This page shows the historical timeline of important improvements in VTube-LASER and VTube-STEP.

We recommend that you review this page to determine if an update and/or SMA renewal is of high value to you.

Changes for 2025

November 6, 2025 - New Space Object Points can be found with the Point Locator

Manually enter nominal point locations in the Space Object control, then locate those points 
around the measured tube with the probe in the measured-aligned coordinate system.

Oct 11, 2025 - New VTube-LASER Point Locator

This control allows users to visually locate points in space relative to measured-aligned tubes. It uses Space Object points as a reference. As the user approaches the target space object, the on-screen ball probe changes color. Also, the control shows the real-time distance from the probe to the target point.

Sept 26, 2025 - New Unlimited Number of Benders and Parts in Bender Project Control (BPC)

This allows for easy searching through a huge number of bender channels.

Sept 22, 2025 - New Point Cloud Transformation and Translation

The transformation and translations apply to any displayed buckets. Any bucket that is either displayed or active is included since active points are also displayed. Any point that is ON will be transformed/translated.

September 5, 2025 - New GD&T SAE J2551-1 Setup Grid

The SAE J2551-1 Specification was added for tube qualification.  This specification is used by Caterpillar and CNH for heavy equipment tube qualification.

August 8, 2025 - AB Length Pass/Fail Attribute Added

This new feature allows including the AB length with hypothetical end-trim values as one of the pass/fail qualifiers that influence the pass/fail message in the user interface and reports.

July 30, 2025 - New one-button invert rotations for mirror-image parts

July 30, 2025 - New 360 CCW grids for entering LRA rotations with only 0 to 360 values

July 24, 2025 - New Scale XYZ coordinates to make the entire part larger or smaller

July 24, 2025 - New Load Windows File Explorer from the current project path in the File menu

July 2, 2025 - New faster plane models with perimeter hull edges that accurately represent the plane boundary.

April 21, 2025 - A New CSV-style report option is added to show data in simple comma-separated value reports for easy processing by outside programs.

April 7, 2025 - Toggled Alternative/Reduced Tolerances for VTube-LASER Ensure Parts Stay in Tolerance

Read About Version 4.4 Build 1805

March 28 - Measure And Qualify Just the End Sections of Long Tubes Using Assembly Trim

March 28, 2025 - Measure And Qualify Just the End Sections of Long Tubes Using Assembly Trim

March 24, 2025 - Now Add Linear Dimensions to Space Objects in VTube-STEP

February 2025 - Linear Dimension Between Any Tube in the Assembly

March 6, 2025 - More Powerful Batch File Process With Multiple Disconnected Folders

Sometimes, you must change a value for all your VTube project files in multiple disconnected folders. VTube can do that now with this version.

February 15, 2025 - Combine Multiple Parts Into One Part

February 15, 2025 - Now Anticipate Secondary Process Deformation in VTube-LASER

This tool helps measure tube shapes after a secondary process deforms the tube after bending. The principle is to bend the part to adjust the shape to anticipate deformation in press crushes that occur to the part after bending is complete.

February 15, 2025 - A Redesign of Tube Data Storage No Longer Causes Out-of-Memory Issues

For this version, thousands of alignment events can be stored without VTube running out of memory.

January 31, 2025 - The VTube Configuration Path Can Now Be Changed

New versions of Windows allow for Folder Access Control, which can restrict a VTube's setup program from using even the Public folder structure. So now VTube's configuration file location can be changed using a text file in the VTube program folder. See this page for more information.

January 25, 2025 - Best Fit Alignment 5 is 44 Times Faster Than Best Fit Alignment 3

January 8, 2025 - Now Build Reports with the Free VTube Project Viewer

Changes for 2024

December 11, 2024 - Metronor M-Scan Support

Version 4.4 Build 1717

November 25, 2024 - Bend Plane Clock Tool Version 4.3 Build 1700
October 31, 2024 - Coil Generator Version 4.3 Build 1680
September 9, 2024 - Tangent Distance Calculator Version 4.3 Build 1654
August 31, 2024 - Import ROUND SLOTS Version 4.3 build 1653 VTube-STEP can now import and set up nominal ROUND SLOTS from models.

August 16, 2024 - Straightness Calculator Version 4.3 build 1642 The new GD&T Straightness Calculator has been added to VTube-LASER to calculate the bow deflection straightness in straight tubes.

August 15, 2024 - Measure and Qualify ROUND SLOTS Version 4.3 build 1639 VTube-LASER can measure Round Slots using probes, display slots, report on slots, and qualify 36 different metrics of slots.

June 12, 2024 - Measure PLANE from PROBE Version 4.3 build 1605 VTube-LASER now allows you to measure a plane with a ball probe.