Vectric launches Aspire 3.5 and VCarve Pro6.5

Vectric Ltd. released new versions of its Aspire and VCarve Pro software packages with features to improve workflow and design flexibility for CNC shops.

There are more than 15 specific areas of enhancement covering aspects of 2-D design, 3-D modeling, tool-path creation and part visualization. For Vectric customers who are currently running Aspire 3 or VCarve Pro 6, this is a free upgrade, according to the company.

“We believe these new features will create an even better user experience and improved workflow for our customers,” Vectri managing director Brian Moran said in a statement. “Providing the update to existing Aspire 3 and VCarve Pro 6 owners at no additional cost is just another way to continue to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations.”

Users of both Aspire and VCarve Pro will benefit from a number of new tools common to both packages such as a specific Arc Drawing function, enhanced Pass Depth Control on profile toolpaths and an option to directly print 2-D and 3-D images. The pass-depth function allows the user to specify the individual cut depths when profiling. This can improve edge quality on parts using laminated materials and helps to better control techniques like “onion skinning,” where a thin layer of material is left to hold the part in place when cutting it out. The printing option can be used to create images for customer approval or to make reference sheets for checking details at the machine, helping to optimize setup time. The arc drawing tool makes it easier to layout curved shapes common to many designs.

Aspire’s new 3-D Clipart Browser will speed up the creation of parts as well as increasing the choices available for “real-time” 3-D design. The browser allows the user to see previews of files created with Aspire, making it easier and faster to select components for new layouts.

A new tool to extract a cross section from the 3-D model along with enhancements to the smoothing and sculpting tools make creating finished 3-D components in Aspire even simpler. The cross-section tool makes it possible to extract data from the model so new shapes can be seamlessly combined with the existing design. This can be particularly beneficial for customers who work with 3-D digitized data or import models from other CAD systems. Enhancements to the sensitivity of the smoothing and sculpting provide added control during the important stage of finalizing the 3D model.

Aspire 3.5 offers a new Top/Bottom Split Import Option for creating parts from existing 3-D models, allowing a full 3-D part (STL file) to be automatically split into two components which represent the “top” and “bottom” of the object based on a flat splitting plane.

For product information, visit www.vectric.com.