Thanks to the license granted by Siemens PLM Software, the manufacturer of VSHAPER industrial 3D Printers conducts programming work  to create software based on Parasolid Communicator to support the import and proper preparation of models for 3D Printing. The latest version of SOFTSHAPER software, popular among other 3D printers producers as well as software users, introduces many new features and improvements. Below we present top 5 of the new version of SOFTSHAPER 2019.

Technological process tree

In CAD/CAM/CAE programs, the so-called process tree is a standard, it allows the user to visualize the work done on the model. It is a simple and convenient tool that improves the work with the program. In SOFTSHAPER 2019, the process tree makes it possible to quickly view the process parameters. Information contained in it allows the user  to: edit the parameters of selected model, edit the parameters of individual groups extracted from the selected model, assess the number of groups assigned to the model and edit them, and select or deselect models for printing.

Simple and intuitive design of the tree allows the user to quickly manage objects located on the scene, change the parameters of an entire models or only selected groups of a given model. This mechanism is particularly important when working with many objects on the scene or objects containing very small groups. The user receives a tool in which,  he will perform technology analysis, layer verification as well as its modification in a simple and transparent way.

Grouping of layers

Mechanisms such as the process tree and parameterization of supports and contours filling combined create an additional tool that allows the user to freely control the structure of the model. Most applications available on the market allow the modification of the above parameters for the entire model, while SOFTSHAPER 2019 introduces innovative layer modification solution with the possibility of individual modification of each layer.

In order to maintain the proper resistance and stiffness of the model, the user was often forced to define a very dense filling or increase the wall thickness for the whole model. Thanks to the modifications of the layers available in the latest SOFTSHAPER version we choose the most optimal approach. We modify certain features of the model only for the layers where it is necessary, saving time and material and significantly increasing printout durability and obtaining certain technological features at the same time - explains Seweryn Nitek, Software Engineer at VERASHAPE.

Effective work and results presentation

Optimization and work time efficiency in 3D Printing is one of the main directions of technology development. The advantage of SOFTSHAPER 2019 is selective execution of cutting process. The slicer mechanism implemented in SOFTSHAPER 2019 will automatically recognize whether the changes made by the user force the model to be cut again.

SOFTSHAPER 2019 gives the user the possibility to carry out simulations, and provides various methods for visualization of paths, which allows to obtain high quality of the printout. 3D Printing specialists can quickly verify: extruder speed anywhere on the path, number of the print heads, specified contour, extrusion of the material at any point, printed model cooling on a given layer. In addition, it has the ability to perform simulations for each of the following visualizations.

Support structures

The latest version of SOFTSHAPER 2019 software presents the ability to print manually adjusted supports, which means that the user pre-determines the support space and then defines the appearance of the supports. Similarly to the case of filling, the user can modify the geometrical shape of supports and choose the material from which they are to be made. It can be either the same material that is used to print the model or soluble material.

A huge simplification that SOFTSHAPER 2019 provides us with is the ability to print supports with higher density. The density is higher only in the area of contact with the model. In other areas, the density of supports is selected in relation to the required stiffness. This saves time for printing supports, which are then removed by the user - explains Seweryn Nitek, Software Engineer at VERASHAPE.

Detailed reports

SOFTSHAPER 2019 software enables the generation of very detailed reports on both, selected machine and individual models on the scene. The report contains information on selected print parameters, specifications of individual machine parts (extruder, bed, chamber) and model parameters (size, area). Advanced algorithms allow the user to generate print statistics, regarding time, amount of material used and final weight of the object.

Prepared on the basis of information from VERASHAPE