Trying to edit an imported step file

[John-Amos]

Hi everyone, I am pretty new to using alibre. I imported this step file from grabcad and I am trying to make it shorter/longer but I cannot figure out how to do it. After googling and looking at videos where push/pull is mentioned I still cannot seem to shorten/lengthen anything since those videos are so old. Can someone show me how to shorten and lengthen this coupling please.

I am already having tons of headaches with assembly.

Thanks

 

[DavidJ]

There's something odd about those 'fillets' at ends of the nut. 'Remove Face' on those fillets would usually leave a 'squared off' end (which could then be pushed/pulled) - but with that file it leaves holes in the model.

It might well be faster to just take some measurements from the file and then re-model at your desired length.

 

[stepalibre]

Hello @John-Amos here's an approach to this type of problem:


Everything can be parameterized. This approach is very useful for more complex models, but the concept is flexible.

 

[stepalibre]

Mcmaster might have your size unless this is custom:

McMaster-Carr

McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.

www.mcmaster.com

McMaster-Carr

McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.

www.mcmaster.com

They have CAD files:

 

[Stu3d]

I saved the step as an Alibre part then tried an extrude cut to remove one end, use Move Face to alter the length, Save As the part at different lengths and then do a Boolean Unite. The result had faces missing so there maybe something odd about the step?
Not sure if you have Boolean, ideally the version of Alibre you are using would be in your signature.

 

[stepalibre]

I saved the step as an Alibre part then tried an extrude cut to remove one end, use Move Face to alter the length, Save As the part at different lengths and then do a Boolean Unite. The result had faces missing so there maybe something odd about the step?
Not sure if you have Boolean, ideally the version of Alibre you are using would be in your signature.
View attachment 41498

Can you share the files?

 

[Stu3d]

No problem

 

[stepalibre]

@Stu3d Design Booleans might be overkill for this, but it depends. Did you try my file? You can shorten or lengthen with that setup.

 

[Stu3d]

@Stu3d Design Booleans might be overkill for this, but it depends. Did you try my file? You can shorten or lengthen with that setup.

I realise Booleans totally overkill for this simple part but doing things like this help me learn.
I just altered the length of the Coupling Nut part and the result seems to be fine, strange.
Edit: I didn't try your method but will have a play, all knowledge is good

 

[MilesH]

There's something odd about those 'fillets' at ends of the nut. 'Remove Face' on those fillets would usually leave a 'squared off' end (which could then be pushed/pulled) - but with that file it leaves holes in the model.

It might well be faster to just take some measurements from the file and then re-model at your desired length.

This worked for me, David. It doesn't regenerate with a squared off end until you move the face, though.

 

[MilesH]

Extended

 

[stepalibre]

I realise Booleans totally overkill for this simple part but doing things like this help me learn.
I just altered the length of the Coupling Nut part and the result seems to be fine, strange.

Yes the files worked here too. You can use Design Booleans with my approach, they will both do the job.

 

[DavidJ]

This worked for me, David. It doesn't regenerate with a squared off end until you move the face, though.

Thanks Miles - I tried again, had to drag a bit to extend before I could drag to shrink length.

[EDIT - even an F5 regenerate did the trick]

 

[John-Amos]

Thanks for the help guys, I think I am going to stick with the easiest approach for now until I gain more experience and that will possibly be McMaster.

 

[stepalibre]

For reference I added configs for the shorten and lengthen setups:

 

[Stu3d]

Did you try my file? You can shorten or lengthen with that setup.

When I altered dimensions D6 or D9 in your part it altered the distance between the two ends but I get the idea.
I projected a sketch figure on one of the flat faces and did Extrude Boss to Geometry. Now adjusting dimension D6 in equation editor alters the length of the nut. It works backwards as in a bigger D6 makes length shorter.

 

[John-Amos]

I just got stuck again. Unfortunately I cannot remodel every file then assemble, I am just trying to make a simple assembly to see how something fits and the measurements. I downloaded this file from McMaster and I cannot see any functions to stretch the file. I don't see any push/pull or I am just not looking in the right place.

What are the exact steps to push and pull the file? I am going to need that a lot because I have to do the same with ballscrews etc.


Thanks
V27

 

[stepalibre]

When I altered dimensions D6 or D9 in your part it altered the distance between the two ends but I get the idea.
I projected a sketch figure on one of the flat faces and did Extrude Boss to Geometry. Now adjusting dimension D6 in equation editor alters the length of the nut. It works backwards as in a bigger D6 makes length shorter.

Thanks! I didn't check all the cases. The concept is what I intended.

 

[stepalibre]

I just got stuck again. Unfortunately I cannot remodel every file then assemble, I am just trying to make a simple assembly to see how something fits and the measurements. I downloaded this file from McMaster and I cannot see any functions to stretch the file. I don't see any push/pull or I am just not looking in the right place.

What are the exact steps to push and pull the file? I am going to need that a lot because I have to do the same with ballscrews etc.


Thanks
V27

Using a generic representation won't work to understand the fit instead of using a highly detailed version of the models?

 

[John-Amos]

The couplings have to be m6x30mm and m6x40mm, I cannot find the exact size so I have to work with what I find. That means resizing to the correct length, and this will also apply to ballscrews since I have to have a certain length also. This way when I assemble I can see how everything fits and where I am lacking.