Alibre Atom 3D. A question to those who use it.

[lee websterParticipant @leewebster72680]

Is there a boolean function in Atom 3D? Can I create two bodies and then remove one from the other? I think, from what I've read, that I can't. But I thought I would ask those who use it.

I use the boolean function in DesignSpark Mechanical to create moulds for casting, so it's a very important feature. I think I would miss it, and I can't think of any way to get round it.

[lee websterParticipant @leewebster72680]

[blowlampParticipant @blowlamp]

Hi Lee.

I've not come across any of the 'usual' booleans in Atom – I think you would need to buy the next option up, to get that functionality.

Martin.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Not in Atom only Pro & Expert

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

Can you show us a picture of a final product?

Sometimes workarounds are possible

[John HinkleyParticipant @johnhinkley26699]

Lee,

I suppose it all depends on what you are trying to achieve. For example two crossing tubes:

Clearly, they "block" each other off. However, select one end of each tube in turn and create a sketch on each end with the circle the inner diameter in red below and extrude cut that all through.

And you end up with the cruciform as shown below.

I have, perhaps, not chosen the best size combination to illustrate my point, but you get the idea. As Ady1 says, there's usually a workaround.

John

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I also tend to use it for pattern making, cores and coreboxes have a look at this thread for it's use. And putting the CAD to use here

Simple stuff can be done using the cuts just like in the recent tjhread where Blowlamp used a Boolene to chamfer the nut and I used a revolve cut.

Edited By JasonB on 11/05/2023 20:03:12

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

I used that approach in LBSCs BAT

The downside of workarounds is they tend to take longer but do get there

What we seem to have with Alibre Atom is software that would have been a top dollar product 10 or 15 years ago and now they are using it as an entry level product at what I would consider to be a bargain price, particularly since it's buy now keep forever and all my files are my own property

What I hadn't realised before becoming moderately competent is that Atom starts you down the road of project management, you can start considering bigger wider solutions that previously my limited brainpower would never have considered possible for a lone hand. You can break larger problems into smaller solutions and bring those solutions together into something that actually makes sense, or it doesn't and you have to try another way

All sounds a bit high browed ugh but it means I'm not cutting metal or wasting my time, I'm only playing in my virtual reality workshop which makes things 10 times faster than my real workshop (well 100 times actually)

[lee websterParticipant @leewebster72680]

This is an example of my method of making a core box, or core mould.

I want to make a core mould for this piston. The piston is grey because it is inactive.

I create a group called "piston mould" and in that group a body called "core". I select the end of the piston and start a new sketch. I use project to sketch to create a circle the dia of the inside of the piston, and then extrude that sketch to the other end of the piston to create a cylinder. I then cut the piston body from the cylinder to get the core. The piston body isn't destroyed! The chamfer isn't something I would cast in the piston, I would delete it from the piston body before cutting.

The core is green because it is the active body.

I then create another body called "mould". I've made it transparent to make the core visible.

The core is then cut from the mould, and the mould split into two.

I can then add locating pins and flanges for bolts to the core mould and then use it to create a sand core.

I use this method to make most of my core moulds unless they are very simple.

The above process took about 5 minutes.

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

I'll have a squirrel about to see if there's a sneaky workaround

Chances are it would have to be done the hard way

[lee websterParticipant @leewebster72680]

The piston core wouldn't be too difficult to draw, nice job by the way, but sometimes a core is complex and the easiest and most accurate way is boolean cut.

[blowlampParticipant @blowlamp]

Similar technique done in MoI.

Martin.

[lee websterParticipant @leewebster72680]

One way to make the mould would be to use a copy of the piston, for instance, slice it in two, and add flanges etc. Making the core was just a step in the process of creating the core mould. Cutting a piston copy in half would eliminate the need for the core to be created. Any thoughts?

[lee websterParticipant @leewebster72680]

I had just posted when I saw yours pop up Martin. That is the way I do it in DesignSpark. I haven't tried to do it in Solid Edge, but I think it would be the same.

[blowlampParticipant @blowlamp]

Posted by lee webster on 12/05/2023 00:24:09:

One way to make the mould would be to use a copy of the piston, for instance, slice it in two, and add flanges etc. Making the core was just a step in the process of creating the core mould. Cutting a piston copy in half would eliminate the need for the core to be created. Any thoughts?

