New in 3D Solid Modeling

The ability to build a Pseudo Section (VIEWSECTION) using the prism technology has been implemented. You can switch the method for building a section using the LIVESECTIONMODE command.

The option for setting layers for non-parametric 3D solids has been improved. Now, when setting the Current layer in the Design Settings (PARAMS) on the 3D tab and selecting the desired layer as the current one for 2D geometry, the created 3D solid is located on the same layer.

Textures are now saved on the model when converting a Mesh to 3D solids using the Convert to Solid (CONVTOSOLID) command.

New features have been implemented for the Direct Modeling (3DDRAFTINGMODE1) mode. Face extrusion possibilities have been expanded: more flexible selection of contours, as well as elements that limit the extrusion for face alignment.

The possibility to change the colors of individually selected faces of 3D solids via the Properties (INSPECTOR) bar has been added.

The possibilities have been added for editing surfaces obtained in the Surface mode of the Extrude (EXTRUDE) command and Regions (REGION): the dynamic UCS is defined for a face-surface, the Presspull (PRESSPULL)command is applied to the specified surfaces.

For views from 3D models, the Show tangent edges switch is set in the properties. If this switch is set to No, then the tangent edges in the views will be automatically suppressed. At the same time, the tangent edges of fillets remain visible if these are fillets with a flat surface and the tangent edge is located further than the flat surface in the direction of sight in the view.

The program freezes when working with the Slice (SLICE) command have been eliminated.

The error has been fixed due to which, when editing a polysolid (3DPOLYSOLID) using grips (GRIP), it moved to zero coordinates.

The algorithm for calculating the volume of a solid after Boolean operations in Direct modeling has been corrected.

The bug due to which, when extruding several tangent primitives/contours at once, only one was extruded, and the rest were deleted, has been fixed.

The bug due to which, when building in primitive 3D solids, the directions of X and Y axes of the current UCS were not taken into account, has been fixed.

The work of detail views on layouts has been improved.

The bug due to which the graphics of 3D constraints were not highlighted on standard objects has been fixed

The bud has been fixed, where 3D Loft would highlight sketches that were not related to that Loft.

The bug has been fixed where auto constraints did not work when entering a sketch using CTRL+Z or CTRL+Y.

Now, when using the 3D Sweep command, the path being used is hidden by default.

The bug has been fixed where the extrusion did not occur on the contours of elements where infinite elements (RAY, XLINE) were used.

The bug that in some cases caused the program to freeze when using the extrude command has been fixed.

The description and tooltips of some 3D construction commands in the interface and on the 3D History bar have been corrected.

The bug in the 3D history that appeared when converting old versions of models has been fixed.

The program freezing when using the extrude command on some paths has been fixed.

The bug due to which, when canceling an action with CTRL+Z, auxiliary elements of constructions lost their connection with the object, has been fixed.

The bug due to which the selection of contours for extrusion was reset in some cases has been fixed.

The bug due to which extra parameters were displayed in the Parameter Manager when extruding by loft has been fixed.

The bug due to which in some complex cases elements were not added to the array has been fixed.

The bugs have been fixed due to which a bend was not created according to a sketch in the following cases:

• Bend along line with angle inside.
• Bend along edge in the sketch plane.
• Bend with more than two lines.

Construction of sweeps on solids with NURBs-surface has been corrected.

The 3D History now displays the results of the new command of the Mechanica module – Flanging.

A possibility to change the construction order in the 3D history tree has been implemented, an element of the end of the 3D construction history has appeared. Now the history elements can be swapped if it does not destroy the model, as well as hide some of the elements (for example, to analyze the model).

In the Presspull (PRESSPULL) command now it has become possible to move part of a selected face.

The Extrude (EXTRUDE) command now takes into account internal closed contours (holes).

In the Presspull (PRESSPULL) and Extrude (EXTRUDE) commands, a possibility has been added to align 2 faces: one created using extrusion and one created on the model.

In the parametric modeling mode, it has become possible to create a model with a hole in the Stretching by sections mode.

A search bar has appeared in the Parameters Manager window.

Now you can edit the color of lines and text of dimensional constraints. Often, such constraints were very difficult to distinguish on the screen, especially when the grid was on. The DYNCONSTRAINTSCOLOR and DYNCONSTRAINTSTXTCOLOR system variables are responsible for these colors, and you can set the color in the Color > Dimensional constraints of the Options dialog.

 

In the following cases, the visual style is automatically set to Top SW Iso:

• When entering sketch editing mode (PSADD), if there are no 3D constructions in the docu-ment, and the view is oriented along one of the WCS axes;
• When entering the 3D block editing mode (3DBEDIT).

Also, in the 3D block editing mode (3DBEDIT), the display style is automatically set to Gouraud shaded with edges.

