CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive

November 2009

Product News

D-Cubed: Latest Release of the HLM, Version 41.0

Siemens PLM Software announced the latest release of the D-Cubed Hidden Line Manager (HLM), a software component that accurately and rapidly computes hidden line views. New enhancements specific to version 41.0 are listed below. See the full product description.

Performance enhancement: occlusion computations

Occlusions occur when an edge in the foreground of the view obscures, or occludes, some or all of an edge in the background of a hidden line view. Computing such occlusions is an intensive and technically challenging process, especially where parametric curves such as NURBs are involved. This release sees significant improvements to the occlusion computation times in a variety of demanding configurations, particularly those involving large assemblies.

Reliability enhancement: computing face outlines on tolerant models

As well as computing which portions of edges are visible and hidden, the HLM is able to compute the boundary between the visible and hidden regions of faces, known as face outlines. This can be applied to hatching algorithms, for example, where only the visible regions of a face are to be hatched.

Tolerant models are those which have inaccuracies in their geometric definition. Faces, edges and vertices may not connect consistently to within the model tolerance. Such tolerant geometry is a common side effect of the data exchange process. The HLM employs a range of sophisticated algorithms designed to give reliable results on such inaccurate geometry.

This latest release of the HLM improves the reliability of the hidden line view computation for face outlines produced from tolerant models. The improvements benefit models where the face being outlined is tolerant, or the faces obscuring portions of the outlined face are tolerant.

Functionality enhancement: suppressing the display of segments of edges

Some applications prefer not to display the edges that lie between smoothly connecting faces, except when such edges form an outline in the model, a requirement that is supported by the HLM. However, in some cases, particularly involving tolerant models, an edge can lie between smoothly connecting faces, with some segments (portions) of the edge being part of an outline, but not the complete edge. Previously, the HLM would display the whole edge in these situations. In the latest version, the HLM will suppress the display of those segments of such an edge that do not contribute to a model outline, whilst displaying the remaining segments.

Performance enhancement: use of link time code generation

Link time code generation, also known as whole program optimization, is now the standard process used when compiling and linking DLLs for the Windows platform. The result is improved performance when using these versions of the HLM.

About the D-Cubed HLM

First released in 1999, the HLM is a widely deployed hidden line CAD solution. It accurately computes hidden line views, engineering drawings and technical illustrations of parts and assemblies with exceptional performance, reliability and functionality. The HLM is compatible with any application as it is independent of any particular modeler or model format, operating on exact, faceted, solid or surface representations.

About Siemens PLM Components; Parasolid and D-Cubed

PLM Components are software tools that support innovation and promote interoperability in CAD, CAM, CAE and PLM applications. Siemens PLM Software develops these components, uses them throughout its own applications and licenses them to independent software vendors and end-user organizations. PLM Components include the Parasolid and D-Cubed products, widely used technologies that provide 3D part and assembly modeling, editing and interoperability, 2D/3D parametric sketching, motion simulation, collision detection, clearance measurement and visualization functionality. Applications include mechanical CAD, CAM, CAE, mold design, sheet metal, AEC, GIS, structural, plant and ship design, CMM, reverse engineering and sales configuration. For more information, please visit www.siemens.com/plm/open/

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