Skip to main content
ARES Mechanical 2025 - Release Notes

ARES, Mechanical, 2025 SP2, Service Pack 2, Release Notes

D
Written by Devas Sheth
Updated over a week ago

LAST UPDATE: 2025 SP2 (25.2.1.3215)

You can download the last update from here.

Build No. 25.2.1.3215 (SP2) - Release 18/11/2024

Below you can find the main fixes and new improvements on ARES Mechanical 2025 SP2:

  • Welding Symbol

    • The Welding Symbol feature allows users to easily add welding symbols to their technical drawings.

    • It offers a wide range of standard symbols that represent various weld types, making it simple to include welding specifications directly in designs.

    • The Welding Symbol tool offers various options for precise and flexible symbol placement.

    • Users can customize the type, size, angle, and placement of each symbol to fit specific project requirements.

    • Symbols like "all around" or "field weld" can be placed at the arrow's junction with the reference line. The tool also supports staggered fillet welds and offers options to add to the welding processes.

    • It also supports industry standards, which enhances the accuracy and quality of technical drawings.

    • Multiple reference lines and arrows can be used to indicate weld sequences and identical weld locations, respectively.

    • Symbols can be attached to objects or exist independently, ensuring they move with the object when repositioned.

  • AMUSERHATCH
    The following functionalities have been added to the AMUSERHATCH command:

    • Hatch creation now uses entities on layers linked to the entity keys "Contour 1-4" or layers without any associated entity keys as boundaries.

    • Improved hatching performance.

    • Upon specifying additional boundaries during AM_USERHATCHEDIT, only entities which are not considered contours (associated with "Contour 1-4" keys or no keys at all) will be respected during that selection.

    • Executing AM_USERHATCHEDIT with preselected hatch now works as expected. (Previously in case last user click was done outside of hatch boundaries, it would not be recreated because pick point is outside of the boundaries).

  • Balloon:

    • Enhanced balloon reorganization to prevent overlapping.

    • Improved workflow in CCS.

  • Mechanical Annotations:

    • Improved attachment of annotations to the correct polyline segments in non-active viewports.

  • Surface Finish Symbol:

    • Surface finish symbols now have extension lines whenever they are required.

  • Detail View:

    • Improved creation of detail views that previously failed in certain scenarios.

    • Enhanced prompts in the detail view command.

  • Hardware:

    • Part references are now updated when associated hardware is modified.

    • Fixed a bug that incorrectly updated drawing units despite the user's choice not to do so in the Hardware dialog.

  • Screw Connection:

    • Correct fastener length is now displayed for mirrored instances of screw connections.

  • Layergroup Manager:

    • Subentities of block definitions are now moved to the destination layergroup when their block references are moved in the Layergroup Manager.

  • Layer Visibility Enhancement:

    • Layer visibility enhancement allows for changing the colors of inactive layergroups multiple times as needed.

  • Mechanical Layers Manager:

    • Improved selection behavior to prevent automatic selection of multiple rows.

    • Fixed a crash when creating a new layer in drawings containing non-mechanical layers.

  • Revision Table:

    • Revision tables in sheets are now correctly copied when sheets are copied.

  • Edit Frame:

    • The "Specify" item has been removed from the scales list.

  • Mechanical Settings:

    • Items in the polar guides table are no longer duplicated when switching between different snap configurations.

  • Copy:

    • Enhanced stability when copying mechanical symbols.

  • Save:

    • Fixed saving issues with drawings containing zero-length section lines.

    • Specific files can now be saved successfully.

  • Documentation:

    • Help buttons now function correctly in the Visual Styles Manager and Drawing Compare palette.

  • Translation:

    • Added missing translations in preset lists in the Surface Finish Symbol Settings.

Build No. 25.1.1.2158 (SP1) - Release 01/08/2024

Below you can find the main fixes and new improvements on ARES Mechanical 2025 SP1:

  • AMUSERHATCH
    The following functionalities have been added to the AMUSERHATCH command:

    • Implementation of the ability to choose hatch pattern types: "Predefined," "User-defined," or "Custom defined." Previously, the dialog was limited to "User-defined" patterns only.

    • Introduction of an "Offset" button, allowing users to specify the pattern offset relative to the selected hatch.

  • Edit leader note via property pallet

    • Added functionality to edit mechanical notes directly through the properties palette.

  • Construction Line Enhancements

    • Added the ability to create a construction line between two existing construction lines.

    • Created a new toolbar for the Construction Line, allowing users to display it and integrate it into the tool matrix.

  • Mechanical Snap Configuration:

    • Added an "Activate" button in the Mechanical Snap configuration settings to apply the settings to "Current" and save them.

    • Updated the order and changed the abbreviation to a short text for the Mechanical ESnap status bar button, ARCR to Arc Radial, ARCT to Arc Tangent, and SYMP to Symmetry.

