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Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started​

How do I get started with Volvicon?

Volvicon includes built-in documentation and tutorials to help you learn the software:

  1. User Guide: Access Help tab → User Guide for detailed documentation
  2. Tutorials: Browse Help tab → Tutorials for step-by-step instructions
  3. Online Documentation: Visit the online documentation portal
  4. Python API: Review Help tab → User Guide for API documentation location
  5. Contact Support: Use Help tab → Send Feedback for questions

For your first steps, see the Getting Started guide.

How do I start a new project?

To create a new project:

  1. Click File tab → New
  2. Choose the data source (3D Images, DICOM, Image Stack, Surface CAD/STL, Volume Mesh, or Blank Image)
  3. Follow the import dialog for the selected data type
  4. Save the project when prompted
note

Creating a new project clears the current scene after you confirm any unsaved changes.

Projects in Volvicon save as .vvcx files that preserve:

  • All imported volumes, masks, surfaces, and volume meshes
  • View configurations and layouts
  • Render settings and materials
  • Measurements and annotations
  • Python scripts and custom tools

See New Project and Import for step-by-step guidance.

Can I customize keyboard shortcuts?

Keyboard customization is not currently available in Volvicon. The software uses predefined shortcuts optimized for common workflows.

To view available shortcuts:

  • Many tools display shortcuts in their tooltips (hover over buttons)
  • Context menus show shortcuts next to commands
  • Check documentation for specific tool shortcuts
Can I customize the workflow and tools within Volvicon?

Yes, Volvicon offers customization options:

Favorites Tab (All License Tiers):

  • Create custom ribbon tabs with your frequently used tools
  • Organize tools by workflow or project type
  • Access commonly used features from a single location

Custom Scripting (Professional and above licenses):

  • Use the Python API to automate workflows
  • Create custom ribbon buttons that execute Python scripts
  • Execute Python scripts non-interactively from CLI using --py_script
  • Build reusable workflow automation
  • Integrate with external tools and pipelines
note

Custom ribbon script buttons and CLI script execution (--py_script) are part of Custom Scripting and require a Professional-or-above license.

To create favorites, use the Favorite tab → Create Profile to add tools to your custom ribbon.

See Favorite Tab Overview and Scripting for details.

How do I update Volvicon?

To check for and install updates:

  1. Help tab → Check for Update
  2. Review the available version and release notes
  3. Click Install Update to download and run the installer
  4. Follow the installation wizard and restart Volvicon
note

Update downloads require an internet connection and may require administrative privileges.

See Help Tab Overview for the full update workflow.

File Formats and Data Import​

What types of image data can I process with Volvicon? What file formats are compatible?

Volvicon imports image data from CT, MRI, micro-CT, and other 3D/4D imaging modalities:

Volume Image Formats:

  • DICOM: DICOM series via the DICOM Import dialog
  • MetaImage: MHD/MHA
  • NIfTI: NII, NII.GZ
  • NRRD: NRRD
  • Raw Volumes: RAW, VOL, ZRAW, BIN, IMG (with manual parameters)
  • Image Stacks: BMP, JPG/JPEG, PNG, TIF/TIFF

Mask/Segmentation Formats:

  • MHD/MHA, NIfTI, NRRD (imported as masks)

Surface Mesh Formats:

  • Import: STL, PLY, OBJ, VRML/WRL, GLTF, AMF, STEP/STP, IGES/IGS, VTP, XYZ (point clouds)
  • Export: STL (Binary/ASCII), PLY (Binary/ASCII), OBJ, VRML, 3D PDF, U3D, 3MF, AMF, GLTF, STEP, IGES, VTP, X3D, Open Inventor (IV), XYZ

Volume Mesh Formats:

  • VTK unstructured grid (.vtu), Abaqus (.inp), ANSYS mesh (import)

Project Files:

  • VVCX (Volvicon project format)

See Import and Export for the full list shown in the dialogs.

Can I register more than one dataset? Can Volvicon combine image data from CT and MRI scans?

Yes, Volvicon supports multi-dataset registration and fusion:

Landmark-Based Registration:

  1. Load multiple volumes into your project
  2. Use Image tab → Transform → Landmark Registration
  3. Place corresponding landmarks on both datasets
  4. Apply transformation to align datasets

Global Registration:

  1. Load reference and moving volumes
  2. Use Image tab → Transform → Global Registration
  3. Configure registration parameters (metric, optimizer)
  4. Execute automatic registration

Multi-Volume Visualization:

  • Load multiple volumes simultaneously
  • Each volume can have independent transfer functions
  • Overlay volumes with adjustable opacity
  • Visualize multi-modal data (CT + MRI) in the same view

See Registration for a complete workflow.

