Features
Use the table below to see detailed features of APEX®.
| System Setup Features | |
| User-Friendly Environment | Work in a user-friendly optical software environment based on SolidWorks 3D-modeling software. |
| SolidWorks Modeling | Model system geometry using the full suite of SolidWorks Parts, Assemblies, and Drawings features. |
| Workspace Customization | Create your own custom workspace in APEX with flexible, drag-and-drop graphical user interface (GUI) elements. |
| Design Tree | Utilize the familiar SolidWorks "Design Tree" view to visualize Feature, Property, Configuration, and Optics Managers. |
| Geometry Importation | Access geometry in native SolidWorks files and interoperate with other CAD programs and file formats. |
| Smart Dimensions | Set key fixed dimensions in system geometry using the SolidWorks "Smart Dimensions" feature. |
| Geometrical Relationships | Set geometrical relationships in system geometry using the SolidWorks "Relations" feature. |
| Equation-Based Geometry | Create parameterized, equation-based geometry using the SolidWorks "Equations" feature. |
| System Configurations | Create, organize, and toggle between system variations using the SolidWorks "Configurations" interface. |
| BRO Digitizer™ | Import data for system setup from images in .bmp, .gif, .jpg, .png, and .wmf format using the BRO Digitizer. |
| Optical Geometry | Manage lenses, media, coatings, and scatter models with the APEX "Optical Geometry" tab. |
| Lens Library | Insert lens models from popular lens catalogs, including CVI, Edmund Optics, and Thor Labs, using the "Lens Manager". |
| Custom Lens Models | Create and save custom lens models with user-defined dimensions and media in the "Lens Manager". |
| Adjacent Media | Use the new "Adjacent Media" feature to conveniently set the index differences between two objects sharing an interface. |
| Media Library | Insert optical media definitions from more than 15 popular catalogs and categories using the "Media Manager". |
| Custom Media Models | Create and save custom media definitions using formula-defined and tabulated-media wizards in the "Media Manager". |
| Optical Parameters | Define media with optical parameters including Conrady, Herzberger, Schott, and Sellmeier formulas in the "Media Manager". |
| Coating Library | Insert absorbing, anti-reflection, color filtering, reflecting, transmitting, and other coating types using the "Coatings Manager". |
| Custom Coating Models | Create and save custom coating models using simple-coating and prescriptive-coating wizards in the "Coatings Manager". |
| Scatter Model Library | Insert Alanod, Mold-Tech, Tenibac, Toray, and other scatter models using the "Scatter Manager". |
| Custom Scatter Models | Create and save custom Harvey, Random Slope Error (RSE), and Lambertian scatter models using the "Scatter Manager". |
| Bill of Materials | View and export a "Bill of Materials" itemizing parts, lenses, and media found in your system model. |
| Online Help System | Utilize detailed help records organized by the workflow for designing and analyzing optical systems. |
| Source Definition Features | |
| Source Libraries | Use popular arc, CCFL, filament, and LED source models ready to combine with your system model. |
| Light Source Manager | Browse and insert arc, CCFL, filament, and LED sources from source libraries using the "Light Source Manager". |
| Multiple Sources | Insert multiple copies of the same source simultaneously or add different sources to your system model. |
| Apodize Sources | Apodize emitting objects, grid sources, and emitting data using angular and positional flux information. |
| Create Multiple Raysets | Use the "Edit Source" feature to conveniently create new raysets from sources already placed in a system. |
| Wavelength Options | Create source raysets at one wavelength or multiple wavelengths with user-defined wavelength intervals. |
| Rayset Options | Insert source models with pre-defined or user-defined color temperature, flux, and ray count properties. |
| Grid Sources | Create rectangular and elliptical grid sources with user-defined ray distribution and direction properties. |
| Measured Source Data | Create light source models from measured source data that has been imported into APEX using a variety of formats. |
| Source Statistics | View and export ray, power/flux, position, direction, and/or summary statistics for rays associated with your sources. |
| Select Rays | Select and utilize subsets of rays from system sources using combinations of Boolean ("AND", "OR") operators. |
| Source Irradiance | Perform Irradiance calculations and create plots to visualize source power per unit area. |
