VirtualMEC Release History

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.