What's New

This page describes recent changes in ICEM Design Experience.

This page discusses:

R2022x FD01 (FP.2205)

Projecting Objects

With the OmniProject and OmniProjectModify commands, you can now project one object to another object: a curve to a surface, a point to a surface, or a point to a curve.
  • OmniProject creates a feature. The result is always a new object.
  • OmniProjectModify creates a datum. It directly modifies the input geometry, and the resulting curve has no associativity.
Benefits: You have now the possibility to create projections in a separate command with various options.
For more information, see Projecting Objects

Intersecting Objects

With the OmniIntersect command, you can now intersect one object with another object: a surface by a surface, a curve by a surface, or a curve by a curve.
Benefits: You have now the possibility to create intersections in a separate command with various options.
For more information, see Intersecting Objects

Creating a Curve from Multiple Curves

With the Curve Concatenate command, you can now create a curve from multiple touching or intersecting curves.
Benefits: The command completes the functional scope of the curve creation.
For more information, see Creating Concatenate Curves

Comparing Models

With the Compare command, you can compare different models side-by-side, such as design alternatives or the model progress.
The command shows the main view multiple times in a tiled arrangement. Each view displays a different geometrical set, display list, frame, or other selection.
Benefits: The command provides functionality to enable a selective multiview of the existing part structure for a better visual comparison.
For more information, see Comparing Models

Reorganized Action Bar

The action bar is further reorganized and expanded by the new functions.
Benefits: You have a wider range of functions available for creating and modifying geometry.
For more information, see Action Bar

Selection Sets in OmniFeature Selector Panels

You can arrange inputs to select a specific case or assign the selection to the set required for that case.
The selected input objects are assigned to an input type and a selection set to detect the subcommand compatible to the selection. The selected objects can be assigned automatically or user-defined with the buttons in the selector panels.
Benefits: Selection sets make the selection more comfortable in the following OmniFeature commands:
  • OmniProject
  • OmniIntersect
  • OmniSurf
  • OmniFillet
  • OmniCut
  • OmniMatch
For more information, see Manage the Object Selection Using Selector Panels and Selection Sets

Controlling Conditions using Furtive Display

In geometry commands, you can temporarily display controls on the feature and reference entities.
Conditions may break when editing a feature, for example OmniSurf or OmniFillet.
Benefits: With these options, you can control the compliance with the conditions.
For more information, see About Furtive Display

Converting the Perpendicular Curves OmniSurf Types

You can convert an OmniSurf feature created with a perpendicular surface type to one of the H, L, T, or X subcases. You can use the Convert to 4 Curves option to split the input curves at their intersection point.
Benefits: If various results are possible and the input curves do not provide the required result, you must no longer cut the input curves before creating the OmniSurf feature.
For more information, see Creating a Swept Surface

Creating a Fillet Using a Spine Curve

With the OmniFillet command, you can now create a fillet surface between two neighboring or intersecting surfaces using a spine curve as the fillet surface edge.
You need a curve running roughly along the intersection of the surfaces, or a surface edge. The radius derives from the spine.
Benefits: The use of a spine curve gives you more flexibility to create a fillet surface.
For more information, see Creating a Fillet Surface Using a Spine

Selection Extensions for Creating Fillets

You can now define and use selection sets for the input curves or surfaces in the OmniFillet command.
  • When you select curves or surfaces for a set, the system now always tries to join them. It creates an internal assemble and sets it as the input for the Side A, Side B, or the Spine set.
  • You can create a spine curve from the given inputs with the AutoSpine option.
Benefits: For getting assembled curves or surfaces, you must no longer join all the inputs before use.
For more information, see Using Selection Sets for Creating Fillets

Limiting Options for the Fillet Ends

You can now limit a fillet surface at its start and end.
You can modify the values or use the sliders in the panel, or drag the handles directly at the geometry.
Benefits: Limiting the fillet surface makes the command more flexible.
For more information, see Creating a Fillet Surface

Gap Size Display if Fillet Creation Fails

If the surface creation with the OmniFillet command fails, the command locates now up to five problematic areas on the input geometry.
It encounters a gap that exceeds the topology tolerance when solving for a radius runout line. It highlights the area and displays the rounded gap value.
Benefits: The capability helps you to understand where the problems are located on the input geometry. You can first fix the underlying cause and then perform the command again.
For more information, see Creating a Fillet Surface

Enhanced Selection for Analyses

You can now select surface boundaries as input objects for analyses.
This is supported for:
  • Curvature analysis
  • Deviation analysis
  • True sections
Benefits: This offers greater flexibility in selecting the input geometry.

Orientation Mode for Sections Analysis

With the XYZ mode, you can calculate x and y and z sections all at once.
You can select the sections independently in each direction.
Benefits: The calculation of the sections is more comfortable.

Sculpting Using Controls

The following enhancements for using the Controls options in the Sculpt panel are implemented:
  • If you clear all Controls options, Activate Controls option is now also automatically cleared.
  • Clicking a Controls option in cleared mixed status now changes the status to "cleared".
Benefits: This functionality improves the handling of the Controls options.
For more information, see About Controls Assigning and Displaying Controls

Extended Standard Shaders

In the Display Modes panel, three new materials Default , Silver , and Clay with special lighting are added.
With the new materials all light emitted by the ambience is deactivated and exactly one directional light is automatically created.

You can modify the direction with the Default Materials Light Settings options in the Display section in Me > Preferences → App Preferences > 3D Modeling > Styling > ICEM Design Experience.

Benefits: You can activate with one click three different pre-defined review shaders combined with a special lighting setup.

