Learning CAD with Alibre Atom3D

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I'll leave David to the grids as it is a bit different on Atom to mine.

Regarding the chamfer it sounds like you are clicking on the "face" of the cylinder and will be getting a wide blue band. You need to click on the black line that is the edge which will then turn blue.

I did do a video of drawing that part which you may have missed

Edited By JasonB on 22/11/2018 19:26:18

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Thanks Jason, not exactly a thick line, but definitely blue, and it then does as expected, so that's one bit sorted

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

It will go blue as your cursor hovers over it and then when clicked give two darker blue lines at the extent of the chamfer, my pic shows those two lines but very close together as length of chamfer is default 0.25mm

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

update, I've found I can draw a circle anywhere then constrain it to be coaxial with the first, but it seems a long winded way of doing it, snapping to axis would be a lot easier

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

#2 son came round I'm now cooking on gas. Reading the instructions would have been good, you hold down both buttons to rotate!

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Gah!

Just completed a 6 hour 10 minute print of an object designed in Alibre Atom3D. The base for a sun compass.

Unfortunately I didn't check that the STL was created from the latest version…

[John Barber 5Participant @johnbarber5]

Posted by JasonB on 22/11/2018 15:07:20:

Along the very top left of the screen you have a series of isometric cubes with one yellow face, these allow you to jump to a particular view, the furthest of these cubes is all yellow and that will take you back to a home view which can be altered by the arrow at it's side.

I use these when in Part or Assembly mode, but there doesn't appear to be any equivalent resetting tool when in Drawing mode.

[John Barber 5Participant @johnbarber5]

Posted by David Jupp on 22/11/2018 15:51:19:

Another tip for getting back to showing the whole design (zoom extents) – press the Home key on the keyboard..

That also reminds me – you can program pretty much every button function to a keyboard shortcut of your choice. You can even override the default shortcuts if you prefer.

The Home key doesn't appear to work for me. I looked under Help to see how to edit keyboard shortcuts and it was supposed to be under System Options, but doesn't appear to there for Atom. Is it a Design only feature?

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Posted by John Barber 5 on 22/11/2018 21:16:40:

Posted by David Jupp on 22/11/2018 15:51:19:

Another tip for getting back to showing the whole design (zoom extents) – press the Home key on the keyboard..

That also reminds me – you can program pretty much every button function to a keyboard shortcut of your choice. You can even override the default shortcuts if you prefer.

The Home key doesn't appear to work for me. I looked under Help to see how to edit keyboard shortcuts and it was supposed to be under System Options, but doesn't appear to there for Atom. Is it a Design only feature?

works for me he said smugly!

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

John, it must be something on your keyboard as "Home" will take a 2D drawing back to showing the whole sheet.

 

System options has workspace options which include keyboard options, same place where grid etc is set but as said to Duncan Atom may be different.

Edited By JasonB on 23/11/2018 07:04:29

[David JuppParticipant @davidjupp51506]

First – Apologies – I hadn't checked Atom3D thoroughly, editing keyboard shortcuts is NOT exposed in the Atom interface.

Grid / Snaps has been mentioned before in this thread – there are separate settings for sketching and for 2D drawings. See image for how to access

[Lionel PullumParticipant @lionelpullum53107]

This is not an option in Atom3d. The System Options under All workspaces are General, Sketching and Mouse Interaction only, whereas under Keyboard shortcuts in the on-line help is is pictured as General, Sketching, Keyboard Shortcuts and Mouse Interaction. Pressing the Home key on my PC does nothing either.

BTW does anybody know how to include screen dumps or images from the clipbqoard, I can only see how to add a file or from a URL, which sure makes describing a graphics package cumbersom

[Lionel PullumParticipant @lionelpullum53107]

Ha David, you beat me to it, and how did you add that graphic?

