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VirtualMEC Release History

Current part list

Release 2.1.4

  • Parts no. 133 and 133a now support bending
  • Fixed part no. 119
  • Fixed a bug regarding bending
  • Minor bugs fixes

Release 2.1.3

  • Solved a bug related to parts no. 136 and 179
  • Solved a bug related to incorrect positioning of arrows when double-clicking a part engaged in an axle rod
  • Now you can select a part in Part List even if it is currently filtered out (the filter will be removed)

Release 2.1.2

  • 2 new parts



  • Quick and easy parts filtering



  • Fixed outline of part 162a
  • Improved handling of composite parts
  • Fixed flanged plates measurements
  • Fixed right click selection
  • Minor bugs fixes

Release 2.1.1

  • Modified part no. MR to support custom colour for Contacts and adding parts to the Contacts


    Please Note: this is a breaking change.

    To avoid compatibility problems, you should:

    • Delete the part no. MR from your models by using VirtualMEC 2.1
    • Install VirtualMEC 2.1.1
    • Re-add previous deleted part no. MR to your models


  • Modified part no. A652 to support custom colour for Nuts and Bolts


  • 5 new parts



  • Fixed a minor issue related to taskbar thumbnails preview

Release 2.1

  • 89 new parts




  • Quick selection among currently used model colours


  • Improved real rendering
  • Redesigned part no. 162a
  • Part 27j renamed 27t
  • No more _2, _3, _n suffix for parts with same number
  • Fixed a bug related to Windows big characters settings
  • Several minor bug fixes

Release 2.0.4

  • Fixed a bug related to part no. 45a

Release 2.0.3

  • Fixed a bug occurring when moving parts from a block to another
  • Fixed a bug related to the repositioning of big parts and the subsequent cancel operation
  • Fixed a bug which could cause a "Parameter incorrect" message when opening a model
  • Fixed a bug related to arrows in the motion panel
  • Fixed a bug which could crash the program on closing when motion panel was open
  • Fixed minor bugs related to the motion panel
  • Added a way to prevent possible crashes when defining units
  • Added a patch to fix the hole/part selection issue on some Intel graphic cards
  • Improved responsiveness during idle time

Release 2.0.2

  • Fixed a bug related to part no. 52

Release 2.0.1

  • Faster rendering of part no. 52
  • Fixed a bug that caused problems with scroll bars and split windows after exiting Print Preview
  • Now, Print Preview mode comes with a Print Preview toolbar, with Print, Zoom and Close buttons

Release 2.0

  • Improved user interface
    • completely redesigned for a modern look and 10 different skins
    • colored parts list with tooltips

      Colored parts list with tooltips

    • (un)dockable windows with auto hide

  • New features
    • quick part select in parts list
      Quick select in parts list
    • quick set as default viewpoint

      Quick set as default viewpoint

  • 43 new parts (some with brand new triangular axis)

    V. 2.0 new parts

  • No more unexpected lines on some parts as sometimes seen on ATI graphic cards

    before   after

  • Fixed a bug regarding missing colour setting for subpart of part no. 140
  • Added gear capabilities to part no. 187c

Release 1.7.4

  • Fixed a measurement issue for part No. 54
  • Patched arrow selection problems affecting low quality graphic cards
  • Fixed a bug that could cause problems after repositioning many parts at once

Release 1.7.3

  • Added parts No. 187c, a045

Release 1.7.2

  • Fixed a bug that could cause problems while saving files as images.

Release 1.7.1

  • Fixed a bug that could cause a licensed version to act as demo version.
  • Fixed a bug that caused an "Unexpected file format" error message to appear while trying to re-open a saved file.

Release 1.7

  • Added a way to identify parts that are "hooked" to selected items.
  • Added parts No. 545, 109a-2, 109b, 51f, 51g, 64a, M5, 213a, 213b, 27ao.
  • Fixed a bug that could result in an incorrect motion propagation on some engagements.
  • Fixed some compatibility issues with Windows Vista.
  • Part No. 212 has been redesigned. Now it supports bending.

Release 1.6

  • Fixed a bug that did not permit a correct engagement between a translating part and a translating or rotating part.
  • Now after selecting a Unit, the user can move it by using + and - keys with no need to click on an arrow.
  • Introduction of Motion Panel.
  • Fixed an issue regarding part No. 136 and part No. 179.

Release 1.5.1

  • Fixed an issue related to System Key generation. Registered users who have installed release 1.5 and got a different System Key should download and install release 1.5.1.
  • Fixed a bug when defining a Unit, caused by clicking on Set as Stop button when no parts were selected.
  • Gear No. 27 now correctly features 50 teeth.