What types of CAD files can Volvicon import? Can I fix them if necessary?

Supported CAD/Surface Formats:

  • STEP/STP (CAD geometry)
  • IGES/IGS (CAD geometry)
  • STL (triangulated surfaces)
  • PLY, OBJ, VRML, GLTF, AMF, VTP, XYZ

Surface Repair Tools:

Volvicon provides tools to diagnose and fix surface issues:

  1. Diagnostics and Fixes (Surface tab):

    • Detects non-manifold edges, holes, self-intersections
    • Automatic repair options
    • Reports shell count and surface quality

  2. Fill Holes (Surface tab):

    • Close openings in surfaces
    • Automatic or manual hole selection

  3. Make Watertight:

    • Combines diagnostic and repair steps
    • Ensures surfaces are suitable for volume meshing or 3D printing

See Diagnostics and Fixes for repair options.

Which CAD packages can I export to from Volvicon?

Volvicon exports surfaces to standard 3D formats that most CAD and modeling tools can import:

Export Formats:

  • STL (.stl)
  • 3MF (.3mf)
  • OBJ (.obj)
  • PLY (.ply)
  • U3D (.u3d)
  • VRML (.wrl)
  • STEP (.step) - Only triangles
  • IGES (.iges) - Only triangles

Use File tab → Export → Surface Model and choose the format best supported by your target CAD system. See Export for details.

Image Processing and Segmentation​

What tools are available in Volvicon to deal with challenging image data?

Filtering and Enhancement (Image tab → Volume Operations):

  • Smoothing/Denoising: Gaussian, median, bilateral filters for noise reduction
  • Sharpen: Enhance edges and details
  • Morphology: Opening, closing, erosion, dilation for structure refinement
  • Advanced Filters: Anisotropic diffusion, gradient filters

Segmentation Tools (Segmentation tab):

  • Threshold: Simple intensity-based segmentation
  • Region Growing: Seed-based region expansion
  • Watershed: Separates touching objects
  • Multi-level Thresholding: Automatic threshold selection
  • GrowCut: Interactive segmentation with user strokes
  • LiveWire: Intelligent boundary tracing

Mask Refinement (Segmentation tab → Operations):

  • Filter Regions: Remove disconnected regions, small objects
  • Fill Holes: Close cavities and voids
  • Smooth: Reduce noise in segmentation masks
  • Boolean Operations: Combine, subtract, intersect masks
  • Interpolate 3D: Fill gaps between slices

See Segmentation Tab Overview for tool details.

Does Volvicon software have automatic segmentation tools?

Yes, Volvicon offers both semi-automatic and AI-powered automatic segmentation:

Semi-Automatic Tools (All License Tiers):

  • Threshold: Automatic intensity-based segmentation
  • Region Growing: Click-to-segment with adaptive thresholds
  • Watershed: Automatic object separation
  • Multi-level Thresholding: Automatic threshold detection
  • Dynamic Region Grow: Automatic region expansion from seeds

AI-Powered Segmentation (Professional and Ultimate Tiers):

Requires Professional or Ultimate license:

  • TotalSegmentator: Automatic anatomical segmentation (100+ structures)
  • nnU-Net: Deep learning-based medical image segmentation
  • MONAI: Medical imaging AI framework integration
  • Cellpose-SAM: General-purpose instance segmentation for cells, nuclei, and densely packed objects

AI segmentation provides automatic identification and labeling of anatomical structures from CT/MRI data.

Enable AI tools through: Advanced tab → AI → AI Segmentation

See AI Segmentation and AI Segmentation Tutorial.

How does Volvicon handle large datasets? Are there any limitations on data size or complexity?

Volvicon does not impose artificial limits on dataset size, but practical limits depend on:

System Resources:

  • RAM: Primary limiting factor—larger datasets require more memory
  • Storage: Sufficient disk space for data and temporary files
  • GPU: A dedicated GPU with adequate VRAM improves visualization performance

Performance Optimization:

  • 64-bit Architecture: Access to large memory addressing
  • Multi-threading: Parallel processing for many operations
  • GPU Acceleration: Hardware-accelerated volume rendering

Recommendations:

  • 16GB RAM: Smaller projects and moderate datasets
  • 32GB RAM: Larger volumes and multi-dataset workflows
  • 64GB+ RAM: Very large datasets and multi-volume projects

See System Requirements for detailed specifications.

Surface Tools​

How do I position CAD objects in relation to my image data?

