PDS 6.13 brings two new features: different thicknesses for the top slats on bar pallets and a 3D view on all deck dialogs. It also includes fixes that make PDS more stable and easier to use.
Use a different thickness for each top slat
Use thicker slats where a difficult or irregularly shaped load, such as a ring or large coil, needs more support or support, and thinner slats on the rest. This way the load is well supported without oversizing the pallet or adding unnecessary material, weight, or cost.
How to use it
- Open the Top Cover dialog and go to the Dimensions tab.
- Uncheck Uniform thickness.
- Type the thickness of each splint in the Thickness column.
What’s changing
The analysis, pallet weight, drawings, specification sheet, production order, and cut list all take into account the thickness of each plank. In addition, the multi-page 2D drawing includes a side view with the planks identified by letter and a table of slats.
Where available
On beam/bar pallets that meet these four conditions:
- Non-reversible
- Upper slats not embedded in the bars
- No top padding boards
- Unit load analysis disabled
Note: Unit load analysis is not available when the top slats have different thicknesses.
3D View on all cover dialogs
Check Show in 3D in any cover dialog to change the 2D previews to a 3D view that you can rotate. Viewing the pallet in 3D as you edit it helps you better understand what you’re designing and review every change instantly.
The 3D view has Zoom in and Decompose sliders; the latter separates the layers. The 3D views of Pallet Sorting and Interactive 3D View also have these controls.
Fixes and improvements
Various bug fixes and internal improvements to make PDS run more stably and reliably.