Alibre has a scripting language based on Python, so it is likely possible to make a thread generator; unfortunately you would have to upgrade to pro for the scripting language. I would also assume you could add or edit the items you mentioned, it would be a bit disheartening if they added a scripting section that you cannot use to edit their built in functions. Also, in case you did not know, you do not need to edit the sketch in onshape to extrude, you just need to click the little crossed out eye to show and select the areas you would like to extrude before or after clicking shift+E to access the extrude function. I think I will try out Alibre though, thanks for shining a light on it.
Have you visited and or joined the Alibre forum? I think everything you mentioned in your video has been submitted as enhancement requests by others on the forum. Also if you post a link to your video in the Feedback it is likely that someone at Alibre would see it and that may give more import to those desired features. And don't forget the Alibre RUclips channel Joseph has already created a series of training videos for Atom3D and is adding more all the time. You may find them helpful if you haven't seen them already.
yes i am new to 3d and new to alibre but its the software i am using< so i have not yet learned how to start a new part using a previous part as reference, so i am drawing in different planes and holping i will be able to some how separate them maybe by deleting planes??? if anybody can help or direct me to a video that i can create new parts in reference to previous part (so they can be a perfect fit) i would appreciate but importing stl would salve this issue (like i said i just started learning 35 days ago, sorry if i sound ignorant on the subject)
Hey man! Really cool video and thanks for the shout out. I will have to agree with everything there... Except the multiple parts. Actually, I don't like the way Onshape handles that. I would prefer the approach of every other CAD which is different bodies within parts. And that would also mean more body management tools in Alibre. In Pro and Expert, where there is direct modeling available, you can delete one lump, that's what Alibre calls bodies, or the other. Then you can create 2 different configurations with either lump removed. That's the workflow for that in Pro and Expert. In Atom, you'd have 2 extrudes and handle that through configurations as well. Suppressing one or the other. You can even have a master sketch, and project it for each extrude while making one circle into a reference figure. But I have to agree with you, these changes would make Alibre a much heavier hitter than it is now.
@ExMachinaEngineering being able to select and export different bodies separately would definitely be nice, and that's moreso what I was getting at. I actually noticed that the threads addon in OnShape seems to use a method almost exactly like yours, but it handles it in the background. The code for the addon is visible, and it clearly grabs information from some kind of reference document, which would be the equivalent of the part library. My techy brain wonders if the code for this OnShape tool could be modified to work with Alibre. I'm not sure I'm following when you mention having 2 extrudes and suppressing one or the other, maybe it's something you should do an Atom work-around video on! But yes, the whole video is really just the things I think would make Alibre an even better option, especially for the new and fast-growing hobbyist market.
@@WeekdayWeekend Oh for sure you can script my method as a standalone tool. NateLiquidGravity coded an entire weldments tool add-on for Alibre! My threading method is trivial in comparison. You can definitely select a surface and grab information from it in script. And Alibre can even be scripted in Python. Actually, scripting is massively powerful in Alibre. Again, cool video.
Can you script in Alibre Atom? I reached out to Alibre, and they said No. Any luck installing the Excel add on for Alibre Atom? I had no luck so far. @@ExMachinaEngineering
@WeekdayWeekend I am also saving up the pro version, your first video you did finding a cad that works for you made me try and then eventually purchase atom3d. im saving for pro for these features that @ExMachinaEngineering are talking about, also love your content to sir! big help to the alibre community. Thank you both!
I just bought this cad program since they other tools keep changing and making it harder to keep using as a hobbyist. The first example you can make happen by using multiple sketches then you extruded cylinders are separate parts. The box example is how i am used to it from fusion 360 which while I do like that work flow better I can use the projected sketches to do what I need. while not as elegant it does work.
Well done. People need to see this video before buying Alibre. When I saw that Alibre Design Pro had a thread library, I just assumed this was real, 3d modeled threads (like other CAD software) and bought the product. Oh was I wrong. Frankly, I feel that the Alibre website marketing info is misleading about this topic. Regardless, I've been waiting years for them to add 3d modeled threads. I do not believe it has made it to their short list. I know it is not scheduled for the next release.
OnShape costs $1500 per year. Their free version does not allow commercial use, and I've even seen them consider videos about OnShape to be commercial use. Also, I'm not too big on software as a service or cloud based software anymore. If servers go down, or the company goes bust, all my work and money is lost. It may seem like that could never happen, but it happens in video games all the time. I have a whole video about my complete thoughts, called "The CAD software no one is talking about."
@@JohnHoranzy DesignSpark can make 3D threads manually as it always could. DesignSpark Creator and Engineer has cosmetic threads with tabular dialogue providing min max diameters based on standards - used in conjunction with the constraint sketcher, min max diameters can be entered into the constraint sketcher ( acting as 2D parametric sketcher ) accurate thread profiles can be generated along with min ,max and effective thread surfaces for pull operations - but the caveat is you must understand how to make such 2D constraint sketches. A layout sketch can be saved or imported to be used repeatedly.
