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Frame Generators

cadtec

cadtec

Senior Member
Hello Nate, your frame generator is interesting. Are the individual profile sections stored in an assembly? (The question goes in the direction of BOM.) Best regards, André
 
NateLiquidGravity

NateLiquidGravity

Alibre Super User
cadtec said:
Hello Nate, your frame generator is interesting. Are the individual profile sections stored in an assembly? (The question goes in the direction of BOM.) Best regards, André
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Each profile is created as a new part added to the assembly. Eventually I will add in the ability to export a material list.
 
Ydl

Ydl

Member
robdavis said:


Framing is definitely part of the 10% of functionality that Alibre doesn’t need.
As a trial and comparison I modelled the RHS frame that was developed in the SW demonstration in a bit over 30 minutes in Alibre as an assembly and that included mitred connections and 8 gussets. The burden of learning and using ‘framing’ often enough to remember it out weighs the plusses in my opinion.
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Couldn't disagree more. It was one of a handful of features that ruled it out of procurement for the last company I worked for. I now just tinker with 3D design, and I miss it every now and then.
 
cadtec

cadtec

Senior Member
If you need it then it is a big relief provided it is well programmed and has a good workflow.
With our other CAD programs, the frame module is a driving force when it comes to selling licenses.
 
Mika

Mika

Senior Member
Is there any Frame Generator tool in develelopment by Alibre itself. No scripts, real tool just like sheet metal.
 
NateLiquidGravity

NateLiquidGravity

Alibre Super User
Mika said:
Is there any Frame Generator tool in develelopment by Alibre itself. No scripts, real tool just like sheet metal.
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I've talked to Alibre about this Frame Builder being included with the Alibre Design install. At that time I asked them a similar question and the response was something like they had no intention to make a frame builder themselves. If Alibre changes their mind I'm willing to work on a built in version.
 
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Mika

Mika

Senior Member
I hope they will change their mind soon. All the other noteworthy cad systems have this already, even the other affordable priced ones like ZW3D.

If they will not do any major improvements, Alibre will stay on the shadows. Polisihing the UI is not enough.
 
simonb65

simonb65

Alibre Super User
How many users would use a frame builder tool? Would it be a big enough body of users for it to be a feature that makes it into the product before other long standing requests? Not being negative, just trying to widen the debate and personally understand the pull for a frame builder as it seems quite specialised to me.
 
HaroldL

HaroldL

Alibre Super User
simonb65 said:
just trying to widen the debate and personally understand the pull for a frame builder as it seems quite specialised to me.
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To me it is the same as the frame/weldment feature in SolidWorks. It is useful for those involved in machine design/building. I've only used the one in SW once for a training tutorial. But when you need it, it can be a real time saver.

Mika said:
How many users use sheet metal?
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Probably more than you think but maybe not enough to warrant a serious effort to add functionality to the sheet metal module. Just look how long it took to get the mitered flange and adjustable weld gap.

If these are all the people on the development team I don't think there are enough to implement all the enhancements that are requested on a short development cycle. They are probably already pushed to the limit and Kudos to them for their efforts.
 
DavidJ

DavidJ

Administrator
Staff member
That photo is from a European reseller meeting. Includes some from Alibre head office.
 
Mika

Mika

Senior Member
One point why I originally asked this in file saving and organizing thread was that the frame generators also creates so much less files. One file can include multiple bodies of different kind of standard structural steel bars welded together. All of those small "flatbar" pieces no need a separate file and file number. Softwares like SW, it creates just a "cutlist" of those part bodies, not BOM list of files.
 
NateLiquidGravity

NateLiquidGravity

Alibre Super User
Mika said:
One point why I originally asked this in file saving and organizing thread was that the frame generators also creates so much less files. One file can include multiple bodies of different kind of standard structural steel bars welded together. All of those small "flatbar" pieces no need a separate file and file number. Softwares like SW, it creates just a "cutlist" of those part bodies, not BOM list of files.
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NONE of the Alibre Design tools currently allow multibody parts. That would probably require a full redesign of Alibre Design - which I think is unlikely.
 
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