Product releases

Anchor for Release 5.1.1

Release 5.1.1

Release date: March 31, 2010

March 31, 2010: The X-shape family e.g. Powdershape, Diashape, Fibreshape, and Flockshape version 5.1.1 have been released to the public. The major improvements are: 

• Now Windows 7 compatible
• Improved image saving management
• Automatic scanning with the sample feeder in reflective mode
• Characterization of  objects > 2 um size using a new digital microscope
• A new simply product "Microshape"  has been issued for powder characterization that has just  two measuring ranges
• 2 - 150 um using the digital microscope with 14600 dpi
• 10 - 1000 um using an 3600 dpi  film scanner

• size  reporting using ANSI or  ISO classification

  

• This new reporting tool enables in the case of Diashape also to calculate the diamonds/carat

Anchor for Release 5.0.4

Release 5.0.4

Release date: April 30, 2009

This update introduces a new product line that enables to perform a fully automated measuring process. 
It consists of  two major innovations:

The sample feeder  
It enables to feed an A4 or A3 scanner automatically  with the powder or fibre samples. The sample feeder is integrated in our new systems "Powdershape automatic" and "Fibreshape automatic". 

You need just three measurement steps:

1. Simply distribute your powder samples on the board
2. Start the measurement
3. Get your results

 

 

 

Direct control of the scanner parameters
The scanner parameters are directly controled by the  measuring masks and integrated into the fully automated measuring process. There is no anymore a  need to take care if the scanning parameter settings are correct.

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Anchor for Release 5.0.3

Release 5.0.3

Release date: November 01, 2008

X-shape is now ready for Windows Vista . X-shape can be installed on Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Vista. Our recommended OS is Windows XP .

Data base equivalent organization of quality charts especially for automatic quality control. A quality chart - "Qchart" called - is an easy to use Excel sheet with database equivalent features.  It reports the important parameters in shape and size. It has the following three major features :

Calibration by standard spheres and standard fibres. Standard spheres and standard fibres are now available for the scanner calibration. (see)

Algorithm improvements for Powdershape, Fibreshape and Flockshape. 

Anchor for Release 5.0.2

Release 5.0.2

Release date: November 01, 2007

Configure report. All settings and choices for a particular report are remembered now so that a report can be created with only one single click. Configuring the report has been improved and simplified . The histogram layout can be previewed and the results of all 4 size models "circle, ellipse, feret, rectangle" can be shown by the preview histogram.

Configure the report menu

Extended quality chart functions.

Quality charts have now multi the following database like features:

 

• Calibration of scanners using calibration profiles  

         The calibration parameters grain size, max size, min size are managed separately in calibration profiles now. This allows the measure masks to reference the currently valid calibration. Old measurements that have been performed using a different calibration profile can still be reproduced using the same measure mask. A special perimeter based calibration for the rectangle model has been added.

Anchor for Release 5.0.0

Release 5.0.0

Release date: February 22, 2007

• Simplified work flow 

        You need just two clicks by the completely new developed GUI (graphic user interface) to get your result:                           

1. Get image                                                                                                              
2. Get report                                                                                                     

        All settings and choices for a particular report are remembered now so that a report can be created with only one single click. Configuring the report has been improved and simplified.

•  Integrated online help  

          The manual is now full integrated in the X-shape program. Use the help key and it leads you to the manual and basic informations such as articles and presentations.

•  Data base driven organization of measure masks                                                   

            The measurement automation facility, the measure masks, are now stored in a data base instead of regular files like with previous releases of Fibreshape. A powerfull categorization and description framework has been added to the masks in a way that you are able to identify very easy and quickly the masks you need .

 

• Application development tool   

             A separated application development tool has been added in order to separate clearly the daily measurement work from parameter development. This new tool enables also to solve typical  image analysis problems of microscopy.

 

• Support for different size models for particle characterization  

             Diashape and Powdershape enables you now to select between size parameters of different geometric models:  circle (diameter of area equivalent circle), ellipse (a and b axis) , Feret (min or max Feret diameter) or for Powdershape only rectangle (thickness and length).

•         Data handling improvements

            * The limitation on the image file and the directory names have been removed.

    Use any file name you like.

* More data export methods have been added. You can now typically choose between  

   Excel, Comma Separated Values (CSV plain text) and print formats (e.g. PDF file).


Anchor for Release 4.3.6

Release 4.3.6

Release date: November 22, 2005

This update brings several enhancements that allow you to measure fibre crimp, high aspect ratio particles and nano particles with the same software you already know from the IST.

The list of important new features and improvements:

• Numerically stable analysis of high aspect ratio objects of a wide size range in arbitrary size dimensions and of arbitrary shape.
• More efficient single crystal shape characterization (diamonds for instance).
• Analysis of SEM and REM nano particles (including a general micrographical analysis method).
• Analysis of fibre crimp according to the ASTM standard:
  • Crimp degree
  • Bow frequency
  • Crimp frequency (ASTM D3937 -94)
  • Crimp ratio (ASTM D3937-94)
• Scanner parameters can be integrated into the measurement.
• Interactive free layouting of histograms.
• Introduction of freely definable different percentile values for the histogram.
• An overhaul of the measurement algorithms lead to a 300% (three times) faster measurement.
• Norton Anti Virus compatibility improvements.

