VTube 4.5 Build 1949 - April 29, 2026

1 - NEW: VTube-STEP Import Now Stops the Parametric Centerline Rebuild if No Tube-Defining Surfaces are Collected

A parametric build without tube-defining surfaces will cause VTube-STEP to override an existing tube centerline with a two-point tube with end points set to all zeros. With this new logic, if no appropriate surfaces are collected, VTS will display a friendly dialog to inform users and then stop the process.

2 - NEW: Automatic Build of Drill Bit Bosses - VTube-STEP Now Offers to Also Build Drill Bit Bosses During a Parametric Centerline Rebuild if Cylinder Drill Surfaces are in the Surface Collection

If the cylinder drill surfaces are in the collection of surfaces, VTube-STEP also offers to rebuild the drill bit bosses.

3 - IMPROVEMENT: Several Fixes and Improvements Made to Point Cloud Control - Create Space Objects

Several fixes were made to the Point Cloud Control menus for space object creation.  Fixes were made to checkboxes, edit boxes, and buttons.

4 - IMPROVEMENT: Space Object Control Window Repaint Issue Fixed

The Space Object Control window now repaints during initial load to ensure the user interface is fully displayed.

5 - IMPROVEMENT: Tube Cylinder Import Logic Improved

More logic improvements were made to the cylinder import section of the tube import in VTube-STEP.  It can import models from collected surfaces that previous versions could not.

6 - NEW: Ex-Guard Centerline Import Automation Development in Point Cloud Control

We're working with Ex-Guard (a VTube-LASER customer) to automate the import and qualification of tube centerlines from a KEYENCE camera system in order to quickly qualify a tube shape in an automated cell. This is the first step in that development. 

• The logic of this system will work with any camera system that can measure tubes and create centerlines from the scan.
• The process imports a file containing data that segregates points into end scans and numbered, sequential centerlines.
• During point import, each point section is imported into its own bucket and assigned a unique color for easy identification.
• A point section for a straight line has a string of points that are turned into a single centerline.
• Ex-Guard has agreed that this process will be open to any customer, so we can share the file format if you want to pursue this kind of automation.

VTube 4.5 Build 1948 - April 29, 2026

1 - NEW: Improved Cylinder Calculations in VTube-STEP Import

A customer helped us identify a rare case in which VTube-STEP failed to import cylinders for tube straights.  The cylinder fit engine was redesigned to work in those situations.

2 - FIX: End Length Tag Adjustment

The End Length Tag Adjustment in the Bender Setup now maintains the same total length change when adjusting the tags on the tube ends. Slide the length adjustments from one end to the other, or split the difference.

3 - FIX: Multi Select Points Mode Works Better

Now, if you toggle the Multi Select Points button OFF, you can be sure that the multiple points previously selected are automatically cleared from memory.  (In previous versions, it was necessary to click on the viewport after turning the button OFF.  This was confusing, so we changed it.)

VTube 4.5 Build 1945 - April 24, 2026

1 - NEW: Prismatic parameters default configuration in the system options window

The prismatic parameters can be preconfigured in System Options.

This image shows the “Retransform” switch in the Space Objects Parameters grid.

The screen below shows the new Default Prismatic Parameters configuration stored in the global configuration file. These default configuration values will apply to all prismatic space objects when they are created.

2 - NEW: Point Cloud extract points from selected surfaces in VTube-LASER

Select any model in VTube-LASER, then press the Extract Surface Points. This means you can now dimension any part of the tube's geometric surface - even to the outside of a tube shape. Also, you can use this to build nominal prismatic shapes inside VTube-LASER from imported models.

3 - NEW: The viewport popup menu now allows for changing the selection mode.

The three modes are Default, Surfaces, and Edges. Use this selection type to control how much of the model is extracted. Use surface, for example to extract just the end wall of a tube.

VTube 4.5 Build 1944 - April 19, 2026

1 - NEW: Display Untransformed Measured Space Objects Before Tube Alignment Transformation.

2 - NEW: Move Prismatic Space Objects by Sliding Them Along Their Normal Vector.

This new feature is available in a popup menu inside the Metrics grids for each space object.

3 - NEW: Popup Menu in Cut Plane for Copying Cut Planes to New Cut Planes

VTube 4.5 Build 1943 - April 17, 2026

1 - NEW: ID Label Text Size for display of space object ID labels

This ID Label text size value is stored in the VTube project file.

2 - NEW: Linear Dimensions now report the measured calculated value with the end offsets added to the length.

3 - NEW: Drag and drop VTP files into the VTube-LASER screen

4 - NEW: All licensed VTube versions now show the installed Internet License ID in the Splash screen

This helps our team identify installed license IDs at your site.

5 - FIXES

• Fixed a checkbox draw issue for grid menus
• VTube-LASER model double refresh at project file load is repaired

VTube 4.5 Build 1942 - April 16, 2026

1 - FIX: SAEJ2551-1 Distance to Datum for Sleeve Offset Can Now Be Zero

The sleeve will now draw or generate qualification data when the distance to the slide offset is ZERO from an anchor point.  This allows the SAE2551-1 spec in VTube-LASER to be used for Navistar prints that have end GD&T sleeve datums on the ends of the tube.

VTube 4.5 Build 1941 - April 15, 2026

1 - NEW: 321 PLP New Point Snap Mode: Point + Plane Snap

This feature allows 321-PLP alignment to let the plane be the final snap surface rather than the hard point.

This is helpful when using space objects to perform GD&T alignments using datums A, B, and C.  When a plane is aligned to datum A, then the alignment should keep the tube measured so that its datum A is locked in that plane - even after the final alignment to a 3D point.

