CAD Schroer Releases i4 VIRTUAL REVIEW v2.0

CAMBRIDGE, UK and Pittsford, NY, Apr 23, 2020 – i4 VIRTUAL REVIEW has already been on the market for over a year, and since its release it has enjoyed increasing popularity with companies and educational institutions. This is because the VR viewer makes it possible to view large CAD models in virtual reality. The intuitive handling of the viewer also makes it very popular with new users.

Virtual Reality Viewer for industry: i4 VIRTUAL REVIEW

Creation of Industrial VR

With the new version of i4 VIRTUAL REVIEW, German based software developer CAD Schroer has added new features to the VR viewer, making it even more attractive for industrial applications. “From the outset, our primary focus was industrial VR,” says Thomas Klug, technical director at CAD Schroer. “Our goal has always been to provide companies with the latest technologies and software solutions to support them with their daily challenges, and VR offers enormous potential in this respect”.

Teamwork in Virtual Reality

The VR Viewer now enables users to save the current VR scene. A VR scene can be created using multiple CAD models, and the individual models can then each be moved, rotated and scaled to the required size and position. Individual model components can also be hidden or moved. The ability to save and subsequently restore the VR Scene means that users can work on individual projects over an extended period of time, and also exchange projects with different teams. This facilitates creative and productive teamwork between all participants.

Live overview of large VR scenes

One of the key challenges with large VR scenes is navigation. The user needs a clear understanding of the VR scene and their location within it, especially with new projects, and with large models of process plants or factories. To cater for this, i4 VIRTUAL REVIEW version 2.0 provides an overview map which can be enabled as and when required. The map presents the user with a live plan view of the entire VR scene, and also shows the user’s current position. If the user wishes to move to another location, they can simply teleport to it with just one click on the map. With this new functionality the user always knows their position, even in the largest projects.

More tools for more transparency

One of the most important tasks of Industrial VR is the review process, i.e. the critical visual inspection of components and machinery. The CAD design is realistically reviewed in VR and assessed for further design optimisation. To support this task the VR viewer already provides transformation and mark-up tools, but with version 2.0, cutting planes are added which can be freely placed in the scene, including through a 3D model. Similar to a sectional view in a 2D drawing, a cutting plane serves to provide an unobstructed view of hidden detail in VR, and thus provides the user with a clear view of the inner workings of a model.

Extensive design data in Virtual Reality

CAD Schroer offers a variety of import interfaces with i4 VIRTUAL REVIEW, so that even large and complex models can be used effectively in virtual reality. For example, you can automatically import and compress very large STEP files for use in virtual reality without sacrificing performance. The user no longer has to spend time converting each model individually, and is instead provided with a solution where all steps are processed simultaneously and completely automatically.

Free trial of i4 VIRTUAL REVIEW

CAD Schroer is currently offering a free trial of i4 VIRTUAL REVIEW. To use the software, VR glasses with controllers are of course required, such as the HTC Vive or Microsoft Mixed Reality glasses, together with a Windows 10 VR-ready PC. Interested parties can request their free trial at CAD Schroer’s website. Because the new version (2.0) of the i4 VIRTUAL REVIEW VR Viewer represents a huge leap forward in new technology for industrial applications.

Click here for free trial of i4 VIRTUAL REVIEW.

About CAD Schroer

CAD Schroer is a global software development company and engineering solutions provider, helping to raise the productivity and competitiveness of customers working in manufacturing and process engineering, including the automotive sector and its supply chain, the energy sector and public utilities. CAD Schroer has offices and subsidiaries throughout Europe and in the United States.

CAD Schroer’s product portfolio includes 2D/3D CAD, plant design, factory layout and data management solutions. Customers in 39 countries rely on MEDUSA®, MPDS™, M4 ISO and M4 P&ID FX to provide an efficient, flexible and integrated design environment for all phases of product or plant design – cutting costs while raising quality.

CAD Schroer’s product and service portfolio also includes Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR & VR) solutions. Together with its customers, CAD Schroer develops immersive AR & VR apps using existing 3D CAD data for a wide range of applications, including impressive sales presentations, interactive training workshops, and servicing and maintenance guides. CAD Schroer apps are also used by distributed design teams to collaboratively review designs in virtual meeting rooms.

CAD Schroer emphasizes close customer partnerships and supports its clients’ objectives through extensive consultancy, training, development, software support and maintenance services.

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