Anchor for Release 4.3.4

Release 4.3.4

Release date: July 22, 2004

This update is a user interface polish and bug fix release.

The list of important new features and improvements:

• Print buttons to directly print the certificates.
• Localisation (translation) updates.

Anchor for Release 4.3.3

Release 4.3.3

Release date: July 04, 2004

Though only a minor update, this update introduces a new product line to the family of our characterisation products: the Small Edition. The Small Edition is a simplyfied version where the only user interaction needed are 'load an image' and 'print certificate'. A certificate is created automatically and printed immediately.
This product line is available for Powdershape, Fibreshape, Flockshape and Diashape and is intended for small industry companies.

Anchor for Release 4.3.2

Release 4.3.2

Release date: May 10, 2004

This minor update introduces some smaller new features but also two very important changes, the availability of a new product called Flockshape as well as a reader application.

The list of important new features and improvements:

• The xShape Reader is a separate program distributed with the main products (Powdershape, Fibreshape, etc) that can be run on any other Windows PC to read measurement results and analyse or create reports accordingly.
  No additional licenses are needed (think of the relation between xShape Reader and for example Powdershape as the relation between the well known Acrobat Reader and Acrobat from Adobe).
• The Flockshape system is a characterisation system specialised for flock. More details can be found at the product description page.
• The ability to view former measurements has been better integrated into the user interface.
  
  
  
  
  One has to chose between the two tasks "measure" and "view former measurement data".
  Create any report or do statistical analysis on the loaded data as usual.
• The system administrator now has the ability to add measure masks to a template list. Newly created users/profiles will automatically have these measure masks included.
• Excel control for report creation is much more reliable. Several annoyances could be fixed.

Anchor for Release 4.3.1

Release 4.3.1

Release date: March 26, 2004

This minor update mainly includes usability and consistency improvements.

The list of important new features and improvements:

• It is now disallowed to overwrite an existing lot number (measurement data base) in the measure section.
• Keyboard only control of the application has been improved. Tab usage now is useful indeed.
  Keyboard shortcuts are available for several important functions such as switching the user/profile, entering the measure mask setup dialog and others.
• Graphical user interface improvements:
  More intuitive button placement at several locations and translation updates.

Anchor for Release 4.3.0

Release 4.3.0

Release date: September 19, 2003

The 4.3.0 release of Diashape, Powdershape and Fibreshape is the first public release of the 4.3 family of product releases.
Most improvements are under the hood and caused incompatibilities with previous releases. This is why this release got a major version increase to 4.3. Some user visible improvements have found their way into this release though and they are listed below.
Nevertheless we are proud to announce a completely new major characterisation algorithm, Fractal Analysis, as well as a new application, the Mixture Analysis.

The list of important new features and improvements:

• Fractal Analysis
  The measurement of fractal dimensions. Enables to characterise fractures and complex surface topologies of particles.
• Mixture Analysis The characterisation of mixed systems. Distinction of objects by shape, size, transparency and colour.
  Calculation of area and/or volume fraction.
• Measure mask setup:
  An initial simple ppi (Pixels Per Inch) calculator has been added for image sources using a different scale (optical microscope, SEM, TEM, etc.). It now asks for pixels per micron.
• Analyse step:
  The whole code of report creation with Excel has been rewritten and improved.
• Status information area added:
  
  
  It shows what operation currently is in process or what operation (step) could be accomplished. The current user is displayed as well.
• A lot of documentation added:
  
  • How to use our products. A fast but simple guide how to get results/certificates as fast as possible.
  • How to do area fraction measurements. A guide to how the combination of Powdershape and Fibreshape enables you to measure area fractions of arbitrary mixtures of objects (particles, fibres, etc.)
  • How to create/delete/manage users. A step by step guide how to do user administration.
  • How to review former measurements. How to load (Lot No) data for further usage.

Anchor for Release 4.2.2

Release 4.2.2

Release date: May 04, 2003

The 4.2.2 release of Diashape, Powdershape and Fibreshape is the first public release of the 4.2 family of product releases.
Lots of effort has been spent to steadily facilitate the quality inspection process.

The list of important features and improvements:

• Default measure mask:
  It is now possible to configure a default measure mask for every user. This allows you to qualify the inspection steps and speed and ease up the inspection process.
• Measure Mask dependent scanner properties:
  Different measure masks possibly need different scanner properties (calibration). With the added feature of default measure masks you'll be pleased of the automated selection of proper scanner properties for default measure masks.
• Comprehensive in line documentation added:
  In addition to the documentation formerly available on CD, we added a comprehensive documentation that is accessible from the application. (finally a 'Help' menu entry).
  Lots of improvements and clean-ups have been incorporated to the documentation.
• User management improvements:
  The user management introduced with the 4.1 release has been dramatically improved.
  Sort the list of users alphabetically and/or pin a user to a certain position (you might want the 'Guest' account to stay at first position, as an example).
  Prompt assistance for entry fields of the user configuration.
• Lots of bug fixes and user interface improvements

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Last update: Aug 30, 2010