Beta Optimizer True Shape

Fig. 1: The new True Shape option in the Beta Optimizer.

Microvellum’s new Beta Optimizer (see the build 25.1.0325.641 release notes for more information) has added functionality for true shape nesting. While results may vary between different machines and software configurations, extensive testing of true shape nesting in the Beta optimizer has concluded with a significant improvement across the board in optimization performance.

New Features

1. Enabling true shape nesting can be done in the "Optimization" section of the Processing Station, if your software is set to use the Microvellum Beta Optimizer.
   
2. Rather than a scaling bar, you can select between low, medium, and high persistence level using a convenient drop-down menu.
   

Fig. 2: Multi-run Optimization.

1. A new setting has been added, Multi-run Optimization. Enabling multi-run optimization sets the optimizer to run multiple times consecutively, then select the best result. This setting may improve optimization results but will increase processing time. You can manually set the number of runs you would like the optimizer to make before determining the best result, as well as set the time of breaks between optimization runs. 
   

Performance Enhancements

Fig. 3: An example order processing multiple sheets with arcing parts with True Shape enabled.

1. Work orders containing multiple parts with complex shapes (such as arcs) were processed significantly faster across multiple tests, sometimes 50-80% more quickly than in the same order in the legacy optimizer. 

 

Fig. 4: A product that required 3 sheets in the legacy optimizer (top) vs 2 sheets in the beta optimizer (bottom)

1. Tests of yield and part placement on sheets demonstrably improved, with some projects containing parts that were spread across multiple sheets in the legacy optimizer instead being placed more precisely on fewer sheets of material.  
2. Additionally, existing issues that have been known to occur when using the legacy optimizer, such as parts being placed sporadically when setting True Shape to a higher persistence setting, have not appeared or been significantly reduced in terms of occurrence with the Beta Optimizer’s True Shape Nesting setting. 

New Toolbox Templates

Annotative Text 

Fig. 5: The shrunken annotative text issue.

1. There were reports of an issue with annotative text scaling in Toolbox BSB, which would primarily occur when transferring product drawings to or from Toolbox AC. The text would often appear scaled far smaller than intended, sometimes to the point of being unreadable. This issue has been resolved with the new Toolbox templates. 

BSB Fixes

2D Part Machining 

1. A Toolbox BSB issue was noted wherein adding machining would be applied incorrectly. The issue would manifest when users had more than one product in a room and drew a part of each product in 2D. It was sometimes found to be the case that when modifying the one part and drawing it in 2D, the machining on the other part would sometimes erroneously copy the machining of the first. This issue has been resolved. Machining should no longer be copied between parts when more than one 2D drawing is open in a session. 

Section Hatching

1. An issue was found in Toolbox BSB regarding the scaling of hatches. When drawing cross sections, it was found that using the Hatch Edit command would permanently change the scale of hatches from its default value of 1 to 0.5. No attempted revisions, including saving a new scale to the template level, would register within the software. This issue has been resolved. Hatch Edit should no longer result in deviations to the default value of hatch scaling, and any personal modifications done to the value of hatch scaling should be able to be saved, if desired. 

Wall Drawing Errors

1. When users attempted to draw walls with the “About Microvellum” interface open, it would sometimes lead to the software crashing. 
2. Opening the “Products” tab under the Drawing section of the Toolbox Palette would sometimes result in crashes. These crashes would occur when selecting the Search option in the “Products” tab, then switching back to the “Room Components” tab to draw a wall. 
3. Both issues have been resolved. Crashes should no longer occur when working in either the "About Microvellum" or "Products"/"Room Components" interface. 

Help UI

1. The Microvellum Help UI in Toolbox BSB is intended to have links to the Microvellum Community site, as well as the links for both Autodesk’s Knowledge Network and the Bricsys Help Center, as any of these 3 sources may be necessary according to the problem being experienced by users. Instead, it was found that the Help UI erroneously displayed the outdated prior version, with the link to the Microvellum Community site not being accessible, and the Bricsys Help Center not being visible. This issue has been resolved. The Help UI in Toolbox BSB should display the correct, updated information with all links being active. 

