Version 11 Predator Virtual CNC History

February 14th 2025 - Predator Virtual CNC v12.0.1.2089 is released

Predator Virtual CNC v12.0.1.2089 has been released. Refer to the following improvements:

• Adds Windows Server 2025 support
• Adds automatic scrolling to the current tool within the Job Properties
• Adds 4th axis rotary / turret to the list of system colors
• Improves performance of all solid model boolean operations
• Improves Deep Zoom windows to only include fixtures when fixtures are machinable
• Improves initial tool display within the Job Properties
• Improves automatic stock calculation when the CNC program is mainly arc motion
• Improves backplotting performance when there are lots of small arcs
• Improves rotary only motion block processing
• Improves gauge display size
• Improves saving of machine .mch files
• Improves scaling data format processing within Fanuc_Common.rpi
• Improves scaling data format processing within Flashcut_Common.rpi
• Improves scaling data format processing within Haas_Mill_Common.rpi
• Improves scaling data format processing within Mitsu_Common.rpi
• Improves scaling data format processing within Mitsubishi_SinkEDM_Common.rpi
• Improves scaling data format processing within Mitsubishi_WireEDM_Common.rpi
• Includes v12 licensing v12.0.0.689
• Fixes a bug when the maximum number of nested macro calls are exceeded
• Fixes a bug with multiple views
• Fixes a bug when optimizing a CNC program
• Fixes a bug with processing a G40 with bad arc motion
• Fixes a bug with the last motion block within an uninitialized cutter compensation move

Customers with a current subscription to Premier Support can download and install v12.0.1.2089 of Predator Virtual CNC from our web site at any time. Customers running v11 or older of Predator Virtual CNC should contact us at sales@predator-software.eu for upgrade details and pricing.

January 7th 2025 - Predator Virtual CNC v12.0.1.2051 is released

Predator Virtual CNC v12.0.1.2051 has been released. This major release provides a more modern user interface, additional machine simulation, analysis and realism to digital twin machine simulation and verification. Refer to the following 200+ new features and improvements:

