How to make a plane at an angle

Garryp4 · Dec 28, 2023

Please look at the assembly drawing as then my question should be obvious. The part Optic Holder will be screwed to the can wall with three screws. The shown hole was easy as it is simply perpendicular to the can wall. However, the other two holes will need to be at an angle so the screw heads are flush with the inside wall of the can. I can not figure out how to get a plane at the angle to draw a screw hole in.

Thanks

HaroldL · Dec 28, 2023

You need to create and upload a package of the drawing, assembly, and part. With your assembly drawing open go to File>Package>Create. That will pull everything together in a package file.

Garryp4 · Dec 28, 2023

I did not know that was a thing. Tks.

HaroldL · Dec 29, 2023

I had to redo this video to explain the steps taken to get the holes aligned normal to the surface of the can. The previous one had a error in my method, this one I think is better for the screw hole alignment.

Aligned Axes for Hole Pattern.mp4

Shared from Screencast.com

www.screencast.com

EDIT: check my latest video below for additional steps for creating the holes on the surface.

As another solution, have you thought of having a concave washer on the inside so all the screw holes are straight?
Which level of Alibre do you have?

Exploded view

Assembled view

HaroldL · Dec 29, 2023

After giving this some more thought I recorded this video showing two methods for creating the circular hole pattern on the curved surfaces.
It should be noted that for Atom 3D, while I didn't create new holes on the small stub part, the method shown on the large tube part can be duplicated for the stub.

gwbruce · Dec 29, 2023

@HaroldL great video. I learned a few things. Thanks for posting.

Garryp4 · Dec 31, 2023

I have Atom 3D.

Garryp4 · Jan 2, 2024

Harold:

At 13:29 in the video you select "Insert Point From Sketch". I can't seem to find that option in Atom 3D.

HaroldL · Jan 2, 2024

As far as I know you should have that tool available in Atom 3D. Although I can find nothing in the Help manual that specifically explains Insert Point From Sketch.

If you select Insert Point outside of a sketch you will be presented with a different workflow and dialog.
You must be editing or creating a sketch for this particular function to work. While the sketch is active check on the Sketch Ribbon for the Insert Point icon:

And also from the Sketch Menu (if you have them active):

Another thing you can try is to either convert the reference line from the arc node that is tangent to the cylinder to the origin or create it as construction geometry (solid line). Then, while still in the sketch, select menu Insert>Plane. It will create a plane on the line and give you the option to move it along the line. Move it to a position that at the end of the line tangent to the cylinder. Once you have that plane inserted exit the sketch and start the sketch for the hole on the new plane. There will be a Black dot at the origin of the plane where you should place the sketch for the hole thru the cylinder wall.

Articles

help.alibre.com

NateLiquidGravity · Jan 2, 2024

Menus are only available in Alibre Design Professional and Alibre Design Expert. I'm not sure if Sketch > Insert Point is or not.

Garryp4 · Jan 5, 2024

Looks like I'm $550 away from a solution...

Ken226 · Jan 5, 2024

If I understand your question, your trying to create a plane tangent to the cylinder, at an angle to the default plane?

Like this?

When you use the "insert plane" tool, you will either need to turn on sketch visibility so you can select the radial, or you can simply select the appropriate sketch from the design explorer.

My video is just a video version of the method that Harold described in the last paragraph of his last post. Hopefully he didn't charge you 550$

HaroldL · Jan 5, 2024

Ken226 said:
My video is just a video version of the method that Harold described in the last paragraph of his last post. Hopefully he didn't charge you 550$

All my advise is free.

Garryp4 · Jan 5, 2024

Thanks for the reply!

The $550 is the cost to upgrade from Atom. Harold was most helpful. I must not have explained what I am trying to do very well. I am making the small part that will screw onto the tube, but can not figure out how to make two screw holes that are not perpendicular. Is there a way to extend the radial line onto the smaller part? Since I could not figure out how, I went with Harolds suggestion of a concave washer. I am back and forth which is the better idea.

HaroldL · Jan 5, 2024

If you use the same method to create a sketch pattern on the small part as on the large tube. Then "wrap" the hole positions to the curved surface as I show in the video and create the reference sketches and planes. Then create the holes on those planes and they should align between the two parts. Just be sure to create the planes for the holes in the tube on the outside surface.
If you want or need, I can create another video for you showing the procedure. Let me know.

Ken226 · Jan 5, 2024

I'm not doing anything else at the moment.

Keep in mind, im moving through it kinda fast and not taking time to measure, align, dimension, etc. When you create these features on your own part, you will have to work out the geometries, angles, locations, etc. To make sure everything aligns. I think that in the assembly environment, this may be easier if you constrain the parts into the actual final positions relative to one another.

Garryp4 · Jan 5, 2024

I don't seem to have the 'project to sketch' feature in Atom. A search in the search bar comes up with nothing. There does not seem to be any references between the different parts when one is 'active'.

Ken226 · Jan 5, 2024

In your sketch ribbon, it isn't there?

The help shows it in the user interface.unless that is a mistake. But, I seem to remember it being there, when I had Atom.

And the documentation doesn't indicate it is absent from Atom.