ART Module (AMS) > Welcome > Features of ART

The ART module is used to convert artwork into geometry suitable for machining or any other downstream applications such as 3D printing. It augments the traditional modeling capabilities of VisualCAD and allows you to utilize bitmap files to construct geometry. The list below summarizes the features found in ART.

Relief Operations

Relief operations are used to create 3D shapes. The different functions that a user can utilize are:

Convert Native Geometry

Convert CAD data to ART geometry

Create 3D Relief

Convert bitmap files to 3D geometry based on gray-scale

Create Puffed Volume

Create puffed shapes using wireframe geometry as boundaries

Create Swept Volume

Performing sweeping operations of cross sectional shape functions along a curve to create 3D geometry

Raster to Vector

This operation can be used to convert picture or bitmap files (Raster) into wireframe (Vector), by tracing the boundary edges between differently colored regions in the picture file.

Shape Library

You can save created ART geometry to shapes that can be reused in other projects.

Export to CAD

Once 3D or wireframe geometry is created in ART, they can be exported to VisualCAD for use in downstream applications. There are various settings that can be used to control the way the geometry is created in VisualCAD.

File Formats Supported

Bitmap Files (.bmp), JPEG, JPG Files (.jpg, .jpeg) and GIF Files (.gif)