Pic: Visualising the surface quality of a large area mould part using GPU raytracingSpecialist software developer
MachineWorks has announced the release of MachineWorks 8.8, introducing significant advancements in the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)-powered visualisation alongside a series of performance and functionality improvements for CNC simulation users.
The latest version places particular emphasis on enhancements to MachineWorks GPU, most notably the addition of GPU-based raytraced rendering. This new capability enables highly accurate visualisation of stock surface quality when interactively reviewing simulation results, allowing users to inspect detailed surface finishes on complex components such as large mould tools with greater clarity.
MachineWorks says the raytracing approach is built on its Multicut technology, using data from an underlying tri-dexel model to intersect rays fired from each pixel with analytic surfaces. As a result, surface coordinates and normals are derived from analytic equations rather than reconstructed meshes, delivering a high level of precision even when GPU memory limits constrain dexel resolution.
Because both the dexel computation and ray queries are handled directly on the GPU, updates are near-instant on modern hardware, supporting fast and responsive inspection workflows.
Beyond rendering improvements, MachineWorks 8.8 introduces mesh simplification capabilities during solid extraction, improved performance when seeking and replaying recording files, and the ability to set hard clash tolerances on fixture solids.
Additional functionality includes saving snapshot differences as stock for reuse in new sessions, extended support for multi-axis turning cuts, and the option to attach multiple work assembly objects to a single workpiece reference assembly. The release also brings various render query extensions.
Dr Fenqiang Lin, managing director of MachineWorks, commented: “We continue to make breakthroughs with the new GPU technology, and we are already moving into the testing phase for the further improvements coming in MachineWorks 8.9. It’s also rather nice to see the Multicut technology finding a new home on a completely different type of hardware architecture, nearly thirty years after we originally started working on it.”
MachineWorks has been developing advanced 3D software engines for manufacturers and engineering software developers since 1994. Its CNC simulation toolkit is widely embedded across machine tool, controller and CAM software platforms, while its Polygonica engine supports polygon mesh modelling across multiple sectors, including CAD, CAM and additive manufacturing.