I've come across Dynamo a couple of times --- I guess the big question here is how do you wire it up to drive Alibre?
You can connect to Alibre (any software) by:
- API (python, ironpython, c#, vb, f#)
- Data (csv, txt, xlsx)
- You could use Dynamo only for calculations and update design parameters manually.
- It can be used only for Python scripting with Alibre's API or by csv files.
- Excel and Alibre could be connected from Dynamo to make automated workflows.
- AlibreScript and Dynamo can talk
- Dynamo includes a command line version that can do things in the background.
Here are two graphs that are command line tools for processing Alibre sketch entities for testing.
View attachment b.png
View attachment c.png
I save sketch information to text files:
This is being using in Rhino/Grasshopper for the same purposes.
If you want to make your own ChatGPT, OpenAI tools it helps to work in text formats.
Type: AD_CIRCULAR_ARC
Radius: 1.1495
StartPoint_X: -13.4289
StartPoint_Y: -6.1937
StartPoint: -13.4289,-6.1937
CenterPoint_X: -13.4074
CenterPoint_Y: -7.3429
CenterPoint: -13.4074,-7.3429
EndPoint_X: -12.9871
EndPoint_Y: -8.4128
EndPoint: -12.9871,-8.4128
Length_Computed: 4.01989595273131
Circumference_Computed: 7.22243142976004
Angle_Computed: 3.49712578544082
AngleDegrees_Computed: 200.370547932132
StartAngle_Computed: 0
StartAngleDegrees_Computed: 0
EndAngle_Computed: 3.49712578544082
EndAngleDegrees_Computed: 200.370547932132
Diameter_Computed: 2.29897132637715
Degree_Computed: 2
IsArc_Computed: True
IsCircle_Computed: False
IsClosable_Computed: False
IsEllipse_Computed: True
PointAt(0)_Computed: -12.2578702183582,-7.34294966392448,0
PointAt(0.5)_Computed: -12.364910702114,-6.858568266931,0
PointAt(1)_Computed: -12.6660968631387,-6.46439838055811,0
PointAtStart_Computed: -12.2578702183582,0,0
PointAtEnd_Computed: -14.4849539115144,-7.74307436409429,0
IsPeriodic: False
IncludedAngle: 3.49712578544082
IsRightHandRule: True
Parent_Sketch_Name: Sketch<1>
Part_Name: simple-test-model
A_Dynamo_Computed_Arc.StartAngle: 91.071803
A_Dynamo_Computed_Arc.CenterPoint: -13.407400,-7.342900,0.000000
A_Dynamo_Computed_Arc.SweepAngle: 200.375105
A_Dynamo_Computed_Arc.Radius: 1.149401
A_Dynamo_Computed_Curve.IsClosed: false
A_Dynamo_Computed_Curve.StartParameter: 0.000000
A_Dynamo_Computed_Curve.EndParameter: 1.000000
A_Dynamo_Computed_Curve.Length: 4.019692
A_Dynamo_Computed_Curve.StartPoint: -13.428900,-6.193700,0.000000
A_Dynamo_Computed_Curve.EndPoint: -12.987134,-8.412713,0.000000
A_Dynamo_Computed_Curve.Normal: 0.000000,0.000000,1.000000
A_Dynamo_Computed_MidPoint: -14.534679,-7.567321,0.000000
A_Dynamo_Computed_Vector.Length: 1.000000
A_Dynamo_Computed_Color: Red
B_Dynamo_Computed_Arc.StartAngle: 291.446908
B_Dynamo_Computed_Arc.CenterPoint: -13.407400,-7.342900,0.000000
B_Dynamo_Computed_Arc.SweepAngle: 159.624895
B_Dynamo_Computed_Arc.Radius: 1.149495
B_Dynamo_Computed_Curve.IsClosed: false
B_Dynamo_Computed_Curve.StartParameter: 0.000000
B_Dynamo_Computed_Curve.EndParameter: 1.000000
B_Dynamo_Computed_Curve.Length: 3.202469
B_Dynamo_Computed_Curve.StartPoint: -12.987100,-8.412800,0.000000
B_Dynamo_Computed_Curve.EndPoint: -13.428902,-6.193606,0.000000
B_Dynamo_Computed_Curve.Normal: 0.000000,0.000000,1.000000
B_Dynamo_Computed_MidPoint: -12.280029,-7.118461,0.000000
B_Dynamo_Computed_Vector.Length: 1.000000
B_Dynamo_Computed_Color: Blue
My solution is a more simplified Alibre API to make everything easier for me. Dynamo is not the only software I want to use with Alibre. Making a simplified way to interact with Alibre is a challenging task. I need to understand how things work in more detail and try things out as I go. This year, I started working Alibre into a more daily workflow.
Next month I'll start a walkthrough with more info on ways to connect Alibre and Dynamo.