The version is released some weeks ago and we received positive feedback for the new 3D view and the better integration to install/upgrade cranes.
The kranXpert demo version is now based on the 1.5.0.0 version and we build a new free edition 2011 and replace the rotation view with the 3D view.
What is the next development.
The next steps are rewriting the drawing system that have filled drawing objects in the front, left and top view. Then adding more 3D drawing elements that are rotatable in all directions and not only in the top view like in the current version.
Then we want add 3D clipart support, first for the wavefront .obj file format later for other formats and our own format with length and color properties.
Also we want change the view of the boom and the crane that’s more realistic and not only for the boom a rounded line that was ok for the 2.5 D view but looks boring in the 3D view.
In a blog article below someone ask in a comment (español) about how kranXpert currently calculate and draw the boom here is a picture that explains that exists also in the kranXpert help file.
The update feature #5 is a step into the upcoming full 3D version of kranXpert. We add a 3D view where you can freely move the camera and select from 3 different viewing types: wireframe, solid and wireframe with solid.
In a next version we want to change the kranXpert print out and give more detailed crane information to symbolize that information we draw some crane pictograms.
This pictograms you can download and use it without any restrictions for you’re use or publications.
The symbols are in the emf vector format and in the jpg and png picture format.
In the next version you can change the view style of kranXpert select from Silver or SkyBlue skin.
For netbook users with a small screen height we add hide the main menu toolbar and the status bar. We also changed the info panel and move it from the top menu to the right sidebar to get more height for displaying the views.
The new info panel show in the row with the calculator symbol the calculated load information and in the second row with the leaflet/book symbol the load information from the manufacturer load charts.
For the next update we change the insert ground plan features. The pictures will be stored in the planner file and not use links to the image files like in the current version. That it is easier to copy/move the planner files or share it with other computers or customers.
We insert in the crane overview the button ‘Install/Upgrade’ where you can check for updates or import new cranes (need internet access).
When you click on the button ‘Install/Upgrade’ then the current crane list is downloading from the kranXpert homepage and compared with the already imported cranes in the database.
There exists three states:
- not installed cranes are gray
- installed cranes are black with OK
symbol - crane that an update exists are red and with a refresh
symbol
To install or upgrade a crane double click on the crane or use the buttons ‘Update crane’/’Install crane’.
If a crane you need is not in the list you can click on the ‘Send crane request’ button and input you’re request like on the kranXpert homepage (in the customer area).
We speed up also the crane import function, now it takes some seconds to import a crane file.
In the next kranXpert version we change the selection of drawing items.
In the current version all items are only selected when you click on visible lines.
In the next version you can select drawing items like filled elements.
When you have overlapping drawing elements the priority is always on click lines.
Today i want to write about the work to insert the Liebherr crane LR 1600/2 to kranXpert.
The crane leaflet has 102 pages of information’s and since the last update, kranXpert supports colored counterweight and suspend counterweight load tables that mean, that we have to insert the load capacity and the counterweight for every value.
We need about two weeks to insert the crane. The count of kranXpert moving tables are 418 that’s mean that are 418 different configuration tables where kranXpert select the right table when you choose from the crane setup.
The crane have 53987 single load values, to input this, we have to press 210939 times the numeric keypad and to insert the extra counterweight we have to pressed 79743 times the keyboard. That are together 290682 keyboard hits.
Then we have to insert the hook block information’s the crane dimensions the load chart table itself the radius/boom length information’s for every load value, that’s was really a big act to input this crane.
To import the crane to the kranXpert database takes about 2-10 minutes.
And here are the result: LR 1600/2 inside kranXpert
The green panel show the variable counterweight.
The last version of the free edition was build in 2008 now its time to update the edition and give it more usage here it is the kranXpert Free Edition 2010.
In this version you can see on the screenshot exists the front, left side, top and the rotation view and not like the old version only a front view. You can rotate the crane chassis and superstructure and change the load type.
We made a video for the different background styles of the new in development kranXpert3D version.
Background styles:
- Color, you can select a color.
- Color gradient, you can set the begin and to gradient color.
- Picture, selecting a picture that good for showing watermark logos
- Panorama, you can select a picture that texture on a cylinder. With some picture cameras you can shot 360° pictures and with stitching software can you create a outright view that you can use with this panorama style.
- Skybox, the scene is in a cube and every surface of the cube has a texture
that really good for outright view.
