TopSolid'Design CAD
Configuration
Multi-site
TopSolid'Pdm Server now allows you to define a primary server and as many secondary servers as there are sites. This mode requires an extra license, a fast Internet connection (fiber optic, SDSL, VDSL, 5G, 4G, etc.), as well as the implementation of a VPN tunnel between the different sites. The data is then automatically replicated between the different servers. (What’s New pg.4)
TopSolid'WebExplorer
With TopSolid'Pdm WebExplorer, you can consult your projects remotely from a simple web browser on any platform. It is 100% Webbased, no setup required on client-side. You simply browse with your pc, tablet or smartphone, using Windows, iOS or Android.
This allows you to visualize up to date documents on your server from anywhere in the world!
You can connect with TopSolid User Account or Active directory, so you can manage security and rights in TopSolid.
Windows authentification for login in TopSolid
The connection to the PDM server can now be established using the list of users defined in the Windows Active Directory. This simplifies the administration of TopSolid.
All Active Directory information (users' last name, first name and e-mail address, whether or not the user belongs to a user group, etc.) is retrieved directly from the domain controller. (What’s New pg.4)
Sketch
Offset
The 2D Sketch > Offset command now supports the spline profiles. You no longer have to perform a sketch operation. However, you must check the Solving with profiles box in the 2D Sketch > Options command. (What’s New pg.6)
Tangency
When creating or editing a tangency constraint, you can now indicate the specific point where you want the tangency. However, you need to specify the point before you select the second geometry. (What’s New pg.7)
Shape
Variable chamfer
A new Variable Chamfer command has been added to the Shape > Other Operations menu. It allows you to create a chamfer by indicating different values at the ends of the selected edge. (What’s New pg.9)
Angle clearance
In TopSolid 7.15 you have the option to easily add an angle clearance using the new Shape > Angles Clearance command. 4 different modes are available: Fillet, Chamfer, Symmetrical and On face. (What’s New pg.10)
Sheet Metal
Sheet metal recognition
In an assembly file, the Modeling > Sheet Metals Recognition command has 3 new very useful options. (What’s New pg.13)
The new Only allowed thicknesses option allows you to consider only the parts whose thickness is available in the list of allowed thicknesses. You can predefine the allowed thicknesses in the Tools > Options > Sheet Metal command.
By using the new Minimum size allowed option, you can now filter parts that could have been considered as sheet metal parts to be considered as non-convertible. For example, a washer with a constant thickness that is included in the list of thicknesses to be considered. If the minimum dimension of its enclosing box is less than the allowed one, it will be excluded from the list of parts to be converted.
In addition to identifying the parts to be converted into sheet metal parts, the Sheet Metals Recognition command is now able to distinguish the parts that can be converted into tubes and/or profiles in the parts list of an assembly.
The parts converted into tubes and profiles are automatically ignored when creating the unfoldings.
Notches
You can now add notches on existing flanges with the new Sheetmetal > Notches command. This can be done before or after converting an imported shape into a sheet metal part. By adding notches on parts with ambiguous modeling you get a correct recognition of the side faces, and thus a good conversion into a sheet metal part. (What’s New pg.13)
Unfolding a mirror part
The Mirror Part command has been removed from the Tools > Derivations menu in the unfolding document. In fact, it resulted in a part document, which was incorrect.
It has been replaced by the Tools > Derivations > Mirror Part Unfolding command which allows you to create the mirror part of the part included in the unfolding document and to create a new unfolding document from the new mirror part. (What’s New pg.16)
Analyze Sheet Metal
The Analyze Sheet Metal command now has a Bends section to display the list of bends and their information.
Assembly
Extruded bars inclusion
TopSolid 7.15 allows the user to choose how TopSolid reacts when ctrl+dragging (=copy) an already included extruded bar and when you drag and drop an already included bar from the PDM-tree. You can choose between “Inclusion” or “Extruded Bar”.
Inclusion = same as when you include a “normal” part”. Extruded Bar = same as when you include a new extruded bar.
You can choose your settings in Tools > Options > Assembly > Extruded Bars.
Curved extruded bars
Extruded bar components can now be included on a 2D or 3D sketch containing curves.
In addition, when including an extruded bar on a sketch, the tangent sections are now considered as a single curved extruded bar.
Distribution
The distribute function has been enhanced in several ways in TopSolid 7.15. You can now distribute an articulated component. The articulation will be automatically playable without intervention of the designer.
Secondly a margin management option was added. It works the same way as as the margin management of a constrained linear pattern.
The subcomponents button available in the First Component and Second Component sections now allows you to modify the length of a distributed component.
Family
Optional drivers (default value)
Before it was impossible to see the default value of optional drivers. This limitation is removed in this version. The default value is visualized between brackets next to the description of the parameter.
When opening an assembly document using a modified but unsaved family document, TopSolid now displays a message asking you if you want to save the family document. A checkbox to always perform this action is now available.
Bill of Materials
Retrieving properties of another level
When defining a column, the new Level section allows you to retrieve a property in a higher level of the assembly's tree structure (Part - Sub-assembly - Assembly).
Parameter from the assembly
It is now possible to retrieve parameters from the assembly document in the BOM document. This allows you, for example, to parametrize the name of the BOM document in the same way of the assembly. You can do this by using the Construction > Parameters > Parameter from Assembly command.
Construction
Constrained linear Pattern
The Create parameters box has been added to the Advanced Options section of the Constrained Linear Pattern command. When this box is checked, all calculated values are available as parameters in the Entities tree.
Two new Edge to edge and Thickness boxes are available in the Fixed count and Step modes
Pattern modifier
From now on, it is possible to modify each instance of a repetition in the assembly. You need to do 2 steps. First you define the pattern as Modifiable (Construction > Patterns > Pattern Modifier).
Secondly you need to define the pattern as drivable in the family document. It must be defined as an optional driver. Once the family has been included in an assembly document, the contextual menu called on the inclusion operation provides the Edit Pattern Modifier command which allows you to remove or shift an instance of the controllable pattern.
Point cloud
TopSolid 7.15 supports the visualization of point clouds in a part or assembly document.
The cloud (.pts or .xyz) can be imported with the new Construction > Point Cloud command. The created points are stored in the Point Cloud folder of the Entities tree. When the Visualization > Faceted Shape Vertex Selection mode is enabled, you can select points to take measurements.
In addition, the point cloud entities are supported by the Visualization > Cut command.
Tools
Spare video memory
The Spare video memory option avoids you to allocate too large video memory blocks in order to better support the graphics cards with less than 2 GB of memory.
Graphic optimization
The Level of acceleration for drawing shapes option uses an acceleration feature available in the recent graphics cards.
Carefull! Shapes will look all black if your graphic card doesn’t support it and the option as at full acceleration. Put the slider in the middle position to solve the problem.
Interrupted view
The dialog box of the View > Interrupted View command has been modified. The Standard mode has been broken down into two modes:
- Manual: The interruption profiles are drawn manually.
- Manual Standard: The interruption profiles are selected from a list of predefined types (line, wave, etc.).
In addition, the new Automatic Standard mode allows you to automatically interrupt a view, taking into account the topology of the part.
BOM index
When creating a manual or automatic BOM index, you can adjust its inclination by checking the new Angle box.
Furthermore, BOM indexes can be positioned on a sketch line by using the Detailing > Magnetic Line command.
Work document
A new type of document the work document has been implemented a couple of versions ago.
It allows you to automate the creation of drafts, BOM’s, unfoldings, … off filtered parts off one or more assemblies.
This year some new options were added like the export with conversion, creation of drafting bundles, …
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