V7 graphics performance deteriorates after STEP import

First, the good news. STEP import in V7 is almost twice as fast as V6 from what my testing shows. That’s great! But…

I’ve noticed that the graphics performance takes a hit after importing a STEP file. It didn’t do this in V6 (videos to follow).

But first the details: Running SR1, and the very latest graphics drivers for my Nvidia quadro K5000 card, with the 3D settings set to Workstation app -Dynamic Streaming. The STEP file is about 67Mb. The framerate is set to 5 in both versions.

In both these videos, the STEP import has just completed. Notice how smooth V6 rotates, zooms and pans:

Now lets look at the exact same file in V7:

Has anyone else noticed this? I’ve seen this on multiple STEP files imported into V7. I can share this file privately with the developers if necessary.

Thanks,

Dan

Hi Dan - please send me the file directly or send to www.rhino3d.com/upload, to my attention.

-Pascal

I believe STEP import is assigning per-face colors in V7 which is currently not very fast to draw. If you run RemovePerFaceColors you may see an improvement in performance

Hi @stevebaer, @pascal,

I tried as you suggested running the RemovePerFaceColors on the imported model but I don’t see a difference in performance (it didn’t get better). I have just sent a link to the STEP file to Pascal.

Thanks,

Dan

Per-face colors may exist in blocks. You may have to explode to remove these. Just a guess though.

Also try using the 7.2 release candidate. There were some performance improvements with respect to blocks in 7.2

FWIW, so far the file behaves fine here…
(7.3)
-Pascal

Are you on 7.2 Pascal?

7.3… I’ll try 7.1.

7.1 testMaxSpeed is indeed much slower than V6 - 5 vs. 1.66 seconds, shaded, default viewports.
Things are smoother tumbling the view in 6… now I know what I am looking for. it is not as bad as in Dan’s clip though.
I’ll see if there is a difference to 7.2.

@DanBayn, @stevebaer - testMaxSpeed is not better in 7.2 compared to 7.1. I think I am seeing the reduced but still not right non-RhinoCam performance.

-Pascal

Hi Steve,

I did try exploding but the results were the same. Pascal narrowed it down to my RhinoCAM plug-in. If I disable the plug-in it’s much better, but still not as peppy as V6. I’ll grab that RC and try again. I will probably need to get Uday from MecSoft involved.

Thanks,

Dan

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Hi @stevebaer, @pascal,

Here is some follow-up:

I have upgraded to the latest RC, and disabled RhinoCAM. I did find another job that behaved just like the first one. So with RhinoCAM disabled, and the blocks exploded, the RemovePerFaceColors did make a big difference. I would say it’s as quick as V6.

I did get feedback from MecSoft, and the jist of it was to wait for RhinoCAM 2021 which, historically, is due out any time now.

Thanks,

Dan

Hi Dan - good to know - thanks for the extra info.

-Pascal