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ARES Mechanical 2024 - Release Notes

ARES, Mechanical, 2024 SP2, Service Pack 2, Release Notes

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Written by Rodrigo Leiria
Updated over a week ago

LAST UPDATE: 2024 SP2 (24.2.1.3254)

You can download the last update from here.

Build No. 24.2.1.3254 (SP2) - Release 23/01/2024

Below you can find the main fixes and new improvements on ARES Mechanical 2024 SP2:

  • Surface Finish Symbol:

    • The user can place a surface texture symbol in the drawing by entering coordinate values, position the symbol by itself or attach it to a leader.

    • The symbol can exist as a free-standing object or it can attach to an object in the drawing.

    • The new symbol can be created using the command AM_SURFACESYMBOL.

    • When the user attaches a symbol, the symbol moves with the object whenever the user moves the object.

    • If a symbol leader is attached to an object in the drawing and the user wants to attach it to another object, must detach it first.

  • DWG 2021 File Format support:

    • In previous versions, ARES Mechanical introduced the ability to read and modify the mechanical data created with the AutoCAD Mechanical Toolset such as part references, part lists and BOM.

    • This capability enables users to update legacy drawings created in the past with AutoCAD and even keep compatibility with AutoCAD after modification.

    • The part references created with AutoCAD can be modified with ARES Mechanical and vice versa, which also ensures that your BOM and part lists are properly updated.

    • Previously this was possible in versions up to and including DWG 2018, and now this capability is extended up to and including the DWG 2021 format.

  • Feature Control Frame:

    • User will be able to create/add leader if the only click was on XLine, Centerline, Ray, Solid.

    • "Datum 1" is active when edit the feature control frame.

    • Default text style is consistent.

    • Ortho mode does not influence the leader.

  • Part Reference:

    • A part is highlighted when highlight button is clicked.

    • Part reference are at the proper position for screw connection.

    • The "Esc" key cancel the command if select an entity on locked layer.

    • Correct part reference is highlighted when highlight button is clicked on the Edit Parts List dialog.

  • Detail:

    • When creating Detail view from model space on specific drawing, it switch to sheet space.

    • Detail view letter not hang in drawing when "Bind" referenced drawing having detail view.

    • Detail view is editable in AutoCAD Mechanical.

  • User Interface:

    • Property painter command is present under "Mechanical" ribbon.

    • The "Option" field from the properties tab of Pins is removed.

    • Dropbox button now visible in the tap section.

    • The mnemonics are corrected for the Entity snaps & track.

    • The mnemonics are available for mechanical menus in Classic and Mechanical workspaces.

    • Create and Edit of Detail commands are present on the toolbar.

    • Command prompt option is corrected for Hole Callout.

    • Text color changed in the Dark style dialog for the BOM, Part Reference, and the Parts list dialog.

  • Translation:

    • Use can add Mechanical objects while editing of Block.

  • Revision:

    • The symbol should not be inserted without revision.

  • Block:

    • The translations for ”Single…” and “Global” are consistent.

  • Application stability improvements:On this release many areas was improved to avoid unexpected behaviors that lead on close the application, below a summary:

    • The application crash when manipulate mechanical objects for mirror, rotate, and scale.

    • The application not crash when copying to clipbord part reference and block having constraint dimension in one selection.

    • The application not crash when stretch entities made by the nesting manager.

Build No. 24.1.1.2220 (SP1) - Release 19/09/2023

Below you can find the main fixes and new improvements on ARES Mechanical 2024 SP1:

  • Detail View:

    • Detail views are used to highlight a certain detail in a particular scale from the selected part of a drawing.

    • Dimensions automatically recognize the scale factor of a detail view and display the correct values.

    • A new detail view can be created using the command AM_DETAIL.

    • Detail views can be inserted in model space, in a layout, or in both.

    • Created views are recognized by AutoCAD Mechanical and vice versa.

    • Detail view settings can be adjusted by clicking on the "Settings..." button in the Detail View dialog.

  • Datum Identifier:

    • Datum identifiers are symbols that identify datum features.

    • A datum identifier can be attached to an entity.

    • A new datum identifier can be created using the command AM_DATUMIDENTIFIER.

    • Created datum identifiers are recognized by AutoCAD Mechanical and vice versa.

    • Datum identifier settings can be adjusted by clicking on the "Settings..." button in the Datum Identifier dialog.

  • Section Line:

    • A section line is used to indicate where the cutting plane cuts the material.

    • A section line is inserted together with a section view label in the drawing area.

    • A new section line can be created using the command AM_SECTIONLINE.

    • Created section lines are recognized by AutoCAD Mechanical and vice versa.

    • Section line settings can be adjusted by clicking on the "Settings..." button in the Section Line dialog.

