Improvements and new features in 3Data Expert® version 16.0

There are several improvements to different commands, processes and Graphical User Interface (GUI).

User interface

The most important change is the new GUI with ribbon based interface. Especially, the Easy print ribbon will allow the user to follow the desired 3D model preparation steps in a consistent manner from STEP input to slice output for selected AM system. All necessary command tabs are immediately visible to the user to help inexperienced user as well as remind the seasoned user on the available functionality.

The legacy Menu and Toolbars interface is still available via Edit Preferences > User Interface tab.

Support generation

Support generation includes support quality improvement as well as new Silhouette support functionality targeted for generating supports for dental restoration models. For example, complicated titanium cores for dental restorations can be processed automatically within minutes.

Point density support parameters added with Web supports for more flexible support generation functionality.

Quality control

New Nominal model comparison functionality allows the users to compare original 3D geometry with the 3D or CT scanned model of the final AM part. This is important for quality control and generating consistently high quality end-user parts. GPU accelerated computation makes the comparison between STL models with millions of triangles very fast. Automatic Excel and Word reports allow to store the measured data effectively for further use.

Other improvements

• Z Compensation quality fixes for small details and dents in the STL model.
• 2D Nesting added into original 3D Nesting command.
• Solidify, Scan Offset and 3D Lattice commands much faster and more reliable with new marching cubes algorithm based STL file generation.
• Join Slices command for combing separate CLI slice sets into one with Boolean operations.
• 3D Texture generation on STL surface with bitmap images added (experimental).
• Batch conversion added for STEP to STL generation.
• Copy Array command with Fill workarea command to fill the workarea automatically.
• Slice command added with separate Inner polygon Tool Compensation for handling shrinkage with delicate and small parts.