error feedback has been enhanced for a better understanding.

Benefits: You can see all the locations of problems on the input junction lines.

For more information, see Creating the Solid from Iso-thickness Areas

Ply Book

A check box Use Stacking Text as Separator has been added in the Drafting ply book creation command.

Benefits: This enhancement lets you create the work instructions directly in the 3D model, as Stacking Text.

For more information, see Creating a Ply Book in Drafting