Learning CAD with Alibre Atom3D

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

25" sounds big, are you sure you are not on metric somewhere and getting a 25mm grid?

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

My error!

You need to change the grid size and visibility under Parts/assemblies so it shows when in Part Modelling view.

[David JuppParticipant @davidjupp51506]

NOTE there are separate Grid settings for Drawings – sketching and for Parts/Assemblies – sketching.

Both are accessed through System Options, they are independent of each other.

[Paul AbramsParticipant @paulabrams18342]

It definitely measures 25". If I draw a line in 2D starting at one grid line and over to the next, the box reads 25"

I normally work in metric and a new drawing starts in metric but I have changed the current drawing to inches! My existing Design Exercise Manual drawing is measured in inches.

In System Options – Drawings – Sketching – I'm ticked in Display Grid and also Snap to Grid and – X: 1.000"

In Properties – Units – General – Display Units – I have Inches in the drop down box.

Is there another place I should be changing or has Alibre 'frozen' on me – Everything else works??

Paul Abrams

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Apologies if this has already been answered, but I don't fancy trawling through all the posts. I realise that working on my laptop is not as handy as on the desktop where I have 2 screens, it means I can sit in the same room as SWMBO. If I download to laptop can I also download to desktop, or move it at some date in the future?

It really is time I got out of a 2D world.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Posted by Paul Abrams on 06/11/2018 19:27:10:

.

In System Options – Drawings – Sketching – I'm ticked in Display Grid and also Snap to Grid and – X: 1.000"

Go to the group above "parts/assembly" and then sketching and change the grid sizes there.

The drawing grid can just be used as an aid when setting out your 2D drawing. If you want a grid when doing the 3D model then that is your "Part" so use parts/assembly to set the grid.

Edited By JasonB on 06/11/2018 19:44:44

[David JuppParticipant @davidjupp51506]

Duncan,

If you have an activation code (trials are usually handled a little differently, but the 6 month MEW trial is a 'special' which gives each user a code), you can switch between computers.

Install on as many computers as you wish – non-activated ones work in Viewer mode. To switch activation between computers check this article

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Thanks David, I'll get on with it in next few days

[Mark RandParticipant @markrand96270]

I'm not sure if it has come up (couldn't find it when searching) but in the assembly mode, the 'quick constraints' dialogue box (the only one selectable from the ribbon in AA) can disappear from view. I don't know if it ends up under the main window or what, but it becomes invisible, while still active.

There seems to be a way around this:- Right click on an existing constraint in the list on the left hand side of the window and select 'Edit' then cancel the edit. The next time you click the 'quick constrain' button in the ribbon, the box will reappear..

[Paul AbramsParticipant @paulabrams18342]

Thanks Neil

Took a while to understand what you were getting at but a nights sleep helps. I'll try it.

Paul

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Posted by duncan webster on 06/11/2018 19:37:13:

Apologies if this has already been answered, but I don't fancy trawling through all the posts. I realise that working on my laptop is not as handy as on the desktop where I have 2 screens, it means I can sit in the same room as SWMBO. If I download to laptop can I also download to desktop, or move it at some date in the future?

It really is time I got out of a 2D world.

So I've made a start by reading the instructions (what a weird idea, not like me at all). My laptop has Intel(R) HD Graphics 620 . According to the interweb this is DirectX 9 compatible, but is not a separate graphics card. Should I stick to the desktop?

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by duncan webster on 07/11/2018 22:21:44:

Posted by duncan webster on 06/11/2018 19:37:13:

Apologies if this has already been answered, but I don't fancy trawling through all the posts. I realise that working on my laptop is not as handy as on the desktop where I have 2 screens, it means I can sit in the same room as SWMBO. If I download to laptop can I also download to desktop, or move it at some date in the future?

It really is time I got out of a 2D world.

So I've made a start by reading the instructions (what a weird idea, not like me at all). My laptop has Intel(R) HD Graphics 620 . According to the interweb this is DirectX 9 compatible, but is not a separate graphics card. Should I stick to the desktop?

I'm sure you don't need a separate card, just Directx9 compatibility, which is pretty much everything these days.

