Release: Frame Builder V2_5_1

[NateLiquidGravity]

Frame Builder V2.5.1 Release
Current Release Info Link
Please give it a try and then come back here and let me know what you think.

[Old Post Below]






I'm working in my spare time on a frame builder for Alibre Design. To those who saw my earlier post - I had hoped to be done a while ago - so my apologies that it's taking so long. I've got parts of it done and am trying to sew it all together into a more streamlined tool. There are many limitations I've run into in Alibre Script and the Alibre API that require creative workarounds that take time. If you are interested in beta testing it and giving me feedback please send me a private message.

 

[NateLiquidGravity]

A picture is worth a 1000 words.



100% created and mitered with the Frame Builder.

 

[DavidJ]

Nate, I can see this will be very useful for some - not sure I'll have much use myself (but you never know...).

I can see you have AISC profiles, do you have, or would it be easy for others to adapt for profiles to other standards ?

 

[jfleming]

That looks amazing. I utilize a lot of 80/20 aluminum extrusion and something like this would be super beneficial

 

[NateLiquidGravity]

I can see you have AISC profiles, do you have, or would it be easy for others to adapt for profiles to other standards ?

I've made it super easy to customize. Profile Templates for this are single extrusion Alibre Part files in user made Windows folder structure.
In the case of the image for testing I have sorted some AISC profiles (from @Lew_Merrick ) into folders.

Much more detail will be available in the help pdf.

 

[DavidJ]

Sounds good - looking forward to learning more.

 

[NateLiquidGravity]

Here is an example showing the major steps for creating a frame and their output. This is not the only way but a good one. Keep in mind that at this time the Frame Builder parts do not update to changes and will have to be manually fixed or re-created.

Frame Step1:
Create a ghost part in the assembly with the size and shape of the frame to build. - make the frame the way you want it first.

Frame Step2:
Create the parts 'By Edges' and use the edges of the ghost part. This automatically gets the length and constrains the frame parts to the ghost part.

Frame Step3:
Miter, Trim/Extend, or Cope frame parts together. For Miter and Cope the two parts must be coplanar (based on center of bounding box) but not parallel. It assumes the parts are located ( even if not constrained) where wanted and does not change their position. It extends or trims them to their actual or apparent intersection.

Note if the constraints fail simply edit the ghost part and "Regenerate All Features" or press Ctrl + Shift + F5 to force all parts in the assembly to "Regenerate All Features for All Parts".

 

[idslk]

Hello Nate,
is it possible to create a "table" out of the parts in this post?
Regards
Stefan

 

[NateLiquidGravity]

Ok, I see the problem now. That is a sketch shape object. AFAIK AlibreScript doesn't have support for sketch shapes and a few other sketch objects yet.
I'll convert to lines and arcs and upload my table results.

 

[NateLiquidGravity]

This took a bit to get right. I had a hard time finding the right look for the legs because they stuck out at every angle.



I made the legs with an X-Offset of 0.327" without an Alignment Face and then manually align constrained them to the angle of the miter cut. If there was no reason for each part to be unique then I could have done a circular array too.

EDIT: My assembly was in inches.

 

[idslk]

Hello Nate,
thank you for testing it. Looks interesting.
I can not open the assembly due to missing parts...
I've opened the part and saw you've added a second sketch to the profile, is that neccessary?
The octagon is made with the frame tool and the legs are done manually?
Regards
Stefan

 

[NateLiquidGravity]

I can not open the assembly due to missing parts...

Sorry I meant to attach the package file not the assembly file. I'll fix when back home.

 

[NateLiquidGravity]

I've opened the part and saw you've added a second sketch to the profile, is that neccessary?

I added the second sketch in case I wanted to use copes later. A cope is kinda like a Boolean subtract and I wanted to remove the center area. It's not strictly required.

The octagon is made with the frame tool and the legs are done manually?

The manual align could be done with the Frame Builder if there were faces to select those directions for orientation. The base ghost part could be adapted to make this frame much easier. I'll make an example.

 

[idslk]

A cope is kinda like a Boolean subtract

like this?

Regards
Stefan

 

[NateLiquidGravity]

like this?
View attachment 29389
Regards
Stefan

Eventually I'd like to get there but right now the cope "tool" goes completely thru the part being coped.

 

[NateLiquidGravity]

Check this one out.
As I said earlier the amount of parts could be reduced and circular arrayed if unique parts were not necessary.

 

[idslk]

Hello Nate,
i see, you changed the ghost part. What's the reason for this?
Regards
Stefan

 

[NateLiquidGravity]

Hello Nate,
i see, you changed the ghost part. What's the reason for this?
Regards
Stefan

The manual align could be done with the Frame Builder if there were faces to select those directions for orientation. The base ghost part could be adapted to make this frame much easier. I'll make an example.

 

[idslk]

Hello Nate,
in your second post you have an cylindrical tube frame example.
The miters are looking like:

Am i correct?

If yes, is the following also possible with frame maker?


Regards
Stefan

 

[NateLiquidGravity]

Hello Nate,
in your second post you have an cylindrical tube frame example.
The miters are looking like:
View attachment 29396

Am i correct?

That is correct. Follow 3 piece miter instructions.

If yes, is the following also possible with frame maker?
View attachment 29397

Regards
Stefan

Not currently possible. That would be the same problem and answer as a previous question - just different tube shapes. https://www.alibreforum.com/forum/index.php?threads/frame-builder.21412/#post-139023