Learning CAD with Alibre Atom3D

[David JuppParticipant @davidjupp51506]

Colin,

Are you seeing this symptom with all models, or just some? Has it ever worked on this computer?

The HD 7770 should cope, if not spectacularly well (my laptop has a HD 7500 and is usable but slow).

You could try the 'reset user profile' link on the Utilities Tab of the Home Window – a damaged profile can cause a wide variety of display issues.

Also worth checking for Windows updates (particularly .NET related), and for more recent graphics drivers.

[Colin HeseltineParticipant @colinheseltine48622]

David,

Have tried several models and in all cases option is greyed out.

Reset User Profile and this made no difference.

Running Win 10 Pro 64bit, Intel i7-3770@3.4Ghz 8core, 16Gb RAM

Radeon has 2048Mb RAM

The Radeon driver is quite old so I am downloading a later 2020 version.

Colin

[David JuppParticipant @davidjupp51506]

Apologies Colin, I just switched my system to Atom3D – and now shaded views are not available. Looks like it isn't supported by the Atom3D licence. There are too many differences for me to remember all of them.

You can still fudge this to some extent by creating a screenshot, then insert that image into your 2D drawing. It'll work best if you set colour scheme to 'Very Light Background' before taking th screenshot.

Sorry again for the confusion…

[Colin HeseltineParticipant @colinheseltine48622]

David,

Thanks for confirming that. Just been through a rather long update of Radeon drivers and stills saw no change.

I took a screenshot and saved a .jpg and then loaded that via the Image option. This looks ok.

Thank you for your help.

Colin

[Mark RandParticipant @markrand96270]

For those who have support, Version 22 is now available .

[Colin HeseltineParticipant @colinheseltine48622]

Mark,

Thanks for that notification. I had only last week updated to the previous minor release. Version 2.2 now installing

Colin

[BazParticipant @baz89810]

Just tried installing the latest version 2.2, almost got to the end of installing and it couldn’t find a file so I lost the lot, the original version as well, all I was left with was my folder of drawings, not impressed to say the least.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

You can probably find the file in your downloads folder unless you altered the default location it will be called Alibre Design Setup V22…………… or Atom if that is what you have.

Alternative is to go to Alibre "help and learning – downloads" and do it from there which I find works better for me.

The Icon usually goes AWOL until you have updated, certainly needs putting back on the task bar

[David JuppParticipant @davidjupp51506]

Baz – you can download the installer from Alibre web site as Jason said.

Running it again will fix your issue – the missing cab file seems to happen when C++ has to be updated – it needs a re-boot that upsets the installer.

[Tim Taylor 2Participant @timtaylor2]

I second the recommendation to upgrade to V22 if you are still under maintenance (I think you get 1 year w/original purchase). Open the program and click on the "utilities" tab – it will show your maintenance expiration date at the bottom of the screen. Lots of bug fixes and some new features as well – obviously more for Pro & Expert, but some improvements for Atom3D as well.

This is a link to page that shows the new features, fixes, etc. and which versions they apply to:

https://www.alibre.com/version22/

 

Edited By Tim Taylor 2 on 15/10/2020 22:30:56

[Colin HeseltineParticipant @colinheseltine48622]

Bazyle,

I had exactly the same thing happen. Reinstalled previous version and then did the upgrade from utilities menu

all appears okay. Do get one odd message but will query this tomorrow.
colin

[Colin HeseltineParticipant @colinheseltine48622]

When I open the drawing I have created I am get a message as per the following

Warning – Problems encountered opening "filename"

This also occurs if attempt to create plans.

As soon as click on okay the drawing or plans opens quite happily.

Any Ideas?

Colin

[David JuppParticipant @davidjupp51506]

Colin,

Is "filename" the name of the 2D drawing, or the name of the 3D part/assembly that it is a drawing of?

[Colin HeseltineParticipant @colinheseltine48622]

David,

It is the 3D part. Do not get this with the few things I created with earlier version.

Colin

[David JuppParticipant @davidjupp51506]

Is it consistent with all new 3D files, or limited to specific file(s) ?

Have you moved, copied, re-named the file(s) outside of the software?

When you get the 'missing' message, click on the file name in the message – the 'Replace' button should then become active at the bottom of the dialogue. Click that and navigate to the file.

[Colin HeseltineParticipant @colinheseltine48622]

David,

Just created new drawing and no issue. Its not a missing message, its just a problem encountered but when click OK it proceeds as normal and loads and displays okay.

There must be something weird with that particular drawing. I'll live with it.

Thanks for help.

Colin

[David JuppParticipant @davidjupp51506]

Colin,

OK – If it isn't too complex, it would be best practice to produce it again from scratch. Files that have 'funnies' rarely fix themselves, and can lead to other problems.

[BazParticipant @baz89810]

Followed Jason’s link and now everything is working fine, thanks for the help.

[Steve Skelton 1Participant @steveskelton1]

This is probably a silly question.

I bought Atom3D which I have used for the last year, mainly for producing STL's for 3D printing.

I now have a need to produce some plumbing schematics for which I would previously have used 2D Autocad. I no longer have Autocad installed on my PC and do not know where my old CD's are.

My question is – will Atom3D do this effectively. I would prefer to do it using Atom3D as I have tried very hard to unlearn my Autocad mindset, or do I need to bite the bullet, find my Autocad CD and get all confused again

Cheers

Steve

[Tim Taylor 2Participant @timtaylor2]

Posted by Steve Skelton 1 on 16/10/2020 17:44:27:

This is probably a silly question.

I bought Atom3D which I have used for the last year, mainly for producing STL's for 3D printing.

I now have a need to produce some plumbing schematics for which I would previously have used 2D Autocad. I no longer have Autocad installed on my PC and do not know where my old CD's are.

My question is – will Atom3D do this effectively. I would prefer to do it using Atom3D as I have tried very hard to unlearn my Autocad mindset, or do I need to bite the bullet, find my Autocad CD and get all confused again

Cheers

Steve

Sure it will work – just do your design in a flat architecture…no need to extrude in the 3rd axis. I've used it to do an occasional electrical schematic and simple block diagrams & it worked fine.

Tim

[David JuppParticipant @davidjupp51506]

You can 'sketch on sheet' in the 2D environment in Atom3D.

Note that it isn't really intended as a 2D drawing tool – it's intended that you design the 3D part then semi-automatically generate the 2D views. It therefore might be somewhat 'clunky' for this purpose.

[EmgeeParticipant @emgee]

Anyone trialled the CAM program now being offered to run along side Alibre ?

Emgee

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I keep meaning to but have not yet, maybe if I have some time over the weekend, also not seen the UK price.

[JourneymanParticipant @journeyman]

It's called Alibre Workshop and is priced at £390.00 (+VAT)

John

[David JuppParticipant @davidjupp51506]

Posted by Journeyman on 06/11/2020 16:02:14:

It's called Alibre Workshop and is priced at £390.00 (+VAT)

John

That's the UK package price (includes Atom3D and MeshCAM Pro). If you already have an Alibre CAD package, contact your reseller for pricing of the CAM as an add-on. Alibre can only sell the CAM either to existing Alibre software owners, or as a CAD/CAM package.

[Author]

Posts