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Before PTC rolls out a new version of Pro/Engineer, it usually tests the release with several preproduction versions. Pro/E Wildfire 4.0 is no exception. The first prerelease was in June 2007 and the second followed in September. Such phasing makes sense because the 2008 version has some 300 enhancements and required the work of more than 250 programmers. Overall, it's an impressive package, particularly for existing Pro/E users.
For example, a not ewor thy impr ov eme nt lets users show 3D models along with their product and manufacturing information such as component dimensions. Although this capacity has been available since Wildfire 2, additional layering capabilities and flexible annotation planes have made it much easier to use.
In addition, a nifty new Auto-round function reduces the time it takes to place rounds or blends on all sharp edges of a part. Users can even place rounds into a group and modify or delete individual items. The function generates a set of geometric "features" - or series of edges that are tangent - which are defined by algorithms to maximize the number of rounded chains and facilitate automated selection.
Another enhancement comes from the Import Data Doctor (IDD). It heals small gaps and slivers in imported data. Users can also replace, move, or modify imported surfaces. These operations work best with prismatic surfaces. IDD can also...