The program behavior has been fixed, when in the 3D block editing mode, after launching any 3D command or switching the 3D modeling, the ribbon each time switched to the 3D Block Editor tab.

The work of angular 3D constraint (3DANGLE) at large angles has been fixed. For this, when applying a 3D angular constraint, the user is given the opportunity to set the rotation axis so that it can be unambiguously determined how to measure angles of more than 180 degrees.

The bug due to which a crash occurred when trying to extrude a contour containing an ellipse or spline has been fixed.

An incorrect behavior of the Presspull (PRESSPULL) command when moving multiple faces has been fixed.

The bug due to which the angular constraint did not save the direction and could suddenly start counting in the other direction has been fixed.

The bug where it was not possible to create a 2D constraint to align a polyline vertex with a point has been fixed.

The bug due to which changes to hide 3D objects using isolation in files with 3D models were not saved has been fixed.

In the 3D Module command Convert to Solid (CONVTOSOLID), the error of converting a mesh to a solid, which occurs when the mesh was located at a large distance from the coordinate origin, has been fixed. In this case, the level of detail during the conversion turned out to be too low.

Blocks containing solid objects (3D solids) or parametric bodies is now edited in a separate editor, which is called by double-click on such a block with the 3DBEDIT command.

The 3D Block Editor context tab appears on the ribbon with additional tools for 3D editing, buttons for saving the result and exiting the editing mode. The tab lacks a number of commands that are present in the standard block editor, for example, for working with attributes. However, these commands can still be called from other ribbon tabs, menu, or command line.

If there is no license for the 3D module, editing 3D blocks using standard methods will still be available, but without the ability to use 3D editing commands.

In the drawing explorer, 3D blocks have been moved to a separate section.

The 3DREFEDIT command is used to edit references.

A new Section command of 3D-module in the 3D Tools ribbon tab of the Direct modeling section creates and object of Region type that represents a 2D cross section of 3D objects, including 3D solids, surfaces and meshes.

Previously, in order to create a drawing in a layout, it was necessary to create projections of 3D objects in model space and then insert them into layouts using viewports. An additional option has been implemented in the nanoCAD 22, using which you can create 2D views directly in layouts without duplicating them in the model space.

The mode of auto-applying constraints is implemented in parametric modeling, when building flat sketches of future models. Now you don't have to waste time creating geometric constraints - the system independently parameterizes the object.

nanoCAD can now design 3D parts from sheet metal. Here, for example, are parts typical of those that can be designed with the new sheet metal module:

Among the new commands are the following:

The basic tools (Sheet solid, Bend edge, Bend over segment, and Fold by sketch) create standard parts from sheet metal. Folds can be bent and unbent at any time, and corners are handled by a variety of reliefs and bends.

For specific sheet metal parts, there are the Shell and Ruled shell tools, plus additional tools quickly add commonly used sheet metal elements, such as these ones:

• Collars

• Holes

• Plates

• Shutters

• Stamps

• Stiffeners

• Undercuts

The Unbend tool makes flat drawings of 3D sheet metal parts.

Each release of nanoCAD adds new commands. To make it easier to focus on the design at hand, the primary 3D modeling commands are now grouped by mode in the Modeling Modes section of the 3D Tools ribbon:

• Parametric

• Direct

• Sheet 

• Meshes

When users switch between modeling types, the ribbon automatically changes the commands displayed to those specific to the selected modeling mode. For example, when a user selects Parametric modeling mode, the ribbon changes to show commands for creating 3D geometry based on parametric sketches.

When the user selects Direct modeling mode, the ribbon display commands for creating standard 3D models and operations related to direct modeling.

When the user selects Sheet metal mode, the commands are those useful for this mode, such as Sheet solid, Shell, and Unbend.

When the user selects Meshes modeling mode, the commands standard for creating 3D surfaces become available.

Commands that apply to all types of modeling such as, for example: Chamfers and Rounds, Boolean operations, commands of construction geometry, manipulation and others are always visible to a user.

nanoCAD makes it more convenient to work in sketch mode when using the ribbon interface. There no longer is a need to switch between tabs, as after launching 2D sketch mode, all tools necessary for creating parametric sketches are shown by the ribbon. The most frequently used commands are always at hand; there are no superfluous ones.

nanoCAD adds two more types of 3D constraints: 3D-tangency and 3D-symmetry. These are in addition to the 3D-insert, 3D-merge, and 3D-corner constraints from previous releases.

The 3D-tangency constraint joins surface tangents that are more complex than what the existing 3D-merge constraint can handle. It creates tangents between, for example, the following objects:

• Cylinders to planes or cylinders

• Cones to planes

• Spheres to cylinders or planes

• Circular edges to straight or circular edges

The 3D-symmetry constraint aligns 3D solid elements symmetric to a selected plane.
3D-symmetry constraint: