Learning CAD with Alibre Atom3D

Ivan,

I'm not aware how Atom3D could offer that format. Can you share a screenshot showing this, and a description of how you reached that...? Seems like there may be something very odd with your installation. PM me if you'd prefer.

I just saved one of the .FCStd files as a AA_PRT file and it opened perfectly in Alibre Atom 3D. Looks like a case of problem solved. Thanks

I tried saving a file from FreeCAD - Alibre won't open it. I'm very puzzled as to how Ivan achieved what he describes.

Just had email from Alibre about the 2019 update. Alibre Atom 3D appears to have found the update and installed it okay. Need to find time to play with it now.

Colin

I went to load up Atom 3D and it informed me an update was available so I clicked on it to download it as you do. It then said a reboot was necessary which I did. I then tried to load up Atom 3D and it informed me:-

"This version of the software was released after your yearly maintenance subscription has expired. You do not currently have access to this version".

What is going on. I only bought this a few months ago and having been away for the late spring and early summer I wanted to carry on learning how to use the software.

This cannot be right surely - has anyone else had this happen?

What do I have to do to use what I bought. Will this mean every time that they make a change to the software you have to re-buy it?

HELP

Steve

Did you buy it as a one off or with maintenance? You will only get updates with the latter as far as I know.

Jason, I bought the basic package less than 3 months ago so would have expected that if they upgraded the package within that time that they included the upgrade.

If Alibre are that strict and petty about not allowing a free upgrade within a three month period I would have thought they would, at least,have the basic technology to not send an automatic upgrade command through to me if I am not eligible to receive it.

I now have software that I cannot use and do not know how to go back to the old version that I am only entitled to.

As I said HELP

They send out the u[grade e-mails as people may want to upgrade, in which case they can purchase the upgrade if they don't automatically get it via maintenance.

If you have lost your current Atom due to trying to download the 2019 version then go to Alibre.com, select help and learning, then downloads and finally "request an earlier version" which will get the one you previously had made available to download.

You could also contact Mintronics if you are in the UK and purchased via them.

Thanks Jason, I will try to get it back they way you suggest.

I did not, however, respond to an e-mail. When I opened up my old copy of Atom 3D it came up with a screen asking me to download the upgrade. I have to say I am very disappointed with the way Alibre have done this.

So if anyone does not have the maintenance package ignore the splash screen on opening up the program (I think that's what you call it) that says click here to download the latest upgrade. I do not think it said anywhere that you need to pay for it.

OK - a bug was recently discovered in the auto-update code in the product (it fails to correctly check your maintenance expiry date, very embarrassing !). Unfortunately this can't be fixed unless you update to the just released 2019.0 release.

If you purchased as a one off, the best thing to do is to disable the 'check for updates' option, so you don't get offered the 'update' that you aren't entitled to.

If you are stuck without access to the software as a result of this issue, contact Alibre support or your reseller (even without purchasing updates you will be assisted if the software doesn't run for you).

Basically you need to uninstall the new version and re-install the previous version - if you don't have the previous installer available, support/reseller can assist.

All back up and running. Many thanks to John at Mintronics.

Hi,

I am new here but have been a cnc router hobbyist for many years, using mostly Vectric Aspire. I have been also designing many things with Alibre Atom3D but afraid I am drifting more towards using my subscription to Fusion 360 because for the money, the features are far greater and using Atom3d has become tedious.

Why oh-why-can't you copy and move an array of items and place them where you like. It looks like Atom3d has just removed the move command out of Alibre so that you have to buy the Pro. Why can't I move any 2 or more items at the same time? That's a stupid limitation. Atom3d has made Alibre 3d CAD just painful enough to make Pro slightly more attractive, but for the money, Fusion 3d does more, is easier to use and is always being improved.

For being around as many years as it has (I first used Alibre quite a few years ago) before it went through all the goofy transitions it did only to settle out at either Atom3d for $100 US or Pro for $400. I thought the reappearance of Alibre was a good thing but it's not really usable or much more usable than TinkerCad. Just my opinion.

Edited By Frances IoM on 02/11/2019 09:12:42

Maybe they took it out due to lack of use, can't say I have ever used the Move option in 6-7 years of having Alibre.

Alibre Atom3D is cut down from Alibre Design - mainly to simplify the interface and make it easier to learn. That does result in some functionality being lost, but it is also much less expensive than the Professional or Expert versions.

If you use the 3D feature pattern, rather than 2D sketch pattern to create your arrays (if I'm interpreting your words correctly), then repositioning the array is simple.

If you have a sketch of an array of say 7 polyline entities and you find that you later need to shift them over in the sketch by a small amount. As far as I can tell, I cannot move or constrain more than 1 entity at a time. Second, Moving the surrounding entity is not an option. So is there any alternative to recreating and duplicating and/or moving these entities one by one. Most Cad programs simply let you select the group you want to move and move it. Any other way is more work. Jason, you must have a simple alternative?! dropbox

Edited By Robert Stout on 02/11/2019 16:59:30

Edited By Robert Stout on 02/11/2019 17:01:04

Should be OK to post Dropbox links, I do it quite often.

Just type "dropbox" in your post, hightlight the text and then click the icon of a globe with a link under it ( or press Ctrl + K) and then paste your link in the box that comes up.

"Maybe they took it out due to lack of use, can't say I have ever used the Move option in 6-7 years of having Alibre."

Well, then, how do you move things? Or do you just have a knack for putting everything exactly where it needs to be? Good skill to have.

Hi Robert

To move drawn objects I select the object(s) and use Shift+mouse, it's usually circles I am wanting to reposition.

Emgee

That is what constraints are for put say a circle approx where you want it and then constrain by giving dimensions to it's ctr point, making it tangental to another feature, concentric to another circular feature etc.

If I want to move a part to form a pattern than I use that function to set at regular intervals or equally spaced around a point.

Have you tried that dropbox file again? I will send you a personal message about that so look at "inbox" along the top of the page.