Change Summary Tables¶
Geometry and Cost Engine Changes¶
The table below contains a row for each geometry or cost engine change. Each row lists the following:
- Process group to which the change applies
- Impact level of the change (High, Medium, or Low)
- Whether the change can or must be disabled using site variables.
- Description of the change and its impact
Changes are geometry changes unless explicitly labeled Cost engine change in the description.
The entries are arranged alphabetically by process group.
You can use this table to guide you in performing Step 2 and Step 3 of impact assessment (see Impact Assessment Steps). Click on the name of a process group in the first column to get more information on changes for that process group.
| Process Group | Impact Level | Can be Disabled? | Must be Disabled with Prior CMVs? | Impact Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Process Groups | Low | NO | NO | This release adds support for extracting surface roughness PMI (product and manufacturing Information) from files saved with SolidWorks 2026 or later. aPriori reads Ra (arithmetic mean roughness, SolidWorks Surface Finish Field 1) and Rz (mean roughness depth, Field 6). |
| Bar & Tube Fabrication | Low | NO | NO | This release improves the accuracy of round tube stock identification in the Bar and Tube Fabrication process group. Previously, certain round tube geometries either were misclassified as round bar stock or failed to return a valid stock size, causing incorrect material selection and inaccurate material cost results. |
| Casting - Die | Low | NO | NO | This release resolves an issue where the material specified in the Bulk Costing & Analysis dialog was not correctly applied during GCD extraction, causing material-dependent GCDs to be computed incorrectly. Bulk Costing via spreadsheet input was not affected by this issue. |
| Casting - Investment | Low | NO | NO | This release resolves an issue where the material specified in the Bulk Costing & Analysis dialog was not correctly applied during GCD extraction, causing material-dependent GCDs to be computed incorrectly. Bulk Costing via spreadsheet input was not affected by this issue. |
| Casting - Sand | Low | NO | NO | This release resolves an issue where the material specified in the Bulk Costing & Analysis dialog was not correctly applied during GCD extraction, causing material-dependent GCDs to be computed incorrectly. Bulk Costing via spreadsheet input was not affected by this issue. |
| Plastic Molding | Low | NO | NO | This release resolves an issue where the material specified in the Bulk Costing & Analysis dialog was not correctly applied during GCD extraction, causing material-dependent GCDs to be computed incorrectly. Bulk Costing via spreadsheet input was not affected by this issue. |
| Sheet Metal | Low | NO | NO | This release extends the Sheet Metal geometry recognition algorithms to better identify gusset features which are used to stiffen straight bend features. Gusset recognition is improved particularly when a part contains multiple gusset features. This release resolves an issue where the material specified in the Bulk Costing & Analysis dialog was not correctly applied during GCD extraction, causing material-dependent GCDs to be computed incorrectly. Bulk Costing via spreadsheet input was not affected by this issue. |
| Sheet Metal - Hydroforming | LOW | No | No | This release extends the Sheet Metal geometry recognition algorithms to better identify gusset features which are used to stiffen straight bend features. Gusset recognition is improved particularly when a part contains multiple gusset features. |
| Sheet Metal - Stretch Forming | LOW | No | No | This release extends the Sheet Metal geometry recognition algorithms to better identify gusset features which are used to stiffen straight bend features. Gusset recognition is improved particularly when a part contains multiple gusset features. |
| Sheet Metal - Transfer Die | LOW | No | No | This release extends the Sheet Metal geometry recognition algorithms to better identify gusset features which are used to stiffen straight bend features. Gusset recognition is improved particularly when a part contains multiple gusset features. |
Before you upgrade, review the process groups you use, and identify the ones have that have changes that impact aPriori estimates. Once you have determined whether to accept or disable each High-impact geometry or cost engine change for the process groups that you use, you can upgrade to the new release. If there are no High-impact geometry or cost engine changes, you can upgrade to the new release.
aPriori also recommends that you review the cost model changes as well as the Low- and Medium-impact geometry and cost engine changes for the process groups you use.
All Changes¶
The table below indicates which categories of change impact each process group, as well as the cost model versions introduced in each of the last four releases.
Process names in the table’s first column link to process-group-specific sections which can help you to perform Steps 3 and 4 of your impact assessments (see Impact Assessment Steps). Each of the sections contains summary tables as well as change details grouped by the following three categories:
- Geometry or cost engine changes that could impact configured Digital Factories: these are changes that might impact costing even for Digital Factories that use earlier cost model versions.
- Bug fixes or small improvements to prior cost model versions that could impact configured Digital Factories: these are back-ported bug fixes, which might impact costing for Digital Factories that use earlier cost model versions.
- Cost model changes that do not affect configured Digital Factories: these are changes that do not affect costings with Digital Factories that use earlier cost model versions.
| Process Group | Geometry or Cost Engine Changes | Bug Fixes or Small Improvements to Prior Cost Model Versions | Changes to New Cost Model Version | Latest Cost Model Version in Each of the Last Four Releases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-Model Machining | NO | NO | NO (but see Machining) | 130, 130, 130, 130 |
| Additive Manufacturing | NO | NO | NO | 170, 170, 170, 170 |
| Assembly | NO | NO | NO | 250, 250, 240, 240 |
| Assembly Molding | NO | NO | NO | 130, 130, 130, 130 |
| Assembly Plastic Molding | NO | NO | NO | 80, 80, 80, 80 |
| Bar &Tube | YES | NO | YES | 290, 280, 270, 270 |
| Casting - Die | YES | NO | NO | 230, 230, 220, 220 |
| Casting - Investment | YES | NO | NO | 130, 130, 120, 120 |
| Casting - Sand | YES | NO | YES | 230, 220, 210, 210 |
| Composites | NO | NO | NO | 90, 90, 90, 90 |
| Forging | NO | NO | YES | 310, 300, 290, 280 |
| Heat Treatment | NO | NO | NO | 200, 200, 190, 190 |
| Machining | NO | NO | YES | 390, 380, 370, 360 |
| Multi-Spindle Machining | NO | NO | NO (but see Machining) | 50, 50, 50, 50 |
| Other Secondary Processes | NO | NO | NO | 160, 160, 160, 160 |
| PCB | NO | NO | NO | 80, 80, 80, 80 |
| Part Assembly | NO | NO | NO | 110, 110, 110, 110 |
| Plastic Molding | YES | NO | NO | 330, 320, 310, 300 |
| Powder Metal | NO | NO | NO | 170, 170, 170, 170 |
| Rotational & Blow Molding | NO | NO | NO | 170, 170, 170, 170 |
| Sheet Metal | YES | NO | YES | 350, 340, 330, 320 |
| Sheet Metal - Hydroforming | YES | NO | NO | 140, 140, 140, 130 |
| Sheet Metal – Roll Forming | NO | NO | NO | 70, 70, 70, 60 |
| Sheet Metal – Stretch Forming | YES | NO | NO | 120, 120, 120, 110 |
| Sheet Metal – Transfer Die | YES | NO | NO | 190, 190, 190, 180 |
| Sheet Plastic | NO | NO | NO | 160, 160, 160, 160 |
| Stock Machining | NO | NO | YES | 230, 220, 220, 220 |
| Surface Treatment | NO | NO | NO | 280, 280, 270, 270 |
| User Guided | NO | NO | NO | 70, 70, 70, 70 |