3D-CAD Package Shootout - Cotton Reel Example

Well that's snookered that then, but thanks anyway

Duncan,

You may be able to open the files in Solid Edge. Click the Open button followed by the drop down button in the "All Solid Edge documents" window. The tenth item in the drop down is file type *.prt which may be what you need.

Gordon

Alibre usually saves as *.ad_prt

No harm in trying, otherwise it looks like back to the (metaphorical) drawing board.

That file type is for Siemens NX (their other CAD system) so I don't think it will help.

I assume the problem is that a six month Alibre trial has finished, so you can't re-open the old files and export them Duncan?

Regards,

IanT

The Alibre file format is an extension of STEP. I'm told, but have not seen that some CAD systems will open Alibre files if extension is changed to STEP or STP (attempt at your own risk).

The extended trial for Atom3D was done using special licence keys - one side effect is that the software just stops working after the trial period - the usual free trial will offer 'viewer' mode after trial expiration.

You can work around around that as detailed in this Help article

If you have just a few files from Atom3D, ask nicely and maybe somebody with a licence, or running a current trial would open your files and export them.

Yes,as long as it is just a few files, I can do that for you. All you have to do is PM me your email address and I'll respond with mine. Send me a file and I'll export it into a number of different formats and send them back. If any work for you, I can do the rest. Got no project on the go at the moment, so I'd welcome a bit mouse bashing!

John

Jason is correct, the files are AD_PRT, I've tried Gordon's suggestion, no go. I've hopefully taken up John's kind offer, fine fellows Model Engineers

A huge thank you to John Hinkley, who has converted my Alibre models into more formats than you can imagine (SAT, STP, STL, DXF and DWG), all of which work in SE.

So one of the files John converted for me was a loco wheel. I've just modelled that axle and then tried to make an assembly. Twit that I am I have the wheel axis along the x and the axle axis along the y, so it won't work. It must be possible to swap x and y in the axle? Solid Edge guru needed..

I'm almost tempted to buy Alibre as there was a step by step manual with it which I found very good

The assembly process should override your part orientations.

Gordon

Spelling correction 

Edited By GordonH on 18/04/2022 23:13:56

Duncan,

Not sure exactly the problem but your relates should over-ride the part orientation.

In Assembly - try experimenting with the assembly relationships - Mate, Planer Align & Axial Align. You can assemble most things with just these three commands. If it's not working the way you think it should do, then try the 'Flip' option to swop the relationship.

Assembly needs a little practice but is one of those things that will suddenly click (at least it did for me). Still working on my part 'dragging' though....

Regards,

IanT

After 3 hours of cursing I managed to work out how to align the parts, dead easy once you've twigged. I now have 2 wheels complete with crankpins on an axle (could have made them out of metal in this time!), but the crankpins are in line. I need to rotate one wheel/crankpin assembly about the x axis of the wheel. I think it might be to do with the steering wheel thing that keeps popping up, but I can't get it to align along the x. Anyone got any good ideas. I've tried and failed with Google. This is Solid Edge

And while I'm on, I tried to copy a 2D drawing out of nanoCad into SE so I could rotate the profile, did Copy with Base Point, which usually puts it on the clipboard, but failed to paste it into SE

Its taken a bit of time...But here is my attempt...

This is a FreeCAD screenshot

And this is part of a 3D print...

Not a very good print... as I'm still trying to learn how to work the printer!!

The FreeCAD drawing could also be improved... but I don't think its too bad for a first attempt!

Alan

Sorted the first part, again easy when you know how, move the origin of the steering wheel to a face on the x axis, at least it worked for me. Take me 4 hours so far!

Edited By duncan webster on 19/04/2022 16:51:46

Hi Duncan,

Good to see you making progress.

The steering wheel is one way to do this but when you are setting assembly relationships in Solid Edge, you can also use 'drag component' - with a choice of either a 'move' (relative to an edge or axis), rotate (about an edge or axis) or 'freemove' (which is an unconstrained drag). You can also define the exact amount of 'drag' should you need to.

So I think this capability would also have solved your problem - although I cannot claim to have fully mastered it myself quite yet.

Regards,

IanT

That's even betterer, thanks. Here's where I'm up to, I've also done the crosshead. No wonder I don't make progress with the metalwork!

That's looking very good Duncan.

Regards,

IanT

Edited By IanT on 19/04/2022 22:00:08

Congratulations! No idea why the 3D-print is wonky. My Creality Ender-Pro "just works" with the default settiings, and I've never had to fiddle with it. Just as well - there are a lot of them. Cura seems pretty good at generating a reasonably strong internal honeycomb too.

Those staggered spokes,are slightly harder to do than straight ones, so award yourself a small prize. Reminded me of something FreeCAD struggled with in earlier versions, which now seems fixed. S-shaped spokes as used on cast-iron pulley wheels to prevent cracking as the casting cooled.

Dave

Thanks Dave!

The staggered spokes are an error.. (feature.?)

I'm currently trying to get then straight!

The method of drawing it was fairly easy...

1) Sketch the side on profile

2) revolve around Z axis

3) Drill hole in centre

4) Sketch one segment, and make the hole

5) tell the program to repeat 6 times...

Alan