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Tips and Tricks:

NateLiquidGravity

Alibre Super User
Making a Box Appear Solid.

How to make a box appear solid so when you close the lid it does not fall through the base but stops at the top face of the base. Method can be used to limit rotation for other models too. The rotating edge could also be an axis or a point.

See original thread here:
Thread
Example model explanation:
index.php
 
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MilesH

Alibre Super User
Macro to set new Center of Rotation

Use the following macro to set a new Rotation Point :

[Pick new rotation point (Vertex or Ref. Point)] Ctrl R | Alt R | Alt A | 1 | Enter | Esc

To return to Centre of Volume:

Ctrl R | Alt R | Esc

If you have a Space Navigator, you can set these macros on the Left and Right buttons :D
 

rhjiv

Member
INSERT PLANE on HELICAL BOSS END

The basic idea here is to allow a plane to remain associated to the normal of the terminating end of a helical boss (afterall, it does move around)
While it may seem straightforward, It doesn't seem to be generally known but it's possible to Insert a Plane by selecting an Axis and a circular edge normal to it.
The Plane will align with the Axis and pass through the centre point of the circle defining the edge.

See http://alibre.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=8702 for a blow by blow with example

Thanks to MilesH for the prompting
 

DavidJ

Administrator
Staff member
"Pack & Go" capability

This came up elsewhere and it was suggested to post to tips & tricks - it isn't my own idea, I'm sure I picked it up from the forum some time ago.

If the drawing file of an assembly is saved as an Alibre stp file, it will contain the assembly and all parts & BOMs.

This can be a simple way to transfer a project to a customer or to another PC.

It is probably easiest/most effective if there is a single drawing file (which may have many pages).
 

HaroldL

Alibre Super User
Selecting an Axis for Symetical Sketch Constraint

Have you ever created a sketch that you wanted to make symmetric and you couldn't seem to find the axis in the workspace? An easy solution is to select the axis from the Design Explorer. Just mouse over the axes until the appropriate one highlights in the workspace then just left click to select it. You can then go back to the workspace to select the sketch entities you want to be symmetric.

This is especially helpful when you have a model that is cluttered with a lot of features that make it almost impossible to see the axes in the workspace.

HaroldL
v11.1
 
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Ralf

Alibre Super User
Insert -> Surfaces -> SAT :D

With my example, I would like to draw attention to SAT surfaces.
It is a very powerful feature, also for the creation of a framework ... very applicable.

.
 

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Adding a hole at an existing reference

If you want to add a hole on an existing plane coinciding with an existing reference,
- clicking the reference (e.g. the origin) generally selects the wrong plane,
- clicking the plane will add a node at an undesired position, so after hitting the hole button the hole appears at the wrong location and can not be dragged to the desired place. To get it right the defining sketch has to be edited after completing the hole.

The solution is:

- select the desired face by clicking in the model
- in the faces section of the design explorer click on the face that highlights blue
- now hitting the hole button enters the 2d-sketch mode without the undesired node and also pops-up the insert hole dialog
- clicking the desired location adds a preview of the hole
- modify the hole parameters and hit OK to finish.
 

HaroldL

Alibre Super User
Creating a mitered flange in sheet metal

To miter flat flanges on sheet metal:
Instead of manually editing the flange sketches to remove constraints and adding dimensions which you can set to the angle you need, you can have Alibre create the angle dimensions for you. Then all you need to do is edit the dimensions.

In the Flange Creation dialog, select the Match Taper option in the Leg parameters. The flange will be created with 90 degree dimensions at each end of the flange. Edit the flange sketch, then edit the angle to what your design requires. In this example the flange end angle is 135 degrees. I also found that it is better to apply Closed Corners on the previous flanges first to get a closed seam between the miters, at least in this example.

This also works on outside flanges with the exception that there is a gap between the mitered ends.
 

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Hobelman

Member
Increase Display Speed Trick

Speed up the display of big models without sacrifying quality:

- Change the Circular Facets (File > Properties > Display tab). Just changing by one number is enough, click Apply and Close.
- Then switch on Display Acceleration and switch it off again.
 

NateLiquidGravity

Alibre Super User
Useful Equations

Here are useful equations to use in your designs.

Check if a count is even
Returns 1 (True) if even or 0 (False) if odd. Create IS_EVEN_PARAMETER as a count parameter and supply it the count parameter you want to check.
If you want something to occur only if it's even then multiply it by IS_EVEN_PARAMETER
Code:
IS_EVEN_PARAMETER = frac( abs(COUNT_PARAMETER) / 2 ) *-2 +1
.
Check if a count is odd
Returns 1 (True) if odd or 0 (False) if even. Create IS_ODD_PARAMETER as a count parameter and supply it the count parameter you want to check.
If you want something to occur only if it's odd then multiply it by IS_ODD_PARAMETER
Code:
IS_ODD_PARAMETER = frac( abs(COUNT_PARAMETER) / 2 ) *2
.
.
!!! Also the equation editor freaks out if you go somewhere around 10 digits. Do not attempt this!!!
 
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Jack_n

New Member
Driven Cable-Carrier (Energy Chain)

Hi,

i made an example how to use a driven Cable-Carrier.

You can move it by pulling / pushing the upper chain-segment.

Have Fun

Joachim
 

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oldfox

Alibre Super User
Perfect alignment constraints for all 3 corners of a fabricated triangle from bars.

Problem:
Align final (3rd) corner bolt holes in diagonal bracing. (simplest method I have found)

Solution:
Also see attached.

1. Use "Align" constraint to constrain the holes in 3 bars. (2 constrains) This leaves the third set of holes as the problem.
Make sure that the 2 non-diagonal bars are constrained for proper angular relationship. (e.g. 90 degrees)
If you try to measure the distance between each of the remaining holes and input it for the
distance of the final "diagonal" piece hole, it WON'T work. (more than likely)

So, do this...

2. With first 2 bars constrained at their proper angular relationship, use the "measurement tool". Measure the diagonal distance
(open side of the triangle) and COPY the number that is automatically entered in the tool dialog. This should be the center-center
distance of the diagonal distance.

3. The final align will need the last hole spaced from it's counterpart on the other end of the 3rd bar. At this point there's only one
hole in the bar.To do this, draw a line perpendicular to the bar through the center of the hole. Offset that line to the other end
of the bar for the location of the second and final hole. In the dialog for offset distance, PASTE the number you copied in step 2.
That is the distance for the final hole. Don't forget, this could be either the C-C or it could be the inside measurement between
the two holes, depending on how you measured. If it isn't C-C, then ADD (Hole1Diameter + Hole2Diameter / 2) to the pasted
number.

4. Mark the final hole and drill it.

5. Now align the remaining two holes, closing the triangle. (if it starts flopping around, just anchor one of the non-diagonal bars)

DONE

This isn't the only method to accomplish the above task. So use whatever works for you in your own area of endeavor.
Give this one a try. It really is easy and it works.

If any of this is unclear, please ask specific questions and I will give you a specific answer.
 

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HaroldL

Alibre Super User
Louvers in Alibre Expert Sheet Metal

Here is a "warts and all" video describing the creation of louvers in Alibre Sheet Metal. One method is by using the Dimple Tool described by @Ralf some time ago, another method is by using a Boolean Unite feature. I placed a corresponding Louver part uploaded to the Resources section.



It seems to me that it may be that users of Alibre Pro, which doesn't have sheet metal, may be designing components that simulate sheet metal and would benefit from the same Boolean feature as sheet metal. Here's a short addendum video for Pro users demonstrating the insertion of louvers using the same louver Boolean tool.

 
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