Halocline 2022.4

New Shopfloor Environment

• You now have the possibility to import your own 3D data of a hall into a shopfloor.
• We support the standard file format .gltf and .glb for this.
• Note that in most cases it is necessary to prepare existing data for use in VR. Information on how to prepare your data can be found here.
• You can find more information under 
  • Shopfloor environment
  • Preparation of shopfloor environments
  • Import shopfloor environment

New tools

• With this version we have extended the selection of standard tools for you. In addition to the existing ones, you now have seven new working tools available in the application.

Improvement of the "Create Box" function

• We have changed the interaction with the "Create Box" tool:
• You now create boxes with two short clicks.
• Precision mode is always triggered when you hold down the trigger.
  When creating boxes, the size of the footprint now changes more quickly when you hold down the thumb function. If you press briefly, it is more precise.
• For more information, see Creating boxes.

Improvements to the " Adjust " function

• The "Adjust" tool now lets you resize multiple boxes at the same time when they are aligned in the same way. This makes it easier to resize table legs or shelves, for example.
• When you adjust the rotation of objects, a snap feature makes it easier to hit 45° steps.
• You no longer control the rotation when placing objects by rotating your wrist, but by using the touchpad or joystick. This gives you full control and allows you to place objects more safely.
• For more information, see Adjust.

Graphics settings

• In the settings window in VR you will find a new tab to adjust the graphics.
  This allows you to control the rendering of your scene and the processing power required.
• With the "Render resolution" you adjust the general image quality. This is automatically adjusted at each start, depending on the complexity of the work area and the performance of your computer. You can also adjust it manually at any time.
• With "CAD objects in distance" you can define the display of CAD objects in far distance. Activate this setting if you want to get an overview or take screenshots, for example. For a smoother VR experience, turn off CAD Objects in Distance.
• You can find more information here.

Update screenshots in notepad

• You will now see the screenshots you take in Halocline automatically in your notepad.
• For more information, see Notepad in VR.

2D desktop user interface customizations

• We have reworked the desktop overlay. Now you can easily switch between work areas and variants to present your planning more easily.
• For more information, see switch between work areas and variants

Adjustments of the visualization in VR

• We have also optimized the rendering in VR. You'll notice that shadows are no longer as harsh and colors look more realistic. 
• Inactive stations are now desaturated and rendered brighter.
• Instead of hands, parts now have a point texture.
• More info can be found here.

New tutorial shopfloors

• New tutorial shopfloor videos explain the basic functions of Halocline to you and new colleagues.
• If you already know the basics, there are more videos to follow.
• The matching tutorial shopfloor, where you can do all the tasks, can be found here.

(BETA) Switch between box and part

• In our beta version you can now switch between boxes and parts.
• This allows you to make static objects interactive after you have built them.
• Imported CAD data can be immobilized using this feature.

New calibration

• We've simplified the calibration process and adapted it for headsets like the HP Reverb or the Oculus Quest.
• In our calibration room, you can set your height and adjust your arm length.
• The last completed calibration is saved beyond the application restart.
• You can find more information here.

Performance Tutorials

• Our tutorial shopfloor now includes training for Halocline Performance. Here you will learn the basic functions with the help of signs and short tasks.
• You can find more information here.

Improvement of Clearance Width

• We have adjusted the calculation of the clearance width.
• You can now set it to be calculated with static objects only.
• Dynamic objects, such as components or KLTs no longer influence the clearance width with this setting.
• You can find more information here.

Consideration of resources in tabular report

• The tabular report distinguishes between parts, load carriers and tools.
• This means that the exports can also be used as an interface template for process data exchange with other platforms, such as Moryx or IMK-EMA.
• More information can be found here.

No support for VIVE trackers

• Starting with this release the VIVE trackers are no longer supported.
• Thanks to feedback from our users, we have determined that calibration and recording with VIVE trackers does not provide enough added value to justify their complex use.

(BETA) Use of the Transport Area

• We have removed the "Create Transport Area" feature.
• Thanks to feedback from our beta partners, we were able to develop a good understanding of the use cases and will therefore fundamentally renew the feature to make it even more intuitive and faster to use.