  • Annotative Option:

    • Enabled the annotative option for the amstandardiso.dwt template.

  • Detail View:

    • The rectangular detail boundary is intact when resized with the grip.

    • The connection line follows the new position of the detail view.

    • The detail view for a block has been created correctly.

    • Dimension Layer Settings allow users to specify the layer of dimension entities and leader line entities, ensuring Mechanical-compliant layer usage.

    • Hatch is part of the Detail view.

    • The size of the Detail view is correct when ortho is ON.

  • Feature Control Frame:

    • The "Text height" is a dropdown field and not an in-line edit field.

    • "Shift + F" to disable ORTHO mode while creating symbol leader is working.

    • Japanese text doesn't disappears when inputting on the feature Control Frame dialog.

    • A point on ETrack is taken when specifying FCF leader points.

  • Section line:

    • The drawing can be exported with the Section Line.

    • The Half segment option is implemented.

    • Polar works when drawing a section line.

    • The section line with the Half option does not disappear when changing the side multiple times.

    • The section view identifier size is the same as the section view label in accordance with the AMSYMSCALE.

    • The section symbol is placed on the active XY plane.

    • The warning message is added if the "text height" is invalid.

  • Surface Symbol:

    • The help button is added in the preset dialog of the Surface symbol.

    • On the Preset lists, user-added Roughness values can be edited.

    • The surface symbol can be attached to the Feature control frame.

    • The "HELP" button from "Preset lists" does open the help page.

    • The "Tab" sequence works consecutively from the top to the bottom in the Settings dialog.

  • Datum Identifier:

    • The Datum Identifier symbol is attached to the Feature control frame correctly.

    • The surface option works fine without any additional bent lines.

  • JM Tools:

    • The application does not crash when unloading the plugin.

    • The command prompt shows the correct message when clicking on GA while using the chamfer dimension.

    • Smart selection works with the Cut and Copy option.

  • Part Reference:

    • The part reference does not move when rescaling with the AM_FRAME command.

    • The Part reference attached with the Hardware is not left behind after move and edit the hardware.

  • BOM:

    • Japanese text is displayed properly when importing the BOM CSV file.

    • The width of each column does not change after clicking the Create Parts List button on the BOM dialog.

  • Documentation:

    • Pre-defined hatch options link to the help topics.

    • The help for the Feature control frame edit command is added.

    • The path change for the Hole table create/edit in the help documentation.

  • Layer:

    • The "Move into" option works if the destination layer group is the active layer group.

    • Layer groups can be frozen when visibility enhancement is active.

  • Template:

    • The active dimension style is corrected for the ANSI and ISO.

    • The Imperial annotation unit in "amstandardiso" template with ANSI metric active standard is corrected.

  • Translation:

    • The "Restore to defaults" warning message is translated for the settings dialog in the Part list dialog.

    • The parts List for the JIS is translated into the Japanese language.

    • The list of the controls on the parts list settings dialog is translated into Japanese.

    • The Section line Label is translated into the Japanese language in the properties palette.

    • The text height for the feature control frame is translated in Japanese.

    • Translation for the "By JIS" is corrected in the Japanese language for the View label, the cutting plane tab on the Section line, Parts list settings, Datum Identifier and Feature control frame, and Surface finish settings dialogs.

    • Translation for the Boolean Operations in the 3D modeling workspace is corrected in the German language.

    • Translation for the Feature Control Frame in the German language is corrected.

    • Translation for the section line is corrected in the German language.

  • UI:

    • Category names correlate with the correct word orders for the Preset lists on the Preset lists dialog of the Surface Symbol.

    • For the display scaling 125%, the leader in the dialog is proper for the German and Polish languages.

    • For the User hatch dialog, the header should be in the sentence case.

    • The "Default file types" are written as "R2012" instead of "R2021" for other supported languages in the system options.

    • The dialog and strings are translated for the User Hatch dialog.

    • The mnemonics are added for the user Hatch dialog.

    • Tooltip for the Feature control frame dialog displayed consistently.

  • Application stability improvements:

    On this release, many areas were improved to avoid unexpected behaviors that lead to closing the application, below is a summary:

    • The application does not crash when making Detail View with xRef drawing.

    • The application does not crash if any key is pressed during start-up, after the splash screen.

Build No. 25.0.1.1240 (SP0) - Release 18/04/2024

Below you can find the main fixes and new improvements on ARES Mechanical 2025 SP0:

  • AMUSERHATCH & AMHATCH:

    • Users can use the AMUSERHATCH command to insert user-defined non-associative hatches into object areas.

    • The user can also modify the properties of a selected hatch before inserting it into an object area.

    • The Hatch dialog box enables the user to do the following, Set the angle of hatch lines, Set the spacing between hatch lines, Specify the minimum number of hatch lines to draw when hatching small areas, Calculate the new boundaries of an area when editing a hatch, and Set the double-line hatch pattern.