[David JuppParticipant @davidjupp51506]

Duncan,

To place second circle concentric with first:-

• Place first circle as desired in sketch.
• Hover mouse cursor over centre node of first circle (you should see a 'small spider' appear).
• Click to place centre of second circle (whilst spider is visible).
• Release LMB, move cursor away from centre – you should see circle grow AND concentric constraint symbol will appear automatically.
• Type dimension or click on screen to size circle.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Liinel. Best option is to create an album and then put your .jpg screen shots in there see this FAQ

[David JuppParticipant @davidjupp51506]

Posted by Lionel Pullum on 23/11/2018 08:39:19:

Ha David, you beat me to it, and how did you add that graphic?

I made my screenshot and annotated it, then saved the file locally. Next I uploaded the image to an Album on this forum (see Albums in the green bar near very top of forum). I then used the Camera icon in 'Post a Reply' to add image from Album to my post.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Duncan, further to Davids post above this only works with circles drawn in the same sketch, not if sketching on the end of say a previously extruded cylinder unless the first circle was on an axis 

Edited By JasonB on 23/11/2018 08:50:36

[David JuppParticipant @davidjupp51506]

I've looked further into this Home Key issue. It seems that I was misled by some behaviour carried over in my 'user profile' from Alibre Design.    (I use Alibre Design, but can switch my install into Atom3D mode).

Having removed my previous profile and let Atom3D create a new default profile, I now can't use the Home Key to 'zoom to extents'.

In 3D workspace Ctrl+1 (1 on keyboard top row, not on num-pad) will bring up the 'Front' view at full extents, Ctrl+2 etc. allows quick cycling through other views.

I'll check if the lack of Home key behaviour was deliberate or accidental.

Edited By David Jupp on 23/11/2018 09:00:37

Edited By David Jupp on 23/11/2018 09:01:56

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

I'm slowly getting to grips with this, you have to think totally differently to 2D CAD. Anyone know how I import a dwg or dxf so I can then rotate it to produce a loco wheel. I've already got the section drawn up in 2D, seems a shame to have to redo it from scratch.

I then want to know where the centre of gravity is, is this possible in Alibre?

[David JuppParticipant @davidjupp51506]

Duncan,

You have to import DXF into the 2D drawing workspace. There you can tidy up, select which items you want and then copy/paste into a sketch in your new 3D part. After importing, check that the size is correct – you have to choose units at import, and of course you don't always know what units the DXF was created in.

See this video , it's deals with DWG, but the process is identical for DXF. Like most of the videos, it was created using Alibre Design, so you might see some icons that you don't have access to.

NOTE : for 'import' in the video – just use 'open' in Atom3D (and current Alibre Design).

Edited By David Jupp on 24/11/2018 12:43:07

[JohnFParticipant @johnf59703]

Hi a question for Neil I think, I use Mac but am keen to have a go with this — I have Turbocad and have never managed to master it — however I have an old windows laptop so I'll dig it out and check the spec but the question is if I load Alibre onto this using the key and its too slow or ??? can I load it again onto another new PC and still use the key thus having the benefit of the extended trial ?

Regards John

[SpurryParticipant @spurry]

According to my interpretation of the blurb, you can install on several computers, but have to use the key with the computer you want to actually utilise. Not really a problem, as you cannot be in two places at once.

Pete

[David JuppParticipant @davidjupp51506]

You can install Atom3D on multiple computers, but only have it activated on one at any time. You can switch activations between computers as described here.

The non-activated computers will operate in View Only mode. This is also what will happen on you activated installation after your extended trial expires, if you choose not to buy a licence.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by JohnF on 24/11/2018 15:11:02:

Hi a question for Neil I think, I use Mac but am keen to have a go with this — I have Turbocad and have never managed to master it — however I have an old windows laptop so I'll dig it out and check the spec but the question is if I load Alibre onto this using the key and its too slow or ??? can I load it again onto another new PC and still use the key thus having the benefit of the extended trial ?

Regards John

Yes!

You need to click 'release licence' (on the start screen utilities tab) on the old computer before it will work on the new one.

Neil

[JohnFParticipant @johnf59703]

Thank you Neil, David & Pete I'll have a go !

John

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