Your just really whinging...you want CAD your way at your price...with all these additional features it's impossible for you to cherry pick what you want for your price. It's not possible for each CAD company not to strategically offer tiered levels of functionality - if they have a 'must have feature', it's very likely that it will be in their top tier product. That's what all companies do worldwide isn't it. Attempting to get agreeing comments from the video viewers will have no impact on Alibre as all it does is underscore what they've done is correct in their view. If their best functionality can be found elsewhere cheaper, then buy that software.
You're going way too deep into it. I was really just saying, "man it'd be cool to have these features huh?" And besides, Alibre is by far the cheapest option even with their highest tier since it's a one time cost. Not having those features isn't a huge deal, and I'm pretty sure a few of those features are coming to the next version of Alibre anyway.
These seperations costs a lot of money in developement. Why not having one product and sell it to companies for a higher price. The software is already done, its there, why not make hobbyists happy. Make it 100% more expensive for commercial use if a private person and thats it. As a hobbyist I have no interest in paying $100 for a software that can hardly create a cube and I have to do 100 workarounds for every part. It does not make sense to sell a car to a private person if he is not able to drive around with it. If it is a good software, it get cracked anyway, so they do not make an money at all.
@@M_B_80 You said ' If it's good software, it get cracked anyway, so they do not make an money at all' and that's exactly why companies have their programs that only online open with licences - so cracked software pirates and their co conspirators don't put them and their employees and their future advances out of business and on the street. If you can't afford something, you can't have it and you either go without or buy something next best.
Check the privacy policy, they don't sell your information. Any free trial will ask those things of you to make sure you're not abusing the trial system. Thanks for commenting.
Check the description for links to everyone I mentioned in this video!
Alibre has a scripting language based on Python, so it is likely possible to make a thread generator; unfortunately you would have to upgrade to pro for the scripting language. I would also assume you could add or edit the items you mentioned, it would be a bit disheartening if they added a scripting section that you cannot use to edit their built in functions. Also, in case you did not know, you do not need to edit the sketch in onshape to extrude, you just need to click the little crossed out eye to show and select the areas you would like to extrude before or after clicking shift+E to access the extrude function. I think I will try out Alibre though, thanks for shining a light on it.
Thanks for the help!
Have you visited and or joined the Alibre forum? I think everything you mentioned in your video has been submitted as enhancement requests by others on the forum. Also if you post a link to your video in the Feedback it is likely that someone at Alibre would see it and that may give more import to those desired features.
And don't forget the Alibre RUclips channel Joseph has already created a series of training videos for Atom3D and is adding more all the time. You may find them helpful if you haven't seen them already.
Yes, thank you! I haven't linked my video yet but I know that Alibre is aware of this video
They are pretty basic functions and should be part of the standard package.
They also need to import stl files
yes i am new to 3d and new to alibre but its the software i am using< so i have not yet learned how to start a new part using a previous part as reference, so i am drawing in different planes and holping i will be able to some how separate them maybe by deleting planes??? if anybody can help or direct me to a video that i can create new parts in reference to previous part (so they can be a perfect fit) i would appreciate but importing stl would salve this issue (like i said i just started learning 35 days ago, sorry if i sound ignorant on the subject)
Hey man! Really cool video and thanks for the shout out. I will have to agree with everything there... Except the multiple parts. Actually, I don't like the way Onshape handles that. I would prefer the approach of every other CAD which is different bodies within parts. And that would also mean more body management tools in Alibre. In Pro and Expert, where there is direct modeling available, you can delete one lump, that's what Alibre calls bodies, or the other. Then you can create 2 different configurations with either lump removed. That's the workflow for that in Pro and Expert.
In Atom, you'd have 2 extrudes and handle that through configurations as well. Suppressing one or the other. You can even have a master sketch, and project it for each extrude while making one circle into a reference figure.
But I have to agree with you, these changes would make Alibre a much heavier hitter than it is now.
@ExMachinaEngineering being able to select and export different bodies separately would definitely be nice, and that's moreso what I was getting at.
I actually noticed that the threads addon in OnShape seems to use a method almost exactly like yours, but it handles it in the background. The code for the addon is visible, and it clearly grabs information from some kind of reference document, which would be the equivalent of the part library. My techy brain wonders if the code for this OnShape tool could be modified to work with Alibre.
I'm not sure I'm following when you mention having 2 extrudes and suppressing one or the other, maybe it's something you should do an Atom work-around video on!
But yes, the whole video is really just the things I think would make Alibre an even better option, especially for the new and fast-growing hobbyist market.