See the video below for how to use Point Snap of “Point + Plane Snap” for GD&T alignments.

2 - NEW: Redesigned Space Object from Probe in Point Cloud Control

This adds more control over space object creation from probe.

3 - UPDATED: Linear Dimension Control Improvements

The Linear Dimension control has been improved for use with tube assemblies.

VTube 4.5 Build 1939 - April 10, 2026

1 - NEW: Prismatic Space Objects Can Now Transform with Tube Alignments

This feature allows you to measure any prismatic (non-dimensional) space object and let it transform with tube alignments.

You can realign the measured tube with the master any number of times, and VTube-LASER will automatically realign the space objects from the original, untransformed measurements.

To make this work, it was necessary to add a new untransformed metrics section in the Space Objects control window. This section stores the original measurement positions and orientations for prismatic space objects, then transforms those values to the MAIN metrics measure data section during tube-alignments if VTube-LASER is configured to transform the space objects during tube alignments.

Here are the rules for the new transformation capability

• Rule 1: Select a space object in the left space object grid, then use the PARAMETERS menu to enable any space object to transform its position and orientation during tube alignments. (See the "Retransform From Untransformed MEASURED During Tube Alignments." checkbox.
   
• Rule 2: If enabled, every time you perform a tube alignment, VTube-LASER will retransform the untransformed space object MEASURED metric data to the MAIN METRIC Measured column.
   
• Rule 3: Only the untransformed MEASURED data stores measure data.  (The untransformed NOMINAL data has no impact on VTube-LASER space objects.)
   
• Rule 4: You can reset untransformed MEASURED data by remeasuring the part.
   
• Rule 5: Be sure to use the same location and user coordinate system to measure the space objects as you used to measure the tube.
   
• Rule 6: Popup menus in both metric grids allow you to COPY metric data between the main and untransformed grids
  .
• Rule 7: Tube-alignment transformations never apply to DIMENSION space objects.

2 - NEW: Parameters Menu for Prismatic Space Objects in the Space Object Control

This menu includes a checkbox option to enable prismatic space objects to transform tube alignments. It is assumed that not all space objects should follow tube alignments, so this will provide control to allow for those that should not transform.

3 - NEW: Popup Menu Option in the Space Object Control Main Grid - Duplicate Selected Space Objects

This pop-up command lets you duplicate any number of selected space objects to create new ones.

4 - NEW: Tokens for Reporting Untransformed Space Object Metrics

This allows you to build untransformed space objects into reports.

5 - NEW: Point Clouds Automatically Turn OFF During Tube-Alignments

Point clouds are used to create measured space objects.  When a tube alignment occurs, VTube-LASER turns them off because they are considered measured data. All measured data turns OFF during tube-alignments.

6 - NEW: VTube-LASER Can Display the User Coordinate System for Untransformed Space Objects

This value is displayed in the new Space Object Control Parameters menu for prismatic shapes.

7 - NEW: VTube-LASER Can Invert IJK Vectors for all Space Objects in Pop-up Menus

This is true for both the main and untransformed metric values. If you measure a prismatic shape, and the vector is pointing in the opposite direction, right-click on either metric grid in Space Object Control and choose to invert the vector. To fix the original measurement that will be aligned with the tube alignments, invert the untransformed MEASURED, then realign the measured tube to the master tube.

VTube 4.5 Build 1938 - April 6, 2026

1 - NEW: Nudge (Micro) Length Adjustments in Bender Setup

A length Nudge lets you manually borrow from or add to middle lengths in a tube shape to lengthen or shorten end lengths.

Why is Length Nudge Useful?

Why is this helpful? Nudges help you solve the problem of a pre-cut batch of tubes that are too short or too long, and you cannot scrap or adjust the already-cut tubes.

• Then your goal is to borrow from or add to the straight lengths using small distance adjustments to bring the end lengths close to the correct length.
   
• For example, your tube, after bending, is 1 mm short on End B.  With Nudge, it is possible to borrow some of the lengths in the middle straights to add some of that missing 1 mm from End B.
   
• If, for example, your tube has 12 straights, then you can borrow 0.1 mm from the 10 middle straights to lengthen end B.

Kinds of Length Nudges

There are three kinds of nudges.

1. Nudge with a multiplier - like 0.01 x every Length Adjustment.
2. Nudge with an addition - like add or subtract 0.1 mm to every Length Adjustment.
3. Nudge with a distribution - like distribute 1 mm amongst all the inner straight length adjustment values.

Length Nudge Filters

Also, there are nudge filters:

1. Include or ignore end lengths
2. Nudge only positive lengths
3. Nudge only negative lengths

Extensive Length Nudge Help Included

The Nudge menu includes extensive built-in help menus that explain each Nudge use and Nudge rule.

Nudge Configuration is Per Bender Channel and Global

The Nudge values are stored uniquely for each bender channel and are available for all projects for each bender.

2 - NEW: Help Windows Have Clipboard and Print Buttons

VTube's help dialog windows now include "Copy to Clipboard" and “Print” buttons that let you copy or print the help window's contents.

3 - NEW: Help Added to Grid Menu Rows

New help dialogs were added to grid menu rows.

4 - FIX: End Tag Calculations

This fix applies to the End Tag tab menu in Bender Setup.

Now, when sliding the tube so that one end has MORE straight, the other end will automatically have LESS straight by that same amount, and vice versa.

Previous versions would incorrectly add to or subtract from both ends simultaneously.