What's New in Aspire 4 and V-carve 7

[Bob Eustace]

Just spotted this on the 3D signmakers forum

"

2D (VCarve and Aspire):

Tool Organization
Revamped Layer Control (now it's own tab as well)
Mirror about line
Bitmap to vector improvements
Previews for bitmap to vector, curve fitting, nesting (and some others) (ability to preview before hitting ok (and then ctrl z to try it again)
Extend vector to next intersection tool - very powerful
Dimensions Annotation Layer (can't machine it, but you can create a dimensions layer and display/print)
Export to SVG
New (or enhanced) create arc tool
Additional alignment functions as well as reorganizing these into a group of tools
More...

3D (Aspire Only)
Add/Drag to base
Multiply by underlying component
Extrude and Weave - simply amazing and extremely powerful.* Think 2 rail sweep - but now using only a single line and either a vector or vectors profile - or a component/model and extruding along the selected vector(s)
Dog Bone Fillets
Sculpting enhancements
More...
Baking and Splitting enhancements

Will be called Aspire 4.0 and VCarve Pro 7.0.* Released probably in Jan 2013."

[bob_reda]

They have the offical list on vectrics web site. NO price increase for Aspire $1995, and the upgrade is $400.

Bob

[gerryv]

Must be blind, I'm not seeing it on their website. Where exactly is it Bob? :confused:

[bob_reda]

Gerald,
Sorry, I meant forum, I pasted the offical word from vectric

Aspire 4 & VCarve Pro 7 are shaping up nicely and this gave us the opportunity to show off a number of the new features currently in development at this year's User Group Meeting. For those of you who were not able to make the meeting we thought we should post the highlights, all of which were shown in the What's New presentation and used throughout the meeting to create the demonstration projects.

Vectric's products have been developing fast and, as you would expect, we have created many brand new tools to extend the capabilities of our software in all the crucial areas, including drawing, modelling and toolpath creation.

However, for these major releases we also took the opportunity to re-invest in many of our core tools too. As a result, we now have much more powerful layer management, improved snapping tools, mirroring, alignment, bitmap tracing, export options, filleting, offsetting, scaling and arc creation. Toolpath creation has been simplified in many cases, and toolpath previewing enhanced for easier inspection and a much improved final visualization. Completely new drawing tools include automatic extending of geometry to intersections, virtual midpoints for rapid sketching and dimensioning tools for annotating your drawings.

In addition, Aspire 4 supplements these 2D tools with new and improved 3D design and modelling tools. The most significant new features here are the Multiply combine mode (which allows one component to be used as a height mask for another) and the brand new Extrude and Weave tool. These features significantly extend Aspire's ability to produce intricate 3D designs and patterns that are simply not possible in any other modelling package. Uses include: complex molded frames, borders, Celtic weaves and even rope-work knots - all of which can be created automatically using either custom 2D vector profiles or even 3D components!

So, those are the highlights but there is a whole lot more and development work is continuing. Currently we are hoping to be finished in time for a release at the beginning of the new year and we are really pleased to confirm that, once again, our prices will remain unchanged, that is:

VCarve Pro 7 - $599
Aspire 4 - $1,995

Upgrading from any previous version of VCarve Pro to VCarve Pro 7 will be $150
Upgrading from any previous version of Aspire to Aspire 4 will be $400, or from VCarve Pro - $1,445

I hope this clarifies things for everyone.

Cheers,

E

[gerryv]

Wow, that's a major one for sure. Sure hope the tutorials will be up to the usual high standard - I'll need them :rolleyes:

[gene]

If you just upgraded to 3.5 is it still 400

[GlenP]

Vectric will probably confirm but I believe that Vectric offers free upgrades for one year. Perhaps if you just recently upgraded you will be entitled to a free upgrade to ver 4. Man the software just keeps getting better and better. Lets hope for a early christmas release:D:D

[Ajcoholic]

I bought and paid for my Aspire 3.5 in mid-January of this year... I hope it comes out in time to save me the $400.

When exactly does the new version get released? I think I have to Jan 17th...

AJC

[gerryv]

They're saying the beginning of the new year - that could drive you nuts Andrew

[Chuck Keysor]

I am certainly looking forward to the new release of Aspire!

