It'll be time for the next issue!

It has been about 6 weeks since I last opened Alibre Atom so I was not surprised this evening to find it started to install big up-dates, First was Visual C++ I thought already part of MS-WIN 11, and is listed in the PC's programme index.

So instead of opening a drawing, or much else, I let the system have its way.

I started at about 8.15pm. It took all of the rest of The Moral Maze and now all of The Media Show, and is still "Installing update Alibre Atom 3D V27", so it tells me.

Over an hour and a half for first, C++ and now the additions to the CAD programme itself, and not finished? I want to go to bed! There will come a point when I have to just stop it and turn the computer off for the night.

This slowness just to modify an installed programme can't be right, surely?

What might be wrong?

Peter –

I'd expect Alibre to say not it's normal, and I had realised it isn't.

.

Jason, Baz –

Given that it decided it needed first install the language already in the computer too, I'd have thought 15-20 minutes about right. A slow connection might stretch it a bit but not to over 3 hours!

It may be something in my computer that held things up, not a broadband speed problem and certainly not with Alibre's software.

Only time will tell, by trying to use it again. Either it will try to repeat the re-installing or it will not, but if it does I hope it succeeds this time! What matters to me is it still operates

Up-dates on software like CAD are usually to add very arcane features for very advanced users. That doesn't worry me as, like 'Excel' and 'Word', I do not expect using CAD at more than a very simple level. I still want it to work though!

Success!!!

Yes: the prompt to up-date did appear this evening.

It threatened to take all night again.

Task manager revealed nothing likely to be a problem though I turned off MS 'Edge' which I do not use, so that was 8Mbs' worth out of the way.

Then I spotted a plaintive little toolbar symbol gently flickering at me, and that revealed a system-change request that had not displayed fully. I chose "Yes" and we were away, with Alibre all replaced with new before the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra had finished Beethoven's Ninth Symphony – complete with its Ode To Joy sung in their own language.

So having carefully pencil-sketched with measurements the existing cylinder block, I could now draw a new version. I made a few odd slips and met a few difficulties, like trying to set the centres for the cover-stud holes, and that Symmetrical Constraint sometimes acting in ways I didn't want. Oh, and having to re-draw the ports completely when I realised I'd aligned both sets along instead of across the block!

I am keen to make this area resemble the original as closely as I reasonably can, as the cylinders are so prominent. With the inverted-vertical engine between the seats, on full-size the cylinders were about level with the driver's chest.

So with this established so far I can go on to work out the dispositions of the passages and the steam-chest studs, (I found the clue to solving their conflict, in one of Luker's locomotive drawings), the starting-valve, etc. I'm tempted to use WAD to help me work out the details. (W=wood!)

So yer tiz:

Edited By Nigel Graham 2 on 22/09/2023 22:46:54