Solid Modeling BSB to AC

Fig 6: Incorrectly analyzed solids (top), and corrected solids (bottom).

1. There were reportedly issues with the analyzing of solids using SMA based on the version of Toolbox one was using. Solids that are successfully analyzed in Toolbox BSB, when imported or opened in Toolbox AC, would not analyze correctly. Solids may be placed off center, materials not selected, or other problems may arise. This issue has been resolved. Analyzed solids should no longer have an issue of incorrect analysis between different versions of Toolbox. 

Viewport Issue

Fig. 7: Infinite viewports caused by the issue.

1. It was found to be the case that a graphical error requiring the manual closure of the software would occur when altering views using Viewport. If switching between 1 and 2 viewports using the Microvellum Navigate Menu button in the Toolbox Palette panel, it was sometimes the case that the software would create an excessive number of viewports that were unable to be closed. This issue could only be resolved by manually closing the software. This issue has been resolved; switching between viewport configurations should no longer cause multiple viewports to open. 
   

Workbook Designer Window

1. An issue was reported wherein if one had the window of another application over Toolbox BSB, then opened the BSB window once again, opened the Workbook Designer interface, then closed it, the previous application would pop up over the BSB window again, even if not clicked on. A similar issue was resolved in a previous build, with the problem previously manifested in the Edit Design Data interface. This issue has been resolved similarly to the prior issue. Windows should no longer pop open when the Workbook Designer interface is closed.  
   

Tool Bar Placement

Fig. 8: The toolbar moving the Toolbox Palette (left) and the correct docking position (right).

1. An issue was reportedly occurring when attempting to adjust the position of BricsCAD toolbars relative to the Toolbox Palette. The BricsCAD toolbars would consistently be mounted to the lefthand side of the Toolbox Palette, even if placed on the righthand side of it. This issue has been resolved, and toolbars should be docked correctly relative to the Toolbox Palette.  

MV Server Fixes

1. An issue was reported wherein machining for the same products differed between MV Server and localized MV, leading to the same product being processed differently. This issue was resolved, and processing should no longer differ between server and local software. 
2. Another issue with the importation of XML files was reported. When importing an XML file of an existing project into MV Server and creating a work order from the file, the project name would not appear in the work order or any generated files. This was noticeably not the case when processed on a local device, with the project name appearing correctly in that scenario. This issue has been resolved; project names should now appear in XML files as intended.  

Workbook Designer Find Function

1. An issue with the Find feature in Workbook Designer was reported. When entering the keyboard shortcut for the find function (CTRL+F), rather than immediately opening the text field of the Find function and allowing users to type their search terms, as intended, users would still have to click on the “Find” box within the interface. This issue has been resolved- using the keyboard shortcut should now immediately open the text field of the Find function within the Workbook Designer interface.

Dynamic Image Text Fix

Fig. 9: Dynamic Image text with characters stacking atop each-other.

1. When creating new text styles and setting them to the default for Dynamic Images, it was sometimes found that the text of the dynamic images would be created incorrectly. Characters would be placed on top of and next to each other, leading to an unreadable format. This issue has been resolved- new text styles being created in Dynamic Images should display characters correctly.

Redraw Product Fix

Fig. 10: The fatal error message when redrawing products.

1. Some users experienced a fatal error that would occur when redrawing products in 2D drawings. Noticeably, this fatal error would not occur when the same 2D drawings were redrawn with their top sections removed. This issue has been resolved- the fatal error should no longer occur.

Multipass UI Fix

Fig. 11: The Toolfile UI incorrectly scaled (top) and correctly scaled (bottom).

1. An issue was reportedly occurring regarding the scaling of the Toolfile UI. When installing on a new device, some users found that the Toolfile interface would not scale properly to their screen, resulting in some options, such as the option to set up multipass for tool operations, not being selectable or visible on the menu. This issue has been resolved- the UI of the Toolfile has been adjusted to scale correctly universally to ensure that users do not lose access to any portions of the menu.