While no one has paid me to say this, it needs to be appreciated by all Aspire owners what a value Aspire is! I have a seat of Mastercam (with Art and Solids modeling), which cost me $10,000. And every year, there was an annual maintenance fee of about 10% of the purchase price. (I dropped the maintenance after I bought Aspire a bit over a year ago.)

And Mastercam comes with NO training. That cost extra!!! And while I can sell/transfer title to Aspire, with Mastercam, I am stuck! I can't sell it, because I don't own it! My agreement for $10,000 was only to use it.

So Aspire is a GREAT value, that is super powerful, and always improving. I am looking forward to buying my Aspire upgrade.

Chuck

[Bob Eustace]

A very true post Chuck. Cracks of Artcam are very freely available. However if someone offered me a working perfectly copy of Aspire I would tell them to get lost as the Vectric guys work their gutse out for us. I mean how many companies are there, out there, where the managing director replies to emails during the weekend? Same with Shopbot. We should be making gold statures of Brian, Mark and Ted! Surely, life as we know it, would end without Vectric and Shopbot.

[myxpykalix]

I actually think it should be more of a "Mutual Admiration Society"...
I know myself and many others have presold shopbots for them and have given glowing endorsements which have swayed others. We do it because we appreciate the machine and the company, so they should appreciate us as much as we appreciate them...(i'm still angling for a free hat TED!!):D

[Chrissy]

Glen - Bob has said this will be my Xmas present this year - wonder if this is because he wants the dimensions feature. You see I do the graphics and then he checks it all and does the tool paths. Maybe I'll get it for him and Santa might be getting more patchwork stuff for my stash?..hmmmm;)

[David Iannone]

Chcuk, I agree with you 100%. I only have V-Carve Pro. I will be upgrading to Aspire soon though.

I have a ArtCam Insignia key with Power mill I cant sell for the same reason.

But hey.....If anyone is interested in buying a pair of magnetic signs from me I will "GIVE" the Artcam key and Powermill software free of charge. :D

The pair of magnetic Signs would cost $500

Dave

[Chuck Keysor]

What is the latest word on the update to Aspire 4? I looked on Aspire's website, and I didn't find any info newer than last November. Most specifically, what is the current estimate for when Aspire 4 will be available and ready to ship?

Thanks, Chuck

[cabnet636]

I have received a lot of questions on this concerning the aspire camp and making travel arrangements, I asked James and got this response

"I would tell people that Vectric are close to announcing the release date so they will know for sure soon but to the best of your knowledge the new software will definitely be released before your meeting."

[dana_swift]

@Chuck- I couldn't agree more. What an amazing value Aspire is!

Every release so far has impressed me with the thought processes involved with making the product effective as well as easy to use. I started with Aspire 1.0, and have no plan to get off the train.

Do I wish 3.5 had other features- you bet. But I am delighted that it has the features it does. I am looking forward to 4.0 to see if they took any of my improvement suggestions. Even if not, they can count on my money and support.

Worth every penny. I do appreciate it!

Its the people who haven't used it that don't realize how much more they can do than what they are doing.

D

[jamesb]

Thanks for the kind words Dana (and Chuck). As Jim mentioned we hope to make an announcement about the release in our monthly e-newsletter, which should be emailed out to subscribers before the end of the week.

Regards,
James

[cabnet636]

Thanks james,, I just got a confirm reps from Shopbot will attend and bring a machine !!

[crash5050]

[QUOTE=i'm still angling for a free hat TED!!):D[/QUOTE]


I got a free hat with my New Bot, and a nice little window sticker for the back window of my truck.

David

[myxpykalix]

[QUOTE=crash5050;141868]I got a free hat with my New Bot, and a nice little window sticker for the back window of my truck.

David

That SUCKS! :mad: I've been angling for a new hat for months! I guess being the top poster and biggest cheerleader for Shopbot doesn't qualify you for a free hat....(Waah) :rolleyes: oh well i guess i'll have to buy another shopbot to get one. :D
Can I buy a hat?:(

[kurt_rose]

There's nothing wrong with that hat Jack. It looks like your just now getting it broke in really.

[crash5050]

My wife told me that was the most expensive baseball cap she had ever seen!