  • Feature Control Frame:

    • Message on command line is corrected when pick select unsupported symbol leader element.

    • Frame placement using x,y coordinates is supported.

    • The "ByLayer" option displays the correct color.

    • Leader orientation is correct when "Attach" existing one to an arc or circle (leader is not perpendicular on entity).

    • "Enter to exit" on command prompt sequence when pick point on empty area.

    • DIMEXO and DIMEXE system variables are honored when create FCF / Add new leader to existing FCF.

    • FCF works with entities in block.

    • FCF works with closed polylines.

    • Correct key actions in command related dialogs.

    • Can "Detach" FCF leader in a sample drawing.

    • Changing annotation colors does not change current "By Standard" color selection in FCF Settings.

    • FCF does respect colors set for "Annotation" under "Settings".

    • FCF arrow is aligned with a dimension line when ESnap is used for position.

    • Correct tab key order in command related dialogs.

    • "Attach" and "Detach" does toggle active / inactive status when one of them is executed (the same command session).

    • Can "Add leader" if specify only one point.

    • Tracker recognizes elliptical arc edges as expected.

    • Inserted symbol does not turn to text when re-editing FCF content.

    • There is tooltip for fields of FCF symbol in command main dialog.

    • Create symbol when Ortho mode is on.

    • PAN cursor does not stick to crosshair cursor if do PAN while create symbol, PAN works expected while ORTHO mode is ON.

    • The leader does follow the spline normal direction.

    • The item "By standard" in "primary" and "secondary" arrowhead lists is on top and show icon.

    • Command canceled when press Esc key the first time.

  • Part Reference:

    • Exclude from parts list of part reference edit command does work.

  • User Interface:

    • Tooltip for the all commands under Arc button are correct.

    • Feature Control Frame Edit is present on the ribbon.

  • Translation:

    • In the BOM Settings dialog, Category is marked for translation for all the supported languages.

  • Application stability improvements:On this release many areas was improved to avoid unexpected behaviors that lead on close the application, below a summary:

    • Application crash during copy to clipboard on particular part reference.

    • Application crash when mirror symbol.

    • Application crash when try to add leader with option "surFace" in the Feature control frame.

    • Application crash when manipulating multiple FCF with polyline in one selection - particular cases.

Build No. 24.0.1.1165 (SP0) - Release 25/05/2023

Below you can find the main fixes and new improvements on ARES Mechanical 2024 SP0:

  • Feature Control Frame:

    • A feature control frame is used to describe the conditions and tolerances of a geometric control on a part's feature.

    • A new feature control frame can be created using the command AM_FCFRAME. You could edit the feature control frame symbol that was created by AutoCAD Mechanical.

    • The users can edit the feature control frame symbol that was created by AutoCAD Mechanical.

    • The feature control frame includes four parts: GD&T symbol/control symbol, Tolerance zone type and dimensions, Tolerance zone modifiers - such as features of size, Datum references -if required by the GD&T Symbol

    • The user can additionally adjust the default settings for feature control frames by clicking on the “Settings…” button in the dialog.

  • Settings:

    • Layers for the existing balloons and parts list update after "Restore defaults" on the Settings dialog.

    • Arc Radial Lines and Arc Tangent Lines esnaps work separately.

    • Arc Radial Lines and Arc Tangent Lines esnaps work when it is set as Mechanical Snap Configuration.

  • Standard:

    • ANSI Inch and ANSI Metric standards are activated on the Japanese version.


  • Hardware:

    • A part reference is attached to a screw when the screw is overlapped with a hole.


  • User Interface:

    • The height of the left buttons decreases in Toolbox - Settings dialog.

    • An unnecessary Surface Finish Symbol preview appears when Surface Finish Symbol is inserted.


  • Command:

    • AM_ADDREVISIONSYMBOL command works.

    • AM_PARTREFERENCEEDIT command works.

  • Help:

    • The "Help" button opens the help doc on the More Properties dialog from BOM.

  • BOM Settings:

    • The dialog shows the correct standard when the active standard is JIS.

    • The balloon settings arrowhead's angle matches the specified values.

  • Layergroup:

    • "Use color on locked layergroups" is applied when the lock layer group.

  • Translation:

    • "Cannot export file to STEP" message is translated into Japanese.

    • "Cannot export file to IGES" message is translated into Japanese.

    • "Specify next point" message of the AM_INSERTBALLOON command is translated into Japanese.

    • Options of AM_BALLOON_REORG command is translated into Japanese.

  • Application stability improvements:

    On this release many areas was improved to avoid unexpected behaviors that lead on close the application, below a summary:

    • The application crashes when pressing a key while Kanji mode is on

    • Application crashes when canceling dialog "Part list" dialog after starting it from the BOM dialog

    • Application crash when clicking "Delete" under "Available component properties" after creating "New"

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