| Source Intensity | Perform Radiant Intensity calculations and create plots to visualize source power in direction cosine and angle spaces. |
| Source Radiance | Perform Radiance calculations and create plots to visualize source power per unit area per unit solid angle. |
| Iscocandela Visualization | Perform Isolux calculations and create Isocandela plots to visualize sources. |
| Type A, B, and C Radiometry | Perform type A, B, and C radiometry calculations and create related plots to visualize sources. |
| Ray Tracing Features | |
| Trace Rays | Perform fast, accurate ray traces with the time-proven ASAP non-sequential ray tracing engine at the core of APEX. |
| Trace Single Ray | Trace a single ray to get a quick idea of how light will propagate through your system model. |
| Ambient Medium | Specify the ambient media for your system using custom or pre-defined catalogs in the "Media Manager". |
| Wavelength and Power Units | Specify default wavelength value and units such as nanometers, and default power units such as Lumens and Watts. |
| Fresnel Computations | Specify Fresnel computation settings to handle S and P polarization states, normal incidence, and TIR cases. |
| Ray Termination | Specify ray termination characteristics with settings for directions, intersections, flux thresholds, and flux ratios. |
| Ray Splitting | Specify ray splitting characteristics with settings for specular splitting and Monte Carlo splitting. |
| Ray Scattering | Specify ray scattering characteristics with settings for scattering generations and relative flux thresholds. |
| Ray Trace Display | Specify trace display characteristics with settings for displaying nth rays, ray color, and visualization of previous traces. |
| Ray Trace Accuracy | Specify ray trace accuracy using settings normal and enhanced ray tracing modes. |
| Design and Analysis Features | |
| Analysis Flexibility | Run simulations and use comprehensive analysis features to understand optical system performance. |
| Optimization Studies | Define targets, goals, constraints, merit functions, and exit criteria to optimize system performance. |
| Overlay 3D-Spots Data | Save and view 3D-spots data within Assembly files and display the results within the "Optics Manager" tree. |
| Highlight from Statistics | Visualize ray interactions with system objects by highlighting and selecting rows in "Statistics" reports. |
| Radiometric Analyses | Perform radiometric analyses on complete systems, individual surfaces, or at interim locations in your system. |
| Irradiance Calculations | Calculate Irradiance and create plots (power per unit area) to visualize system performance. |
| Intensity Calculations | Calculate Radiant Intensity and create plots to visualize system performance in direction cosine and angle spaces. |
| Radiance Calculations | Calculate Radiance and create plots (source power per unit area per unit solid angle) to visualize system performance. |
| Contour Plots | Create 2D and 3D Contour plots to visualize light distributions and assess system performance. |
| Picture Plots | Create false-color Picture plots to visualize light distributions and assess system performance. |
| Isometric Plots | Create 3D Isometric plots to visualize light distributions and assess system performance. |
| Mesh Plots | Create Mesh Surface plots to visualize light distributions and assess system performance. |
| Distribution Sections | Create Distribution Section plots to visualize cross sections of light distributions and assess system performance. |
| Isocandela Plots | Perform Isolux calculations and create Isocandela plots to assess system performance. |
| Type A, B, and C Radiometry | Perform type A, B, and C radiometry calculations and create related plots to assess system performance. |
| Mathematical Processing | Post-process simulation results using mathematical operations such as averaging, logarithms, squaring, and others. |
| Plot Customization | Customize youvr plot windows, axes, backgrounds, and styles, and save your plot templates for future use. |
| Autosave Results | Perform multiple system simulations in a single project with autosaving of simulation and analysis results. |
| Revisit Results | Toggle between multiple sets of simulation and analysis results that have been automatically saved and organized. |
| Project Sharing | Share complete system characterization, simulation, and analysis results with the "Optical Pack-and-Go" feature. |
Pricing and Platform Information
Please use the APEX Web Quote Form to help us understand your optical software needs. Our Technical Sales Team will respond promptly.