Transform Tools (Surface tab → Transform):

  1. Interactive Transform:

    • Drag 3D widgets to translate, rotate, scale
    • Real-time visual feedback in 3D view
    • Snap to axes or custom angles

  2. Transform Dialog:

    • Enter precise numeric values
    • Specify translation (X, Y, Z)
    • Define rotation angles
    • Set scaling factors

  3. Global Registration:

    • Automatic alignment to volume data
    • Iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm
    • Align surface to image features

  4. Landmark Registration:

    • Manual placement of corresponding landmarks
    • Aligns surface to volume based on point pairs

If you are aligning volume data to volume data, use Image tab → Transform → Landmark Registration or Global Registration. See Global Registration and Registration.

Can I edit surface objects in Volvicon?

Yes, Volvicon provides extensive surface editing tools (Surface tab):

Modification Tools:

  • Boolean Operations: Union, difference, intersection of surfaces
  • Cut: Slice surfaces with planes
  • Clip: Remove portions using box or plane clipping
  • Extrude: Extend surface features
  • Hollow: Create shell structures with specified wall thickness
  • Project to Plane: Flatten 3D geometry

Refinement Tools:

  • Smooth: Laplacian, Sinc, Taubin smoothing algorithms
  • Reduce: Decimation to reduce triangle count
  • Subdivide: Increase mesh resolution
  • Remesh: Generate uniform triangulation
  • Voxel Remesh: Remesh using voxel-based approach

Repair Tools:

  • Diagnostics and Fixes: Repair non-manifold edges, self-intersections
  • Fill Holes: Close openings in surfaces
  • Filter Shells: Remove disconnected components
Can I control the amount of surface detail that is included in my model?

Yes, Volvicon provides multiple ways to control surface detail:

During Surface Generation (Mask to Surface):

  • Smoothing Iterations: Control surface smoothness at creation
  • Decimation Target: Set target triangle count during generation

Post-Processing (Surface tab):

  • Reduce Tool: Decimation with target triangle count or reduction percentage
  • Remesh: Specify edge length for uniform triangulation
  • Voxel Remesh: Control resolution using voxel size parameter

Quality vs. Performance Trade-offs:

  • Higher detail: Better accuracy, larger file size, slower rendering
  • Lower detail: Faster processing, smaller files, reduced accuracy

For 3D printing: Balance detail with print resolution and file size constraints. For FEA: Match surface detail to volume mesh requirements.

Volume Mesh Tools​

Can I assign material properties to the mesh?

Yes. Material properties are defined during FEM export (Professional and Ultimate licenses):

Material Assignment (Volume Mesh tab → FEM → Export FEM Mesh):

  • Define materials and assign them to parts or element sets
  • Optionally auto-assign materials from grayscale values
  • Export materials with the solver file

See Export FEM Mesh and Configure FEM Model.

What mesh formats can be exported?

FEM Solver Formats (Professional and Ultimate Tiers):

  • Abaqus (.inp) – Abaqus FEA solver
  • Nastran (.nas, .dat, .bdf) – MSC Nastran, NX Nastran
  • LS-DYNA (.k, .dyn, .key) – Explicit dynamics solver
  • OpenFOAM (.foam) – CFD solver
  • Fluent (.msh) – ANSYS Fluent CFD
  • Gmsh (.msh) – Open-source mesh format

Volume Mesh Formats (VTK-based):

  • VTU (VTK Unstructured Grid)
  • VTK (Legacy VTK format)

Use File tab → Export → Volume Mesh Model for general mesh exports. The available formats are listed in the export dialog.

FEM export includes material properties, boundary conditions, and element sets when configured.

Can I control the mesh size?

Yes. Mesh density is controlled in the volume mesh generation tools (Professional and Ultimate licenses):

Surface to Volume Mesh:

  • Quality presets (Very coarse to Very fine)
  • Max/min element size and growth rate
  • Optimization steps for surface and volume quality

Mask to Volume Mesh:

  • Grid3D meshing parameters for element density and quality
  • Linear or quadratic tetrahedral element types

Practical Approach:

  1. Start with a moderate preset or conservative max element size
  2. Use Measure tab → Mesh Quality Analyzer to assess element quality
  3. Regenerate with adjusted parameters if needed

See Surface to Volume Mesh and Mask To Volume Mesh.

Can I import existing volume meshes?

Yes, Volvicon imports volume meshes in common simulation formats:

Import Process:

  1. File tab → Import → Volume Mesh Models
  2. Select a supported mesh file (for example: VTK unstructured grid .vtu)
  3. Mesh appears in Volume Mesh list

Post-Import Operations:

  • View and analyze imported meshes
  • Transform/reposition meshes
  • Export to solver formats using Export FEM Mesh
  • Convert to surface representation

See Volume Mesh Tab Overview for supported import formats.

