insights: The volume graphics blog

Our Stories

Explore the latest in 3D software and visualization at the Volume Graphics Blog. Join us for insights, innovations, and impactful stories.

Safran Tech
10/17/2025
AI and Deep Learning drive enhancements in aerospace

Turbine blades are a critical component for jet engines. Ensuring their quality is not just a safety consideration; high-quality turbine blades ensure optimal engine performance, fuel efficiency, durability, and reduced emissions.

It’s important to remember here that the aerospace industry is not like the high-volume world of automotive where samples from the production line are tested. In aerospace, every blade must be tested.

Of course, embedding rigorous inspection processes into manufacturing also helps to detect potential turbine blade issues before they lead to failures. But such a rigorous inspection routine can involve multiple processes, such as tactile or optical 3D coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) for the external dimensions in tandem with computed tomography (CT) for internal dimensions and structure.

One manufacturer, Safran Tech, identified this as an area where efficiency improvements could be made. Safran Tech is part of Safran Group - the world’s second largest aircraft equipment manufacturer, employing over 92,000 people and generating 27.31 billion euros in revenue (2024).

Tips & Tricks
Segmentation
Visualization & Rendering
Road to the Golden Surface
12/5/2022
Road to the Golden Surface

No two deviations are created equal. As much as we strive for an ideal form, each part is produced with manufacturing imperfections that cause it to deviate from its nominal shape. As such, we often end up with a slew of parts, each with its own deviations. In some cases, such as reverse engineering and mesh compensation, we need to choose one to work with. The question is, how do we decide? Join us as we use VGSTUDIO MAX to average them out and find the golden surface! 

Tips & Tricks
Mesh Compensation
Additive Manufacturing
Reverse Engineering
Be One with the Distortions: Adaptive Measurement Templates
6/5/2022
Be One with the Distortions: Adaptive Measurement Templates

VGSTUDIO MAX has rolled out with a game-changing feature that has revamped how we work with distorted parts—adaptive measurement templates! With this feature, a measurement plan created from nominal CAD data (or imported with PMI) can be applied to even the most distorted parts. Join us as we walk you through this nifty new feature!

Tips & Tricks
Metrology
Happy Easter 2022!
4/12/2022
Happy Easter 2022!

We at VG Stories would like to wish you a safe, happy, and colorful Easter. But before you go, let's paint a virtual Easter egg! Join us as we use VGSTUDIO MAX to create and export colorful meshes for 3D printing!

Tips & Tricks
Visualization & Rendering
Wall Thickness Analysis
Additive Manufacturing
Hanging by a Thread: Bolts and Screws
2/18/2022
Hanging by a Thread: 
Bolts and Screws

A couple of weeks ago, we had a story that reconstructed the thread of a beloved fountain pen. That got us thinking: let's go into threads in depth—but this time, from the other side! Join us as we use VGSTUDIO MAX to inspect a threaded insert and make sure everything is up to par!

Tips & Tricks
Metrology
A Change in Perspective (pt. 2): Custom Path and Profile Window
1/21/2022
A Change in Perspective (pt. 2): Custom Path and Profile Window

Last week, we did a deep dive into the non-planar and rotation view of VGSTUDIO MAX. This week, we'll be exploring two more views: custom path and profile window. Join us as we use VGSTUDIO MAX to gain even more perspective on… well, perspective!

Visualization & Rendering
Tips & Tricks
A Change in Perspective: Non-Planar and Rotation View
1/21/2022
A Change in Perspective: 
Non-Planar and Rotation View

Sometimes, to get to the core of a problem, all we need is a new set of eyes—and the possibility of perspective. Join us as we use the rotation and non-planar views of VGSTUDIO MAX to explore every nook and cranny of different objects!

Visualization & Rendering
Tips & Tricks
The Joy of Bookmarks
11/24/2021
The Joy of Bookmarks

Bookmarks in VGSTUDIO MAX—as in real life—work wonders as placeholders. They save our spots in the project while we shift and rotate objects and work on other analyses. As such, we often drop them somewhere and come back to them later, which easily makes them one of the most overlooked, underused features in the software.

Check out how you can use these hidden gems of visualization to showcase your project!

Tips & Tricks
Visualization & Rendering
One Rule to Rule Them All: The Power of Annotations
10/14/2021
One Rule to Rule Them All: 
The Power of Annotations

Sometimes, analyses leave you with thousands of results—a dream for the project, but a reader's nightmare! Check out how you can use rule-based annotations on VGSTUDIO MAX to leave your reports looking crisp and clean.

Tips & Tricks
Porosity/Inclusion Analysis
Nominal/Actual Comparison
Got a story to share?

Whether it's a project milestone or a unique experience with Volume Graphics, our Storyteller Team looks forward to hearing from you.

Get in Touch