I think you might be getting into constructing surfaces to make the rest of the mould, which then need to be made into solids, and that can be quite a bit more tricky to do.

Martin.

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

The Alibre Atom route I found was you need the original part so I built the piston

They have a function called shell so I hollowed it out to 0.1mm

Then I filled in the original piston body space and this is the half section which can be mounted into a bounding box. Took me slightly longer than 5 minutes though lol

No doubt things would improve with more practice

Edited By Ady1 on 12/05/2023 03:36:16

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

The way to do it in basic ATOM is to make a copy of the model of the core using "save as" You then model the basic cylinderical shape of the piston at the top of the tree on the left and then go down the list changing the boss (solid) actions to cut and the cut to boss. So rather than build up a solid shape you cut that shape from the solid.

Bit long winded but they have to remove some functions to get the price down.

Cor box is simply a case of replacing the pistons round cylinder with a rectangle the size of half your box.

Edited By JasonB on 12/05/2023 07:08:26

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

So here it is using the more basic tools that can be found in Atom, not sure about opacity but could be done without

I did not bore you with drawing the core but it is just three operations – a revolve for the main shape, a cut that is then mirrored for the two areas around the pin and then fillets.

I start by making a copy, delete the actions, draw and boss extrude the outer shape of the piston. Then do the opposite so the Boss revolve for the main shape became a Cut Revolve and the cut for the pin areas became a boss. mirror and fillets same as.

Cor box is simply a case of changing the circle for the piston OD with a box shape with one side passing through the ctr line.

Edited By JasonB on 12/05/2023 07:44:50

[lee websterParticipant @leewebster72680]

Some interesting ideas to think about. Now I need to download the trial version and try these out. I will make sure my cad computer is ready to go online this evening.

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

I did the long winded boss to cut system but it's very prone to errors, the shell system is instant and muppet proof

If the object is simple then the boss to cut system is ok

Edited By Ady1 on 12/05/2023 09:27:48

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

The shell does not really work if you want to print or CNC machine the parts and it is obviously the wrong size too due to the thickness of the shell

[blowlampParticipant @blowlamp]

Boolean 'Merge' is ideal for for this job. From only a model of the piston it's straightforward to create the core, core mould, piston mould and retain the model of the piston.

Martin.

[lee websterParticipant @leewebster72680]

I installed the trial version of Alibre Atom3D today and I've had a play with it. I couldn't find a way to split a body into two separate pieces, I will keep looking at that. I also looked at MOI used by Martin, "Blowlamp", there is a 90 day trial period with the software. My first impression with Alibre is that might not do what I want, or rather, what I am used to. I have to carry on regardless!

One thing about Alibre is having to draw each part of a construction consisting of many parts, and then make them into an assembly, like a small engine for instance. In Designspark and Solid Edge, each body can be created by using references from another body. The cylinder can get some info from the head, etc. It doesn't seem that Alibre works that way.

I now have my cad computer disconnected from the internet until Alibre asks for a connection, so I can't watch instructional videos unless I have my internet (slow) computer on.

Twenty eight days to go! Wasn't there a film with a similar title?

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

The way I split something in half when doing a pattern is much like I showed at the end of the video of your core box. Simply sketch a rectangle with one side through where you want to split the pattern and cut away one half, name it pattern right, go back and edit so the rectangle sits the other side of ctr and name that pattern left.

As for constructing a part using refs from another part or assembly when you have your assembly up on the screen click add new part rather than insert design. You can then draw directly over the assembled parts and use project to sketch to pick up any refs you want. I'm assuming this can be done in atom, I can do it in pro.

Example here, drawing the rectangle and have used the vertical edge of the cylinder as my ref (green broken line)

Edited By JasonB on 13/05/2023 07:44:53

[lee websterParticipant @leewebster72680]

Thanks JasonB.

The first thing I designed was a piston as in my previous post. I couldn't see any way to split it, so I drew a rectangle from the middle out and extruded cut one half away. I then tried to mirror the part with no luck, the half I was trying to mirror dissapeared and a mirrored part was created the other side of the plane . I tried both versions of the mirror with no luck. When I tried with a more simple part, I got the mirror to work, so, a bit more experience needed here. I will try making an assembly as you describe this evening. Gardening calls! Beetroot and red onions to be planted out.

Lee

[Author]

Posts