• Adds 3D printer simulation and verification
• Adds hybrid 3D printer and 3 Axis, 4 Axis or 5 Axis CNC milling machine simulation and verification
• Adds flame / torch 3 Axis, 4 Axis and 5 Axis CNC machine simulation and verification
• Adds hybrid flame / torch and 3 Axis, 4 Axis or 5 Axis CNC milling machine simulation and verification
• Adds waterjet 3 Axis, 4 Axis and 5 Axis CNC machine simulation and verification
• Adds hybrid waterjet and 3 Axis, 4 Axis or 5 Axis CNC milling machine simulation and verification
• Adds 2 Axis wire EDM and 2 Axis wire EDM with a rotary table machine simulation and verification
• Adds 4 Axis wire EDM and 4 Axis wire EDM with a rotary table machine simulation and verification
• Adds spindle motor details including torque and directional forces to support machining analysis
• Adds stock material details including hardness and density to support machining analysis
• Adds 1400+ materials with a new grid selection displaying appropriate material details
• Adds material cross reference standards for Class, WKNM, DIN, AFNR, AISI/SAE, BS, INTD, JIS, UNE, UNI, UNS and WNEN
• Adds tool material details including materials, engagement angles, edges, overhang and much more
• Adds real-time machining analytics and analysis of tool life, cut depths, tool engagement, cutting forces, shank stress, etc.
• Adds real-time part rendering based on each analytic metric and analysis
• Adds feed or feed and speed CNC milling optimization based on machining analytics
• Adds real-time cost estimating based on CNC machining simulation and verification
• Adds optional sub spindle support for turning
• Adds optional automatic chuck for sub spindles
• Adds rendered thread display for milling and turning
• Adds probe tool definition, probing cycle simulation, contact point for CNC mills and mill/turns with output file support
• Adds swing arm, carousel and slider style tool changer simulation for milling
• Adds automatic tool changer styles for CAT30, CAT40, CAT45, CAT50 and CAT60
• Adds automatic tool changer styles for HSK 25, HSK 32, HSK 40, HSK 50, HSK 63, HSK 80, HSK 100 and HSK 125
• Adds maximum ramp angle definition and verification per milling tool
• Adds machine subtype styles to simplify the number of primary machine types
• Adds dedicated pause tool bar button
• Adds two new color and material dialogs
• Adds new real-time interactive lighting
• Adds interactive tool color panel
• Adds color coded G Code display to the CNC panel
• Adds color coded register display with integrated graphing
• Adds floating model toggles in the upper right-hand corner of every window
• Adds tap tool support to the Predator Header
• Adds Copy to Clipboard button to the Inspection dialog
• Adds tool library grid display of most tooling parameters to simplify selecting the correct tool
• Adds additional example tools from 1500 in v11 to 7600+ sample tools in v12
• Adds support for version 12 Predator Licensing
• Adds support for multiple instances of Predator Virtual CNC to run simultaneously on the same PC
• Adds optional annual subscription pricing
• Adds Windows 11 support
• Adds Windows 2022 Server support
• Adds 50 new modern toolbar buttons
• Adds tooltip help to the Patterns tab within the Machine dialog
• Adds tooltip help to the Parameters tab within the Machine dialog
• Adds modern splash screen
• Adds Unicode support for filenames
• Adds hex pattern definitions within reverse post files
• Adds all new Predator STL Utility with additional CAD like features
• Adds STEP import to the Predator STL Utility to support STEP conversion for machines, stock and fixtures
• Adds a v11 to v12 machine conversion wizard
• Adds a v11 to v12 job conversion wizard
• Adds 64-bit application support to for larger solid model sizes and additional machining details
• Adds additional example jobs
• Adds support for additional G and M codes for milling, turning, EDM, flame and waterjet simulation
• Adds NURBS interpolation for Fanuc, Heidenhain and Siemens style CNCs
• Adds new reverse post parameters, commands and registers
• Adds registry entries to adjust CPU utilization
• Adds Croatian and Korean language support for a total of 18 languages
• Adds Show Rapid Moves toggle option in the Edit Menu
• Adds double click and right mouse menu for editing Tool Colors within the Tools Panel
• Adds HTML Tool Display option for each tool within the Tools Panel
• Adds tool descriptions for each tool within the Tools Panel when the tool library is not used
• Adds latest End User License Agreement to the install
• Adds chamfer angle support within linear motion for Okuma Lathes
• Adds pause right mouse menu within the main simulation windows
• Adds Save to J2T support for RVP only style jobs
• Adds STEP file support to Open CAD files
• Adds additional entity support to DXF files
• Adds CAD layer viewing toggles and color changes to DXF files
• Adds CAD layer viewing toggles and color changes to CADL files
• Adds missing license status display within the Help About dialog
• Adds Visual Studio C++ 2022 redistributables to the install
• Adds Deep Zoom support to wire EDM simulation after slug removals
• Adds Deep Zoom support to milling and turning verification after chip removals
• Adds CADL file support to Open CAD files
• Adds horizontal and vertical thread orientation for Okuma G34 and G35 support
• Adds Okuma J parameter support for threading
• Adds Okuma G31 support
• Adds lathe threading support for chaining and variable lead threads
• Adds Okuma Two Spindle reverse post
• Adds Siemens labels to several mill and lathe examples
• Adds Siemens ACN, ACP and DNC support
• Adds macro name support for modal macro calls
• Adds Okuma MODIN and MODOUT macro calls within Okuma reverse post processing
• Adds hex character support via x00 - xFF syntax within reverse post processors
• Adds error message when G96 causes excess feed collision
• Adds toggling rapid motion display while running a simulation or when paused
• Adds ellipse feature recognition and display within inspection
• Adds G33 to Fagor 8050T reverse post processor
• Adds coolant verification within the models vs. reverse post processing
• Adds support for nine-digit tool numbers within APTCL
• Adds transparent and translucid x-section options
• Adds backplotting support from Predator PDM and Predator PDM Enterprise v12