R2022x GA

Reorganized Action Bar

The action bar is reorganized and includes the Surfacing and Context sections now. More commands from the other apps are integrated.
Benefits: You have now a wider range of functions available for creating and modifying geometry.
For more information, see Action Bar

Creating Blend Curves

With the OmniCurveBlend command, you can create a blend curve between two endpoints.
Benefits: The command completes the functional scope of blend curve creation.
For more information, see Creating Blend Curves

Creating Symmetries

With the Symmetry command, you can modify a curve or a patch by symmetrizing it to a plane with a condition up to G3.
Benefits: The command completes the functional scope of symmetry creation.
For more information, see Creating Symmetry

Reselect Handles when Creating Curves and Patches

When you create curves with OmniCurve and patches with OmniPatch , plus + and minus - handles now appear for reselecting them.
Benefits: The user experience is improved when creating curves and patches.
For more information, see About Creating Curves and Patches

New Softparametric Update Modes

The Update list of the Softparamatric section of geometry commands contains new update modes.
  • Inactive
  • Alert
  • Adapt
  • Rebuild
  • Reshape
  • AutoReshape
Benefits: With these modes, local or global feature update capabilities are available.
For more information, see Working with SoftParametrics

Working with Rework Features

You can now modify rework features associated with a rework feature in not up-to-date status without impacting the update behavior of the modified feature.
Benefits: The Rework Feature functionality also supports multi-cell output.
For more information, see Working with Rework Features

Furtive Display Options in OmniSurf and OmniMatch

For the OmniMatch and OmniSurf Surf Type Parallel Curves commands, a new Display section with furtive display options is available.
Benefits: You can temporarily display control points, orders, and continuities of modifiable and reference elements.

Enhancements in OmniSurf

A number of enhancements are realized.
  • You can now create a blend surface from two intersecting parallel curves and perpendicular curves.
  • The new Edge Flow options Rail A+B and Rail B+A in the Flow Control section let you enable the segmentation of the other edge for edge flow.
  • The Surf Type Perpendicular Curves (4) now supports input curves that cross each other in the corners. It is no longer required that the curve endpoints must coincide with G0 tolerance.
  • OmniSurf now supports as input objects also multi-cell curves, that is wires joined from multiple parts.
Benefits: The command is more powerful.
For more information, see Creating Surfaces from Curves

Approximation Options

Approximation options are available in the Geometry area of the curve and surface creation panels.
  • The Approximation Automatic mode adjusts approximation parameters internally to meet the given approximation tolerance. This gives you a better control of order and segmentation based on the settings.
  • With the Approximation Automatic mode, the order is taken from the maximum order of all input curves using the new INP option.
Benefits: The approximation has direct influence on the addenda. If you select face edge segments as guides for example, the approximation allows you to reduce the number of segments and thus the postprocessing to smooth the surface matchings.
For more information, see About Approximation

Creating Blend Geometry from Fillets

The Convert to Blend Type option of the OmniFillet command allows you to convert fillet curves and surfaces to blend geometry. The option is available for the Radius and Chord Length fillet types.
Benefits: You have now more possibilities to create geometry from existing geometry.
For more information, see Converting a Fillet Curve to a Blend Curve Converting a Fillet Surface to a Blend Surface

Modify Mouse Menu

A new Modify mouse menu that offers modifying commands is available. You can activate it with Alt middle-click on preselected elements.
Benefits: You have access to the following commands:
  • Segment Modeling
  • Curve Modifier
  • Transformation Panel
  • Deform
  • Uncut (modifying)
  • OmniCutModify
  • OmniProjectModify
  • Extrapolate
  • Modify Control Points

For more information about these commands, see the highlights described below.

New Command for Adding and Removing Segments

With the Segment Modeling command, you can add and remove segments on curves using different segment types and ratios.
Benefits: You have more flexibility.
For more information, see Adding and Removing Segments on Curves Adding and Removing Segments on Surfaces

New Command for Modifying Curves Using the Modify Curve Box

You can scale and rotate curves in a controlled way.
Benefits: This tool offers you a very controlled transformation of Class A geometry, primarily curves.
For more information, see Modifying Curves Using the Modify Curve Box

New Command for Transforming using Coordinate Values

With the Transformation Panel command, you can move and rotate objects precisely by specifying coordinate values and angles.
Benefits: You have more transformation options.
For more information, see Transforming using Coordinate Values

New Command for Deforming a Surface

With the Deform command, you can deform a surface using the transform capabilities.
Benefits: You can sculpt a surface at an arbitrary surface point.
For more information, see Deforming a Surface

Enhancements for Cutting Objects

The new OmniCutModify command is the datum variant of OmniCut. It directly modifies the input geometry. You can now cut objects by a segment boundary.
Benefits: The new possibilities complete how objects can be cut.
For more information, see Cutting Objects

Enhancements for Untrimming Objects

The new Uncut (modifying) command is the datum variant of Uncut. It directly modifies the input geometry and has no associativity.
Benefits: The new command completes how objects can be untrimmed.
For more information, see Untrimming Objects

Extrapolating Curves and Surfaces

With the Extrapolate command, you can extrapolate curves and surfaces.
Benefits: You can dynamically extrapolate curves and surface using modification handles.
For more information, see Extrapolating Curves and Surfaces

New Command for Modifying Control Points

With the Modify Control Points command, you can modify the control points and control point related properties of a special element.
Benefits: It is easier for you to modify the control points of a special element, because several properties for modification are combined and only the selected element can be modified.
For more information, see Modifying Control Points

Customizing Crown Menus

In the ICEM Design Experience Options panel, the Customize Crown Menu option opens the Crown Menu Customization panel.
Benefits: You can create individual crown menus with individual command assignments.
For more information, see Customizing Crown Menus

Creating Variants

All command panels support the creation of variants now.
Benefits: You can quickly activate often used parameter settings and create a Variant section with variant commands in the action bar.
For more information, see Creating Variants