Installation

1. If you already have a version of Halocline Assembly installed on your computer, you should uninstall that version before reinstalling.
2. To install the software, run the Halocline Assembly setup file on your computer.

Product activation

1. After successful installation you can start Halocline Assembly and enter your license key in the designated area.
2. Halocline Assembly connects to our license servers over the Internet and activates your Halocline Assembly license on the computer.

Note: If you want to register Halocline Assembly for an offline computer, click "Offline Activation" in the bottom left corner of the start window and follow the instructions.

Feature
With the "Teleport" tool you can move through the virtual space. You can change your current position and take a new one. The tool is always located on the left controller.

Operation

1. Point the controller in the desired direction and place your thumb on the touchpad or move the joystick forward.
2. You will now see an arc-shaped beam that shows you the new position with footprints on the ground.
3. Press the touchpad or release the joystick to teleport to the point shown.

Note: If the beam turns red, you cannot teleport there.
You can also teleport on top of parts (as long as the surface is not steeper than 45°) to get a new perspective on your product.

Menu Operation in VR
You can access the menu using the menu button on one of the controllers and then operate it with the real controller. By clicking the trigger, you can navigate through the tabs and select actions. Pressing the Menu button again closes the menu again.

Positioning
If the menu opens in an unsuitable position, you can
you grab it by the white border and move it with the trigger held down.

Setting the environment

When the VR menu is opened for the first time, the "Environment" tab is selected by default. Here you can make some basic global settings and reset actions. Some functions can be reset to the original value by using the Reset buttons, by pressing and holding the trigger.

• Einheit
  • Defines the unit of your imported CAD assembly
  • This setting is necessary if you use import formats that have no unit

• Ausrichtung
  • Rotates the imported entire CAD assembly in the origin
  • This setting is necessary if the import format uses another coordinate system than Halocline Assembly

• Höhe
  • Changes the height of the entire CAD assembly
  • This setting is useful for setting a comfortable working height

• Größe
  • Changes the scaling of the entire CAD assembly
  • In contrast to the unit, scaling can be done in smaller steps (e.g. helpful to get a better overview of very small assemblies)

To perform actions in Halocline Assembly, you can assign different tools to the right controller. You can select your tool under the "Tools" tab of the menu. By default, the "Move" tool is assigned to the right controller the first time it is started. The tool determines which actions you can perform with the controller. The left controller is always assigned the Teleport tool.

Data management

• Whenever you import CAD files, Halocline Assembly creates a copy that contains some information from the original CAD file.
• These copies are not deleted during uninstallation.
• You can delete the data using the desktop interface by clicking on the three dots on the right side of the screen of your imported file.

Import features

• You can also import several files at the same time using drag & drop.
  Alternatively, you can click on the plus button in the top right corner to add your CAD data.
• Once the data has been converted, there is no need to reload it each time. This allows you to use data that has already been imported much more quickly.

In the current version, Halocline Assembly can import all file formats listed below. 

CAD Information
The following information is transferred from the CAD files into virtual reality (depending on the file format)

• Geometry (tesselated)
• Positions of parts and assemblies
• CAD hierarchy, arranged by parts and assemblies
• Colors of individual components

Feature:
With the "Move" tool you can freely move parts and assemblies and switch their visibility on and off.

Operation:

1. Point with the pointer to a part so that it is displayed with a white border.
2. By pressing the trigger you select the part, which is then displayed with a blue border.
3. Once you have selected a part, you can use the arrows on the touchpad or joystick to move through the various assemblies in a manner similar to the CAD hierarchy.
4. Move the part by pointing to the selected part, holding down the trigger or grip button and moving the controller.
5. Selected parts can be hidden or shown again using the right area of the touchpad or joystick.

Feature
With the Measure tool, you can create measurements that show distances between two points. Start and end points can be either in the air or attached to an object so that the measurements align as you move the part. The distance is always displayed in meters.

Operation

1. You can create a new measurement by pressing and holding the trigger.
2. As soon as you release the Trigger button, the second point is placed in the room.
3. You can delete individual measurements by grabbing an end point, reducing the ruler length to less than 2cm and releasing the trigger.
4. The last measurement created is deleted by pressing the left half of the touchpad or by moving to the left with the joystick.
5. All measurements can be deleted by pressing the right half of the touchpad or by moving to the right with the joystick.

Feature
With the "Cut" tool you can place a sectional view in the world.
This gives you the possibility to look into parts and assemblies without hiding entire components.

Operation

1. Point to the green bordered area.
2. Then press and hold the trigger so that you can align the section plane in the room.

Note: You can align the section plane with an axis at any time. When the section plane is aligned with an axis, a cross appears in the center of the section plane.

VR-menu export tab

You can export your Halocline Assembly files to Halocline Layout to plan them in your factory. You can either export the entire visible model or select and export only certain parts, e.g. to define and use assembly states or your own assemblies relevant for assembly.

Selection vs model

• Model
  • Exports the entire visible model
  • Changes in position of parts and visibility are taken into account

•  Selection
  • Use the round button to select the "Select" tool to color individual parts with your controller. You can add (+) or remove (-) individual parts or entire assemblies from the selection
  • Exports only turquoise colored parts
  • Changes in position of components and visibility are taken into account

Export options

• CAD (fein)
  • Display of the CAD model
  • Interfering edges approximated to hierarchy
  • Movable in Halocline Performance
• CAD (grob)
  • Display of the CAD model
  • Outer dimensions as interfering edge
  • Movable in Halocline Performance
• Boxen
  • CAD model not visible
  • Interfering edges approximated to geometry
  • Immovable Boxes
• Bauteile
  • CAD model not visible
  • Interfering edges approximated to hierarchy
  • Movable in Halocline Performance

For information on the display in Halocline Layout: Halocline Layout

Halocline Assembly works with the following VR hardware:

If the VR system has not yet been set up on your computer, there are a few steps to be taken to set it up. Follow the steps below for your particular VR system.

VIVE

SteamVR Installation

To set up your Vive, you must first download the hardware drivers to your computer.
To set up your VR system on your computer

1. Go to https://store.steampowered.com/app/250820/SteamVR and click on the green button "Start game". Now follow the displayed instructions.
2. Follow the instructions displayed and create a Steam account if necessary.
3. Connect the Vive to your computer and switch on the base stations.
4. Start SteamVR and perform the room survey the first time you start it.
5. Then you can start Halocline Assembly and start your planning in VR.

Relevant for: HTC Vive, HTC Vive Pro and Valve Index

Oculus

Oculus-App Installation

To set up your Oculus headset, you first have to download the Oculus app to your computer.
How to download the Oculus app and install it on your computer

1. Go to www.oculus.com/setup, select the appropriate download for your hardware and click Download Software.
2. Open the Oculus app and click on install now.
3. Follow the displayed instructions to create an Oculus account and set up your Oculus glasses.
4. Then you can start Halocline Assembly and start your planning in VR.

Relevant for: Oculus Rift S and Oculus Quest with Link-Kabel

Make sure that you have the latest SteamVR or Oculus version installed.
If you have a Vive System, make sure you avoid masking your base stations. For example, ask meeting attendees standing in front of the base stations to step aside so that their bodies do not block the transmission from the base station to the glasses.
For Oculus headsets, make sure that the room you are in is not too dark, so turn on the light if necessary.

Further information can be obtained from the manufacturer of the respective Head Mounted Display (HMD).