What can Alibre Design do?

[Clement]

The SketchUp thread got locked.
Anyway, it seems to have been implied that Alibre Designs files can be CNC'd. Is that true? Or did I read something incorrectly? What about Blender?
BTW, can someone explain how a CNC lathe work?
Please, no arguing. It doesn't help too much...

[yoyofactoryben]

Mr Google says... http://www.cncci.com/resources/articles/what%20is%20cnc.htm

[da5id]

There's CAD (Computer Assisted Design) and CAM (Computer Assisted Manufacturing).

Most of these apps are CAD and some also include a CAM component that will convert a 3d drawing (CAD) into numerical code (a series of XY coordinates) that tell the CNC machine how to move in order to create the part (cut the material).

[Clement]

David, are you saying that Alibre is CNC-able when you said:

Most of these apps are CAD and some also include a CAM component that will convert a 3d drawing (CAD) into numerical code (a series of XY coordinates) that tell the CNC machine how to move in order to create the part (cut the material).

I've been told SketchUp can't handle CNC.
What about Blender, then? I assume not.
As such, I'd like to try Alibre in the case that I want to try making a yoyo someday.
It is to be noticed that these are all free.
In any case, how does the CNC machine handle different types of shapes of material, or is there a set size?

[da5id]

I'm not commenting on any particular software package.  Just giving the general description of the two different functions.

[gregmilliken]

Hi Clement,

I believe I am acting in accordance with the forum insofar as your specific question was about what Alibre Design can do.

Yes, files from Alibre Design are precise and can be "CNC'd".  There are many ways to get this done, but generally you will need another application that generates NC toolpaths from the precise 3D model.

Sorry if this is too rudimentary, but this is known as CAM software as mentioned above.  CAM software is typically categorized according to the type of machining it supports, i.e., milling, turning/lathe, wire EDM, water jet cutters, routers, etc.  These machines also support various degrees of controlling the cutter motion which is characterized by the axes or directions of motion, i.e., 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5-axis support.  These applications basically take the 3D model and generate motion paths or toolpaths that instruct the CNC machine how to move the tool.  These toolpaths are basicaly just collections of machine instructions commonly known as G and M-codes which are interpreted by the machine to start cutting here and move to here, or pickup the tool and move to this location and so on.

These processes are typically known as subtractive manufacturing, as material is being removed from the part as it is machined.  There are also other additive manufacuring technologies usually referred to as rapid prorotyping and/or 3D printing.  These applications create a model by building up material layer by laer with a variety of different techniques.  The cool part about these processes is that you typically don't need any additional software between the CAD model and the machine.  You just out put a certain format called STL which many CAD systems support including Alibre Design and the machine can make the part directly.  Companies that make machines to do this include Stratasys, 3D Systems, Z Corporation.  There are also services you can use that allow you to just upload your part and get it back in the mail. These include Red Eye and Quickparts.

I'll wrap it up lest I be considered to be straying too far from yoyos, but then again all this can be considered as a very basic primer on software that can be used to design and manufacture a yoyo.

-Greg 

[BPL]

just curious, how do you find this site?

[ggiles]

Guys ... as a professional CADD designer / Supervisor for a automotive manufacturing facility, I work with alot of CAD products.
VERY high end stuff ... $40000 per seat (I-Deas, UniGraphics Nx, CATIA V4 & V5)

CNC lathes and mills can take a big variety of CAD output files.  Your best results will always be a native format from the CAD software.  (I.E. if you are using CATIA the CNC uses the native .CatPart file type)  Now don't think you just take the file and some how the machine magically spits out a part for you.  The file has to go through some sort of CAD/CAM software that produces the correct programing code that then goes to the lathe.  Most mid-high end Cad packages have a CAD/CAM plugin that does this.  You design the part then move it into the the plugin and out put the code.

Otherwise you use a seperate CAD/CAM package to do this which requires you to import in the origninal design.
Usually in the form of a .stp or .iges ... and most packages can even use a 2D AutoCad file.  .stl files are mainly used for rapid prototypes (stereolithography for plastic parts) and are poor substiitues for machining since the model surface when outputed is pixelated and quite rough requiring lots of finishing to get smooth.

If anyone wants a yoyo designed in 3D send me a PM on what you want and I'll design it up and output a .stp file for them.
Just for the hell of it.  What you do with it then is up to you .....

Hey ... maybe it's time for a yoyonation yoyo, designed by the nation for the nation ............... maybe we should start a new topic for this...

[fobeeguy]

It's nice for Alibre to care about their product enough to come in and explain their products. 

Just to give you a little background, I'm an electrical engineer by trade with no mechanical background, so I can't really say much about these softwares.

Last year, my coworker used Google Sketchup to show a basic representation on one of the rack we have, then a couple of months later I got into yoyoing.  Being an engineer in heart, I wanted to make my own stuff.  I used Google Sketchup for my first few designs, which was horrible because the interface doesn't show accurate dimension and can't show nice curves.

I went on Google to search for some other free "CAD" tools.  One of the site suggested Alibre Design and that's how I got hooked.  One of the nice thing of Alibre is the support that it has.  I started to design my first yoyo by using the instruction for making a bowl shown in Instructable.com.  Then I wanted to add side engraving like the Pyro, so I went on Alibre's forum, and gotten everything I need. 

Hey remember people, there's a free version.  Just try it.  At least it's good practice before going in too deep. 

[Nathan]

Holy crap, someone else uses I-DEAS

[ggiles]

Yup!  But probably for only another year or so.  It was the main design software for Ford but they are working on switching to Catia V5.
All components 2008+ are Catia.  GM uses UniGraphics NX and Chrlyser uses Catia ... Toyota as well.

[Nathan]

Yeah, figured you had something to do with Ford from that statement.  I work for the last I-DEAS holdout.  Theoretically we're going to switch to Unigraphics NX at some point but I'm not holding my breath.