  • JM Tools:

    • The JMTools plugin offers a suite of powerful features designed to streamline and enhance operations within ARES Mechanical software.

    • Noteworthy functions include Half Dimension, where the dimension value is prefixed with a φ diameter symbol, and by default is twice the actual length.

    • The plugin enables the creation of Continue/Baseline Dimensions, generating horizontal or vertical linear dimensions.

    • Dimension Layer Settings allow users to specify the layer of dimension entities and leader line entities, ensuring Mechanical-compliant layer usage.

    • The Chamfer Dimension feature creates a leader line perpendicular to the chamfer line, extending at a specified distance.

    • Insert Dimension splits linear dimensions and specifies the location of the new witness line.

    • Join Dimension combines colinear dimension lines with the same base point.

    • Align Dimension, aligns dimension lines parallel to specified linear dimensions.

    • The Center Mark function creates lines on the Mechanical layer's Centerline.

    • Parallel Lines draws lines parallel to specified entities with matching properties.

    • The Stretch tool performs expansion and contraction sequentially. Inquire tools provide previews and command prompts for various measurements, distances, angles, and slopes. Lastly, the Draw tools feature facilitates the cut and copy/move/delete/write operations.

    • JMTools enhances CAD workflows by providing a comprehensive set of tools for efficient and precise design operations.

  • Feature Control Frame:

    • In paper space, the FCF is associated with geometry in the model.

    • When the edit symbol with the double click on its leader then the "Leader and Text" tab is active on the opened dialog.

    • Add a leader to an existing symbol when editing the Feature Control Frame.

    • Create a symbol for the 2 adjacent edges of a rectangle.

    • Feature Control Frame can be associated with a dimension line and dimension extension line.

    • The mirror command works with the Feature Control Frame Symbol.

  • Surface Symbol:

    • The symbol does not shift when specify point for the side.

    • Stretch with grip the Surface finish symbol and place it outside of entity.

    • The mirror command works with the Surface Symbol.

    • The symbol is properly generated in rotated CCS (UCS).

    • The "Add" button is activated in the Leader and Text tab.

    • Mnemonics are available for the Settings.

    • Multiple leaders are supported.

    • Requirements are not lost after clicking on the "Cancel" button.

    • When no presets are available only the “New“ button is active.

    • Mnemonics are available for the "Arrowhead" from the "Leader and text" tab.

    • Tooltips are available for the Preset list option.

  • Datum Identifier:

    • Canceling the "Settings" change does revert changes for existing symbols.

    • On Properties the "By Standard" surface arrowhead is on the top of the list.

    • For the Surface option, the symbol is placed above the hook line.

    • The symbol starts from the correct coordinates.

    • The artifacts are not displayed while adding the datum to mechanical entities in paper space.

  • User Interface:

    • In the dark style, the icons for the Mechanical tools are colored.

    • For the Light style, in the Section line dialog, in-line edit canvases are updated for the % or greater DPI scale.

    • Entity Snaps & Track > tooltips for "Select All" and "Clear All" are added.

    • The symbol's icon for the Datum Identifier is visible on the display scaling >=125%.

    • Mnemonics are corrected for the “Line spacing“ and “Settings“ in the Part List.

    • Texts on the revision table/hole table for the Japanese language are corrected.

    • The font in-hole callout for the Japanese language is corrected.

  • Translation:

    • “Specify first corner” and “Specify second corner” messages of the AM_BALLOON_REORG command are translated into Japanese.

    • Drawing sheet tabs names are translated into templates.

    • The items of Identifier position and Arrow direction lists are translated into Japanese.

    • Translation for the Primary Arrowhead dropdown option is correct for the Feature Control Frame dialog.

  • Detail:

    • Block is preserved in detail view when it is inside of detail view.

    • Undo works without freezing the application.

    • Stretch command works with the detail view.

    • Blocks are clipped in detail view.

  • Documentation:

    • The command name is corrected for the "AM_PartListEdit" in the Help document.

    • Remove all references to the AM_SFIN command from the Help document.

    • Help for the "Settings" is available for the Detail dialog.

  • Construction Lines:

    • Construction lines respect the Ortho mode.

  • Part Reference:

    • Part Reference is listed in BOM after the creation of the BLOCK.

    • A part reference of the same screw moves when setting “Exclude from Parts List” and moving it.

  • Section Line:

    • For the "Half" section line, one arrow is added.

  • Edit Component:

    • The entity with mechanical annotation (FCF, Datum, SFS) is not duplicated in externally referenced drawings when editing in-place XRef.

  • Application stability improvements:

    • The application crashes when making Detail View with xRef drawing.

    • The application if any key is pressed during start-up, after the splash screen.

Did this answer your question?