Measurements and Analysis​

How can I quickly measure and quantify data? What options are available?

Direct Measurements (Measure tab → Measurements):

  • Distance: Point-to-point, line measurements
  • Angle: Angular measurements between lines
  • Annotations: Label and document features

Primitive Fitting (Measure tab):

  • Fit geometric primitives (sphere, cylinder, plane, line, circle)
  • Extract precise dimensions from fitted geometry
  • Measure between fitted primitives

Statistical Analysis:

  • Volume Statistics (Measure tab): Compute statistics from volume data in regions
  • Mask Statistics (Measure tab): Volume, surface area, bounding box, centroid
  • Surface Statistics (Measure tab): Area, volume, shell count, edge count
  • Volume Mesh Statistics (Measure tab): Element count, quality metrics, volume

Specialized Analysis (Analyze tab):

  • Wall Thickness: Measure wall thickness for shells and hollow structures
  • Deviation Analysis: Compare surfaces or masks (color-coded distance maps)
  • Curvature Analysis: Surface curvature visualization
  • Gray Value Analysis: Intensity analysis along paths or surfaces

See Measure Tab Overview and Analyze Tab Overview.

Can I generate custom reports?

Export Options:

  • Measurements and Statistics: Export from Measure tab tools
  • Screenshots: Capture high-resolution images (PNG, JPEG, TIFF) with annotations
  • PDF Reports: Build reports with measurements, snapshots, and optional 3D scene embedding
  • Video Recording: Record visualization sequences for presentations
note

PDF reports are generated from tools like Measurements, Statistics, and Mesh Quality Analyzer using Export....

Python Scripting:

  • Automate data collection and analysis
  • Generate custom output formats
  • Create batch processing workflows
  • Build custom reporting templates

See PDF Report Generation and Export.

3D Printing​

What file formats does Volvicon support for exporting to 3D printers?

3D Printing Formats (Surface Export):

  • STL (Binary or ASCII) – Universal 3D printing format
  • 3MF – Modern 3D printing format with color and material support
  • OBJ – Compatible with many slicing software packages
  • PLY – Supports color information
  • AMF – Additive Manufacturing Format

Recommended Workflow:

  1. Generate or import surface mesh
  2. Ensure surface is watertight (Surface tab → Diagnostics and Fixes)
  3. Orient model for optimal printing
  4. Export as STL or 3MF
  5. Import to slicer software (PrusaSlicer, Cura, etc.)

Export Tips:

  • Use STL Binary for smaller file sizes
  • Ensure appropriate triangle count (balance detail vs. file size)
  • Check surface normals are outward-facing
  • Verify no self-intersections or non-manifold edges

See Export and Diagnostics and Fixes.

Scripting and Automation​

What scripting languages can Volvicon support?

Python API (All License Tiers):

  • Full Python scripting API
  • Access to Volvicon operations for volumes, masks, surfaces, and volume meshes
  • Batch processing and automation

Custom Ribbon Buttons (Professional and Ultimate):

  • Add custom Python scripts as ribbon buttons
  • Create workflow-specific tools
  • Automate repetitive tasks

API Documentation:

  • Help tab → User Guide shows API documentation location
  • Python API reference included with installation
  • Example scripts in documentation

See Scripting and Scripting Editor.

System Requirements and Performance​

What are the system requirements?

See our detailed System Requirements page for minimum and recommended specifications.

Quick Overview:

  • OS: Windows 11 (64-bit)
  • RAM: 8GB minimum, 32GB recommended
  • GPU: Dedicated NVIDIA or AMD GPU with 2GB+ VRAM (OpenGL 4.1)
  • Storage: SSD recommended for performance
  • Display: 1920×1080 minimum resolution
Why does AI segmentation require an NVIDIA graphics card?

AI segmentation tools (TotalSegmentator, nnU-Net, MONAI, Cellpose-SAM) run fastest on CUDA-enabled NVIDIA GPUs, but they can also run on CPU with longer processing times.

Recommended GPU:

  • NVIDIA GPU with CUDA support
  • Adequate VRAM for your dataset (8GB+ recommended)
  • Compatible CUDA drivers

Why NVIDIA:

  • Deep learning frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow) optimize for NVIDIA CUDA
  • GPU acceleration enables faster inference than CPU-only processing

Alternatives: If you do not have an NVIDIA GPU, use CPU mode or traditional segmentation tools available in all license tiers (threshold, region growing, watershed, etc.).