@@WeekdayWeekend Oh for sure you can script my method as a standalone tool. NateLiquidGravity coded an entire weldments tool add-on for Alibre! My threading method is trivial in comparison. You can definitely select a surface and grab information from it in script. And Alibre can even be scripted in Python. Actually, scripting is massively powerful in Alibre.
Again, cool video.
@ExMachinaEngineering Yet another reason I'm saving up for Pro! Thanks for the comments!
Can you script in Alibre Atom? I reached out to Alibre, and they said No. Any luck installing the Excel add on for Alibre Atom? I had no luck so far. @@ExMachinaEngineering
@WeekdayWeekend I am also saving up the pro version, your first video you did finding a cad that works for you made me try and then eventually purchase atom3d. im saving for pro for these features that @ExMachinaEngineering are talking about, also love your content to sir! big help to the alibre community. Thank you both!
thanks for the video these upgrades would be very helpful, I hope alibre takes this video in consideration on their next update. well done
Number 3 and number 5 being optional for me, but I too would love to see these features implemented. Great points you made.
I just bought this cad program since they other tools keep changing and making it harder to keep using as a hobbyist.
The first example you can make happen by using multiple sketches then you extruded cylinders are separate parts.
The box example is how i am used to it from fusion 360 which while I do like that work flow better I can use the projected sketches to do what I need. while not as elegant it does work.
Well done. People need to see this video before buying Alibre. When I saw that Alibre Design Pro had a thread library, I just assumed this was real, 3d modeled threads (like other CAD software) and bought the product. Oh was I wrong. Frankly, I feel that the Alibre website marketing info is misleading about this topic. Regardless, I've been waiting years for them to add 3d modeled threads. I do not believe it has made it to their short list. I know it is not scheduled for the next release.
There is a really good video by Ex Machina Engineering on getting parametric threads in Alibre.
But you're right, it can be a bit misleading.
Why not just use onshape?
Or even plasticity or designspark mechanical?
OnShape costs $1500 per year. Their free version does not allow commercial use, and I've even seen them consider videos about OnShape to be commercial use. Also, I'm not too big on software as a service or cloud based software anymore. If servers go down, or the company goes bust, all my work and money is lost. It may seem like that could never happen, but it happens in video games all the time. I have a whole video about my complete thoughts, called "The CAD software no one is talking about."
Design Spark now only has Cosmetic Threads.
@@JohnHoranzy DesignSpark can make 3D threads manually as it always could. DesignSpark Creator and Engineer has cosmetic threads with tabular dialogue providing min max diameters based on standards - used in conjunction with the constraint sketcher, min max diameters can be entered into the constraint sketcher ( acting as 2D parametric sketcher ) accurate thread profiles can be generated along with min ,max and effective thread surfaces for pull operations - but the caveat is you must understand how to make such 2D constraint sketches. A layout sketch can be saved or imported to be used repeatedly.
Excellent and well thought out video.
@@mattspawn1975 that's a very kind compliment, thank you
I wish there was a way to swap the y and z axis.
I feel like there is because my Z is the vertical axis.
Even with Alibre Atom, they want 100.00 per year for a function or two already working in the $1000+ version. You cannot catch up.
Atom is not $100 per year. You can get an optional update package, but Alibre doesn't charge a recurring fee.
Your just really whinging...you want CAD your way at your price...with all these additional features it's impossible for you to cherry pick what you want for your price. It's not possible for each CAD company not to strategically offer tiered levels of functionality - if they have a 'must have feature', it's very likely that it will be in their top tier product. That's what all companies do worldwide isn't it. Attempting to get agreeing comments from the video viewers will have no impact on Alibre as all it does is underscore what they've done is correct in their view. If their best functionality can be found elsewhere cheaper, then buy that software.
You're going way too deep into it.
I was really just saying, "man it'd be cool to have these features huh?"
And besides, Alibre is by far the cheapest option even with their highest tier since it's a one time cost.
Not having those features isn't a huge deal, and I'm pretty sure a few of those features are coming to the next version of Alibre anyway.
These seperations costs a lot of money in developement. Why not having one product and sell it to companies for a higher price. The software is already done, its there, why not make hobbyists happy. Make it 100% more expensive for commercial use if a private person and thats it. As a hobbyist I have no interest in paying $100 for a software that can hardly create a cube and I have to do 100 workarounds for every part. It does not make sense to sell a car to a private person if he is not able to drive around with it. If it is a good software, it get cracked anyway, so they do not make an money at all.
@@M_B_80 You said ' If it's good software, it get cracked anyway, so they do not make an money at all' and that's exactly why companies have their programs that only online open with licences - so cracked software pirates and their co conspirators don't put them and their employees and their future advances out of business and on the street. If you can't afford something, you can't have it and you either go without or buy something next best.
No thanks.
Alibre want me to register.
So its not free.
Its costing me my name and my email address.
Check the privacy policy, they don't sell your information. Any free trial will ask those things of you to make sure you're not abusing the trial system.
Thanks for commenting.