• Improves backplotting support from Predator CNC Editor v12
• Improves Predator Header operation
• Improves Fadal, Fagor, Fanuc, Okuma, Siemens and other CNC control support
• Improves Register's panel with real-time bar graphs and maximum limit display for many registers
• Improves Intel and AMD CPU utilization to improve performance
• Improves nVIDIA and AMD GPU utilization to improve performance
• Improves transparent machine, stock and tool performance
• Improves backplot performance
• Improves turret display and rotation performance
• Improves stock cutoff and display for turning
• Improves OpenGL dialog and adds options to configure the line width for backplotting and edges
• Improves performance for large stock models
• Improves Predator Dynamic Graphics visualization and performance
• Improves utilization of double precision for in-process calculations
• Improves boolean solid model calculations and processing performance
• Improves custom tool shape calculations and processing
• Improves panel layout for a wider range of screen resolutions
• Improves spinning tool performance during simulation for milling
• Improves 3/4 and 1/2 cut stock model display for turning
• Improves cut off detection for turning
• Improves backstep memory utilization and turning support
• Improves image quality slider operation
• Improves Moving Parts tab operation within the Machine properties dialog
• Improves support for multiple CNC programs per job
• Improves deep zoom display and processing
• Improves HTML Setup Sheet graphics
• Improves x-section operation and visualization
• Improves Shop floor mode
• Improves the maximum number of lights from 5 to 8
• Improves cutter compensation to be calculated in real-time
• Improves taper tool performance for milling
• Improves support for tools without flutes
• Improves TCP style 4 and 5 Axis calculations
• Improves scanning G Code programs to automatically identify the CNC vendor
• Improves display of RVP style jobs
• Improves 18 international language resources
• Improves Help About dialog with modern graphics and application version details
• Improves online help with new and improved topics
• Improves installation with modern graphics
• Improves lots of existing jobs to support v12 features
• Improves Predator CNC Editor integration
• Improves depressed tool bar button visualization
• Improves Help About and OpenGL dialog layouts
• Improves wording of multiple resources to improve usability
• Improves saving tool offsets to the Predator Header
• Improves scanning for Fadal style CNC programs
• Improves image quality with ball end mills
• Improves DXF viewing and inspection options to Open CAD files
• Improves DXF to honor color inheritance from blocks and layers
• Improves full circle arc support
• Improves STL support to Open CAD files
• Improves Help About dialog
• Improves v12 license verification
• Improves default layouts when switching between CAD viewing and machine verification/simulation
• Improves v12 license recovery via floating network licensing with poor Wi-Fi/networking performance
• Improves user interface when opening CAD files
• Improves turning UVW support with G28
• Improves Interference_Check parameter to detect cutter compensation errors
• Improves rotary axis motion when look ahead is enabled
• Improves pattern recognition to better support Heidenhain R0
• Improves mill cycles with complex cutting conditions
• Improves 17 different example jobs
• Improves system variable support within Heidenhain reverse posts
• Improves exporting APTCL and APTCL-ISO file formats
• Improves exporting DXF and CADL file formats
• Improves tab order within the properties dialog
• Improves closing the setup dialog
• Improves Preferences dialog layout and operation
• Improves multi-axis APTCL GOTO support
• Improves help messages within the parameters list dialog
• Improves batch mode output to simplify processing the results
• Improves lathe cycles when there is no initial G1 move
• Improves stock shifts relative to P0 vs. machine datum
• Improves collision checking with tool shanks
• Improves preferred standard resource strings
• Improves preferred standard stock material selection lists
• Improves inspection when the first tool has a shank definition
• Improves work in process display orientation of lathe parts
• Improves special lathe thread motion cases and rendering
• Improves slant bed lathe simulation
• Improves detection of non-ASCII characters within CNC programs
• Improves NC Panel display when blocks are processed
• Improves Siemens string label support within lathe contour subprograms
• Improves floating license support with latest Predator FLM v12
• Improves machine parameter tooltips within the Machine properties dialog
• Improves displaying tooltips when multiple monitors are used
• Improves example jobs included within the install
• Improves Dutch and German resource files
• Improves deep zoom and main solid model resolutions
• Improves memory optimization and garbage collection
• Improves selecting stock materials within the pulldown
• Improves arc plane calculations when the ArcNormal parameter is used
• Improves fixed axis tilt on rotary head arc and helical motion
• Improves new material creation
• Improves J2T loading
• Improves MODULE36_POST example job
• Improves Fanuc turning cycle support
• Improves lathe threading cycles
• Improves Haas G254 dynamic work offset support
• Improves J2T support for multiple setups
• Improves J2T support when exporting RPI files
• Improves reverse post processing with real data format when no separator is used
• Improves support for reversing cutter compensation
• Improves M30 to ignore last cutter compensation position
• Improves progress bar display
• Improves Shop Floor mode's ease of use
• Improves CAD and CAM mode's ease of use
• Improves automatic vise operation
• Improves Siemens CYCLE800 support
• Includes v12 licensing v12.0.0.610
• Removed Windows Vista & 2008 Server support
• Removed 32-bit Windows OS support
• Removed Animation support

Customers with a current subscription to Premier Support can download and install v12.0.1.2051 of Predator Virtual CNC from our web site at any time. Customers running v11 or older of Predator Virtual CNC should contact us at sales@predator-software.eu for upgrade details and pricing.