See AI Segmentation for performance guidance.

Is there a limit to project size?

Project size limits depend on available system resources:

Factors Affecting Project Size:

  • Available RAM: Primary limitation for active data
  • Storage Space: Disk space for project files
  • Data Types: Volumes require more memory than surfaces
  • Number of Objects: Multiple large volumes increase memory usage

Recommendations:

  • 16GB RAM: Small to medium projects (single volume up to 512³)
  • 32GB RAM: Large projects (volumes up to 1024³, multiple datasets)
  • 64GB+ RAM: Very large projects, multiple high-resolution volumes

Performance Tips:

  • Close unused projects to free memory
  • Use appropriate data types (8-bit when possible vs. 16-bit)
  • Remove unnecessary objects from scene
  • Save project frequently to prevent data loss

See Working with Volume Data for performance tips.

Licensing​

How do I find my computer's Hardware Key (HostID)?

The hardware key is required when requesting a license. To generate it:

In Volvicon:

  1. Launch Volvicon (even without a license)
  2. The License Manager dialog appears automatically
  3. Click Apply for a new license
  4. Fill in the registration form
  5. Click Save to save your hardware key (.dat file)

The hardware key uniquely identifies your computer based on hardware configuration.

License Request Process:

  1. Generate hardware key file (.dat)
  2. Log in to license portal
  3. Submit license request and upload .dat file
  4. Wait for license file (.lic) to be issued (typically within 24 hours)
  5. Apply license file in Volvicon License Manager
What licensing options are available?

License Tiers:

  • Standard: Core visualization and analysis features
  • Professional: Adds volume mesh tools, AI segmentation, and Custom Scripting (including custom ribbon script buttons and CLI --py_script)
  • Ultimate: All features plus enterprise capabilities

License Models:

  • Annual: Subscription-based, includes all updates and support
  • Perpetual: One-time purchase, includes first year of maintenance

Special Editions:

  • Trial: 30-day evaluation, Ultimate-tier access
  • Research: Free for qualified academic researchers, Ultimate-tier access
  • Student: Free for students, Professional-tier access

See Licensing Options for detailed feature comparison.

Do you have academic/research licenses?

Yes, Volvicon offers free Research and Student licenses for academic use:

Research License:

  • Free Ultimate-tier access
  • Non-commercial academic research only
  • Results may be published in academic journals
  • Annual renewal required with verification
  • Requires institutional email and affiliation proof

Student License:

  • Free Professional-tier access
  • Educational use only (coursework, thesis projects)
  • Requires valid student ID and institutional email
  • Renewable annually with proof of enrollment

Application Process: Visit license portal and complete the appropriate application with verification documents.

Important: Commercial use, contract research, or startup companies require a commercial license.

Technical Support​

What technical support does Volvicon offer to its users?

Included Support (All Commercial Licenses):

  • Email support via support@volvicon.com
  • Access to online documentation and tutorials
  • Bug fixes and software updates (with active maintenance)
  • License management through web portal

Support Levels by License Tier:

  • Standard/Professional: Standard support response times
  • Ultimate: Priority support with faster response times

Self-Service Resources:

  • Online documentation portal
  • Built-in user guide (Help tab)
  • Tutorial library (Help tab)
  • System information and diagnostics (Help tab)

Research and Student Licenses:

  • Community support through documentation
  • Limited direct technical support
  • Access to online resources and tutorials

Regulatory and Medical Use​

Is Volvicon CE marked as a medical device?

No. Volvicon is NOT a medical device and is NOT approved for clinical use.

Volvicon does not have regulatory approval from:

  • FDA (United States)
  • European Medical Device Regulation (MDR)
  • PMDA (Japan)
  • Any other medical device regulatory authority

Intended Use:

  • Manufacturing and quality control
  • 3D printing and additive manufacturing
  • Life sciences research (non-clinical)
  • Product development
  • Academic research (non-clinical)
  • Educational purposes

Medical editions (StandardMedical, ProfessionalMedical, UltimateMedical) are reserved for future development and are not currently available.

Clinical Use Prohibited: Volvicon must NOT be used for clinical diagnosis, treatment planning, or any medical decision-making.

Need More Help?​

How can I get support?

Documentation and Learning:

  1. Browse this documentation portal
  2. Check Help tab → User Guide (built-in)
  3. Watch Help tab → Tutorials
  4. Review Getting Started guide

Direct Support:

Report Issues:

  • Use Help tab → Send Feedback to report bugs or request features