Learning CAD with Alibre Atom3D

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

yes the e-mail arrived just after my last post, will see what it will cost to go with my Pro which is due for renewal

Had a quick try of the trial while drinking a mug of tea so easy enough to pick up, initial thoughts are it's more basic than F350 and has limited 3D both roughing and finishing but need to play with it some more.

This is the simulation of a part in MeshCAM (Alibre Workshop) with parallel finish

And same in F360 with "Steep and Shallow" that keeps the same distance between cusps

metal one is part way through.

Edited By JasonB on 06/11/2020 16:25:05

[David JuppParticipant @davidjupp51506]

Jason is correct, the CAM side of Workshop lacks advanced features. It is deliberately targeted at ease of use and a competitive price point. If you need 5 axis, thread milling, trochoidal toolpaths, etc. , then it's not for you. If your needs are straightforward 2.5D or 3D, it might be worth taking a look.

It also has options for cutting height maps based on images.

[Mark RandParticipant @markrand96270]

How much help is there on creating/editiing a Post for your machine?

[EmgeeParticipant @emgee]

Posted by Mark Rand on 08/11/2020 22:37:11:

How much help is there on creating/editiing a Post for your machine?

Try this link Mark **LINK**

Emgee

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Have not look further to see if there is any help etc but I was able to pick it up easy enough at first attempt to produce the code to cut that part, a little playing around after got a slightly better finish on the vertical parts of the curves.

I'm sure there must be MeshCAM videos on the net to learn from I just watched a few F360 ones and took it from there.

[David JuppParticipant @davidjupp51506]

Posted by Mark Rand on 08/11/2020 22:37:11:

How much help is there on creating/editing a Post for your machine?

It ships with an extensive collection of post processors. If there isn't one provided to suit your machine, the manual has a couple of extensive sections describing the details of post processor.

MeshCAM's own web site says

If you find problems with the built-in post processors then email us, we’d be happy to see if you can make modification for you for free.

[clivelParticipant @clivel]

When this tutorial was first released I successfully installed Atom 3D on my Linux laptop by running Windows in a VMWare Player virtual machine.

After confirming that it worked and never finding the time to go beyond the first tutorial, I eventually completely deleted the virtual machine as I was running low on disc space,

As an inveterate Linux user and open source proponent, I occasionally attempted to find a native Linux 3d CAD alternative in the intervening months. The most promising candidate was, of course, FreeCad but try as I might, I just couldn't bring myself to like it – I must have installed and then removed it three or four times.

Anyway, after procrastinating for months I eventually got around to upgrading my laptop hard drive which turned out to be a lot less painful a procedure than I imagined.

Now, with plenty of disc space and wanting to learn 3d CAD, I reinstalled the VMWare Player virtual machine and Windows. I fully expected to have to make do with a 30-day trial of Atom 3D but was gratified to find that the link given in MEW #274 is still active and still allowed one to install the 6 months trial.

This is great news for anyone who has access to the magazines and wants to work through the tutorial before deciding on whether to purchase a copy of Atom 3D.

I quickly whipped through the first tutorial, searched through my pile of back issues for the remaining tutorials, and found them all except for issue #275 which contains the second tutorial preventing me from making any further progress.

I vaguely recall that the tutorials could also be downloaded as a PDF, but can't seem to find the link, I would appreciate it if anyone is able to enlighten me.

Thanks,
Clive

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I don't think the tutorials are a free download anymore.

[John HinkleyParticipant @johnhinkley26699]

Clivel,

Don't give up! I tried a load of open source 3D packages over a number of months and couldn't get on with any of them. I gave it a rest and when the Atom3D offer came up I had another go. I found it easy to pick up and learn to use different tools as I need them. I just treat it as a virtual maching exercise. I paid for the full (Atom3D) package and have used it successfully for nearly two years.

John

You have a PM.

[clivelParticipant @clivel]

Posted by JasonB on 30/11/2020 06:53:19:

I don't think the tutorials are a free download anymore.

Jason, Thanks for the link, on the assumption that the PDF tutorial is not much more than a reformatted version of the magazine articles it would probably be cheaper to buy the digital issue or I could just make a concerted effort to find the missing magazine in a box somewhere in the garage

Clive

[clivelParticipant @clivel]

Posted by John Hinkley on 30/11/2020 11:19:47:

Clivel,

Don't give up! I tried a load of open source 3D packages over a number of months and couldn't get on with any of them. I gave it a rest and when the Atom3D offer came up I had another go. I found it easy to pick up and learn to use different tools as I need them. I just treat it as a virtual maching exercise. I paid for the full (Atom3D) package and have used it successfully for nearly two years.

John

John,
Thanks for the advice, so far I really like Atom 3D, enough so that I am considering purchasing it. I'll wait until I have finished the MEW tutorial before deciding though.

Clive

[BazParticipant @baz89810]

It would be nice if Alibre done the same for their CAM package as they did for Alibre Atom, a six month free trial and tutorials in MEW mag.

[EmgeeParticipant @emgee]

Good saving on Alibre Atom and other programs on offer at present, those who have trialled Atom can now buy the package with a years maintenance for around £160

saving 40% of listed price.

Emgee

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

You can do workarounds with dynamic movement constraints

A proper rack and pinion arrangement is in the $1000 to $2000 versions but…

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

You seem to be finding your way around OK Ady. Like I said in reply to others struggling with CAD for a long time a lot is to do with aptitude – some will pick it up others best stick with pencil and paper

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

Well I spent January doing a personal project and by the end of that I decided to have a punt at doing a loco just like the big boys do

So I put my big boy pants on and chose LBSCs BAT from the start of WW2

Of course I'm chuffed but this is to show anyone watching what you can do after 5 weeks with Alibre, the big motivation is you can actually see it move

I hadn't a clue about Locos when I started 10 days ago, but now I actually have a tiny clue about what's actually going on with these things

I would also totally recommend to anyone doing a big or new project that you do it in CAD first, the amount of stuff it throws up before you cut metal is life saving, I would take at least 3 to 5 years to do this project… or 20 to 30 days in CAD

 

 

edit: There's a bit of artistic license on the valve gear etc, like any wee boy I just wanted to see it running

Edited By Ady1 on 08/02/2023 23:57:16

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