Release 1.5

  • Double-clicking on a rod or a bolt not inserted in any hole makes all the movement arrows appear, enabling all possible movements.
  • Fixed a bug related to unit deletion that could crash the application under specific circumstances.
  • Context menu for part No. 21 now correctly reports "Add part No. 142d".
  • Added nicer-looking menus.
  • Toolbars have been reorganised.
  • Fixed a bug that could cause unexpected behaviour after undoing a cut and paste operation.
  • Fixed an erroneous indication of a weight 0 when a few specific parts were used in a model.
  • Fixed an erroneous behaviour during unit definition, where some unit attributes were not saved if switching to a different unit.
  • Each newly created unit now has only the two bigger arrows enabled by default.
  • Fixed a bug that crashed the application if a window were closed while the Unit dialog box was open.
  • Added keyboard shortcuts for some common operations.
  • Bolts are now always inserted with their heads facing the user.
  • Added support for automatically adding a ball (part No. 168d) on each side of a socket coupling (part No. 171).
  • Now you can invert a part even if it is constrained by other parts.
  • Now you can translate a part along an axle with the option to bypass any constraint (press Shift during translation).
  • In order to avoid unintended movements, a warning is issued whenever a user action may result in the repositioning of a big part of a model.
  • Solved an issue related to Units involving composite parts (e.g. motors).
  • Introduced a way to simulate meshing among gears and other parts. Please read the chapter Engagements in the online Help.

Release 1.3.1

  • Fixed a bug related to flat plates' bending.
  • Now crank handles have correct lengths.
  • A few corrections have been applied to measurements of parts No. 51a, 51b and 51c.
  • Added some new parts, see part list.

Release 1.3

  • Added support for area selection using the right mouse button.
  • Added new parts, see part list.
  • Added support for hiding arrows when movements are performed using the keyboard or remote control.
  • Corrected thumbnails for parts 235g and 235h.
  • Fixed an erroneous behaviour related to part No. 20c and its corresponding tyre No. 142a.
  • Merging models is now much more user friendly.
  • Fixed an issue related to arrow movements on systems with low colour quality set.
  • Dragging with the right button pressed selects the enclosed parts then opens the context menu.
  • When no parts are selected, the model now rotates around its geometric centre, thus avoiding the need to re-centre it in order to obtain a satisfactory behaviour.
  • Now users can freely delete any parts regardless of where they are placed in the model.
  • Added cut, copy and paste features.
  • Now every VirtualMEC versions (included the Demo one) act as enhanced viewers (VirtualMEC Viewer is not needed anymore).
  • Speed of Player has been noticeable increased while in "Play forward" mode.
  • Hole placement of part No. 518 has been corrected.
  • Icon for part 26n now is correct.
  • Added the ability to copy the entire graphics window content to the Clipboard.
  • Rendering of part No. 140z has been improved.
  • Rendering of part No. 185 has been improved.

Release 1.2.4

  • Double-clicking on a part now automatically deselects any other selected parts. That fixes a sometimes misleading behaviour of previous releases.
  • Fixed a rendering issue regarding part No. 216 that could cause a crash on some machines.
  • Fixed an issue that sometimes caused a bolt to be inserted rather than the intended part.
  • Added handling of context menus (right button menus).
  • Now users can choose a background colour to be applied in all rendering modes.
  • Added Default Viewpoint and Initial Viewpoint menus.
  • Added Part Move menu to show movement arrows.
  • Arrows can now be moved using + and - keys.
  • Added File Steps menu and dialog box.
  • Fixed some issues relating to bending.
  • Now there's no more need to unhook parts or define units in those situations where more than one hinge is involved.
  • Added new parts (long bolts, pivot bolts, etc.), see part list.
  • Fixed a bug that caused a crash when some specific parts constituting a Unit were deleted.

Release 1.2.1

  • Fixed an issue regarding image saving.
  • Added part No. 700 Electric Motor.
  • Added a menu item to enable/disable background colour in Real Rendering mode.
  • Added menu item View Outlined Transparent Parts. Any part can now be made transparent and rendered as outlined while other parts are fully rendered.
  • Added menu item Edit Invert Selection.
  • Fast drawing mode is now permanent until you disable it. It does not automatically convert to full rendering at the end of a rotating/panning operation.
  • Added support to add comments and other information to a model file (menu File Properties).

Release 1.2

  • Now, new and loaded models are rendered according to the last rendering mode used.
  • Fixed a rendering issue in part No. 168c.
  • Fixed a rendering issue in part No. 37a.
  • Fixed a rendering issue in part No. 162a.
  • Part No. 216 now correctly has only three holes in each row.
  • Added more than 300 new parts, see part list.
  • Added springs. They support compression and torsion (see help topic Additional Features - Springs)
  • Added support for saving files as images in the following graphics formats: bitmap, jpeg, gif, png and tiff.
  • Added support for merging models.
  • Fixed a rendering problem in part No. 187e.
  • Added support for defining custom Sets (see help topic Sets).
  • Fixed a rendering issue regarding Trunnion border.
  • Fixed a rendering issue in part No. 128.
  • Added support for Allen Bolt (37bh) and Hexagonal Nut (37c).
  • Fixed a rendering issue regarding Trunnion border.
  • Fixed some rendering issues regarding Flanged Plates' borders.
  • Now holes have a much more "rounded" profile.
  • Improved handling of part colours and colour schemes (see help topic Colours).
  • Adding of bolts and rods is more consistent with adding of other parts. No need of right-clicking (see help topic Adding Parts).
  • Patched a Visual Studio bug that inhibits an already executing VirtualMEC instance to open a file when the user double-clicks on a model icon.
  • Updated the user manual.

Release 1.0.1

  • Fixed a bug that caused a crash when in the Unit dialog a pivot was set without prior setting a master.
  • The docked Parts Bar width has been increased to show two columns of parts even when displayed in low-resolution.
  • Added support for purchasing limited versions of VirtualMEC.

Release 1.0

  • Original VirtualMEC release.