Suggestions for new features

[duaneohall]

I'm not sure this is where this should go, but if not, hopefully the moderator will put it where is should be.
There are 2 things I would like to see added to Alibre:
1. Add the ability to do gears. Frankly, I'm really surprised that this capability isn't there, but it's not. We should be able in a sketch to select a circle (for a round gear) or line (for a rack), then the type of gear (Involute, ACME, Square, Buttresss,...), then the pitch. Some are relatively straightforward to create, but Involute definitely doesn't fit into that category. I was demonstrating Alibre for my boss and ran across this limitation, which pretty much ended the demo.
2. this is minor, but put a link to the help somewhere in the Alibre panel or ribbon. Currently you have to know it's there or just press F1 and hope that it works like other windows apps. Again, not a major item but definitely makes Alibre different that most windows applications.

 

[HaroldL]

You're right. Are you aware of the Gear script? It only creates one type of gear and you need to access it through the Script ribbon and it only creates one type of gear, although I suppose others could be scripted, maybe.

 

[DavidJ]

Help can be accessed through the Explore Tab of the Home Window, from the blue & white question mark symbol at extreme right just above Ribbon in all workspaces, from question mark in all dialogues, from Help on menu bar, or from F1.

 

[bolsover]

I'm not sure this is where this should go, but if not, hopefully the moderator will put it where is should be.
There are 2 things I would like to see added to Alibre:
1. Add the ability to do gears. Frankly, I'm really surprised that this capability isn't there, but it's not. We should be able in a sketch to select a circle (for a round gear) or line (for a rack), then the type of gear (Involute, ACME, Square, Buttresss,...), then the pitch. Some are relatively straightforward to create, but Involute definitely doesn't fit into that category. I was demonstrating Alibre for my boss and ran across this limitation, which pretty much ended the demo.
2. this is minor, but put a link to the help somewhere in the Alibre panel or ribbon. Currently you have to know it's there or just press F1 and hope that it works like other windows apps. Again, not a major item but definitely makes Alibre different that most windows applications.

Gears can be tricky - and there are sooo many different gear forms. As others have said, there is an involute gear generator built into Alibre.
Alibre scripting does allow you to develop your own custom routines for specialised gears.
If you look here Cycloidal Gears, you'll find a script I prepared to develop cycloidal gears (difficult gears to develop manually!!)

DB

 

[Andy]

Not so much a new feature but an improvement none the less. When creating a series of holes the reference features are not available to help position them. By setting them in a random position and then going back to edit the holes the reference features are then active.

It would be good not to have to use the workaround.

 

[HaroldL]

Not so much a new feature but an improvement none the less. When creating a series of holes the reference features are not available to help position them. By setting them in a random position and then going back to edit the holes the reference features are then active.

It would be good not to have to use the workaround.

See if this helps:

ApplyingDimsWithinHoleTool.mp4

Shared from Screencast.com

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[Mika]

Master sketches…create multiple components with using same one sketch. If you edit the master sketch, all parts will change. If you have used Fusion360 at any, you’ll understand what I mean.

 

[Andy]

See if this helps:

ApplyingDimsWithinHoleTool.mp4

Shared from Screencast.com

www.screencast.com

Thanks for that Harold, however, it hasn't quite covered what I was referring to, I don't think I have explained it properly. This video below will explain better:

Placing holes.mp4

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[HaroldL]

Andy, I see what the issue is that you are concerned about. Here's a short video that may help out when you need to constrain holes about the central axis of a part. And I included another method of using Reference geometry for the same, if that's what you want to continue doing.

ApplyingConstraintsAndDimsToHoleLocs.mp4

Shared from Screencast.com

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Even with these workflows it would still be nice, as you suggested, if Reference geometry was available from within the hole tool.

 

[Andy]

Andy, I see what the issue is that you are concerned about. Here's a short video that may help out when you need to constrain holes about the central axis of a part. And I included another method of using Reference geometry for the same, if that's what you want to continue doing.

ApplyingConstraintsAndDimsToHoleLocs.mp4

Shared from Screencast.com

www.screencast.com

Hi Harold, thanks so much for taking the time out to help, the two hole demo was just a way to show that 'features' are not available when placing holes unless you go back to edit the sketch as you did in the last method. Incidentally, your method with the single feature line was much a cleaner way of doing it than in my demo. Thanks again.

 

[albie0803]

Try setting a hole position at a set angle, its impossible without a reference line.

 

[Mika]

...and in addition to master sketches, possibility to extrude multiple features from same one sketch with selecting the area from "Master Sketch" to what to extrude. Other lines no need to be construction lines.

 

[Andy]

Generate actual screw threads rather than just a visual representation so they are formed when 3D printing. We drop Alibre parts into Fusion just to do that rather than go to the aggravation of forming helicals.

 

[pottersfriend]

Adjustable size planes. Similar to what SolidWorks has would be nice. When creating planes in Alibre they tend to be about the size of the object and get lost easily if you have many planes to deal with. Possibly have the name visible as well.