My PC has the graphics on the mainboard.

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Thanks, tied up with hospital visits for next couple of days, I'll get back to it at weekend

Edited By duncan webster on 07/11/2018 23:38:44

[David JuppParticipant @davidjupp51506]

Duncan, the integrated Intel graphics is not great but will probably work. You may need to make sure to find drivers from the Intel site – the default ones provided in Windows don't support all aspects required by Atom3D.

It'll become pretty obvious if you suffer this problem ( an empty, grey workspace ). Correct drivers should fix it.

[mickParticipant @mick65121]

I've been through all the posts here and no one seems to be having the problem I've encountered using the step by step tutorial in this month's MEW. I successfully reach the stage of creating the 25mm circle, however the circle isn't a solid circle but interrupted, when I click the green tick to deactivate sketch the circle disappears and so it will not proceed to the next step. I closed the software and started a new component but the same thing happens each time. I fully appreciate the problem must be the finger controlling the mouse but I would like to know what I'm doing wrong.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Posted by mick on 08/11/2018 17:26:39:

I successfully reach the stage of creating the 25mm circle, however the circle isn't a solid circle but interrupted, when I click the green tick to deactivate sketch the circle disappears

Might be a reference circle (which is dashed) and is intended to aid sketching, not be part of the sketch itself.

Andrew

[mickParticipant @mick65121]

Thanks Andrew. How do I produce a solid circle? I think this learning curve might be a tad on the steep side!!!!

[David JuppParticipant @davidjupp51506]

Mick – sounds like you have drawn a reference circle (reference figures produce dashed lines – they can be useful for laying out your geometry, but they don't actually get used when creating 3D features).

You can either right click on the reference circle (in sketch mode) and choose 'convert to regular figures' – or choose the circle tool from the 'Sketch figures' part of the ribbon and create a new circle.

 

Edited By David Jupp on 08/11/2018 17:41:07

Edited By David Jupp on 08/11/2018 17:42:06

[mickParticipant @mick65121]

Okay thanks, I'll go back and try again. All this is the reason I'm still a G code man!!!!!!!

[mickParticipant @mick65121]

It does work better when you click on the correct circle!! Just as well the tutorial is in monthly instalments!!

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Last nights Homework

[Douglas JohnstonParticipant @douglasjohnston98463]

Posted by mick on 08/11/2018 17:26:39:

I've been through all the posts here and no one seems to be having the problem I've encountered using the step by step tutorial in this month's MEW. I successfully reach the stage of creating the 25mm circle, however the circle isn't a solid circle but interrupted, when I click the green tick to deactivate sketch the circle disappears and so it will not proceed to the next step. I closed the software and started a new component but the same thing happens each time. I fully appreciate the problem must be the finger controlling the mouse but I would like to know what I'm doing wrong.

Thanks.

Don't worry, you are not alone Mick, I have just started to look at the tutorial myself and I am also feeling the steepness of the learning curve. What I am having problems with is returning to a previous step if I make a mistake. Is there a simple key step to undo a step that goes wrong, I can't seem to see one. Perhaps we need a new topic for total dummies like me.

Doug

[Grindstone CowboyParticipant @grindstonecowboy]

Not an expert, and enjoying learning with this package – I have found that the standard Windows 'Undo' key combination of Ctrl and Z seems to work and lets you step back through a number of changes.

Rob

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Douglas, top left next to the save Icon you have Undo and redo, two curved arrows. You can click multiple times to take you back right through a sketch.

Another thing while learning is to save regularly then if you really do muck up close the part without saving and then when you open it again it will be back at the last saved position.

You can also right click any of the items in the list down the left side of the page which will allow you to go back and edit them or even delete. Once you start drawing more complicated items the items on the list can be renames by right clicking which makes it easier to go back to the sketch you need

 

 

Edited By JasonB on 09/11/2018 10:06:31

[Douglas JohnstonParticipant @douglasjohnston98463]

Posted by JasonB on 09/11/2018 09:57:47:

Douglas, top left next to the save Icon you have Undo and redo, two curved arrows. You can click multiple times to take you back right through a sketch.

Brilliant- give that man a coconut, thanks Jason

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