MadModder
The Breakroom => The Water Cooler => Topic started by: CrewCab on August 15, 2009, 11:03:16 AM
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Copy of a post by John Stevenson over on HMEM, I don't think he's put it on here so I've taken the liberty in case anyone is interested. ..............
Just a heads up, they are having a one off special sale and selling the full standard package which should be $999 for $99.00
No not a typo ninety nine US dollars.
Bought it last night and it's not crippled in any way.
Go to top of the page at http://www.alibre.com
John S.
Thanks John, at that price it's a bargain.
CC
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When I looked it says that's the US and Canadian price only?
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It's downloaded and on mi' hard drive Nick and I stated UK in my address :thumbup:
Try this link (http://www.alibre.com/99/defaultx.asp)
Scroll down a little to the $99 offer and click "Buy Now" at the right hand side ............. once you go through all the checkout procedure your then directed to a download site, you can pay extra for it on CD but I've just made a backup.
CC
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Thanks CC for posting this, and thanks too to John Stevenson :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: I just bought it and am in the process of downloading it.
What a great deal, $99 works out at the moment as about £60.00, that's gotta be well worth it.
Tim
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I've been using a fairly antiquated version of AutocadLT for a long time and it's served me well, but I'd been considering a 3D package, ...........
I know Crap-O-Cad is dam good ................. (http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b28/CrewCab53/Smileys/16sphersup.gif) ............
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b28/CrewCab53/Smileys/whistle.gif) but .............. like you say Tim at this price it's well worth having.
This morning the first download failed, but I immediately tried the alternative ftp server and it downloaded fine :thumbup:
Mr Stephenson ................ :beer: ............... thank you
CC
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I have never used this program before so I am downloading the trial, and if it plays nicely with autocad I will give it a go, at £60 can't really go far wrong
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Add another satisfied customer. I had the trail for a few day and just paid the sale price about and hour ago. I think it's a heck of a deal.
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I've played with it in the past...and now I've taken the plunge and have a seat all to my self :thumbup:
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Cheers CC, will try. The link I got when I clicked buy now it asked me to log in - I have an account since I've got the free version. At that point it asked me to contact my local reseller. Will try your link. For circa £60 it's an unbelievable deal!
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I can't believe how fast I am picking this program up. I have tried lots of them in the past and never got as far as I have with this one. I find the tutorials and online modules very helpful and it works great. I have printed out the online modules to pdf's and keep them next to me as I follow along. The 3d model for my D1-4 chuck receiver is coming along nicely and after I finish the disk brake rotor module I should have learned enough to finish it.
Later.
Bob
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Just ordered / downloaded it also! By the looks of my bank balance it's worked out at £62.78 ... what a bargain! Can't wait until tonight when wife and kids are in bed, I'll install the thing and try to create something!
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3d model for my D1-4 chuck receiver is coming along nicely
Any chance you could make a D1-3 version of the design? I'd like to make one from my lathe chucks. I assume it's just a matter of dimensions.
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Hi guys, just had a mess around with my $99 Alibre standard and have to say, what a bargain. If you produce drawings of your own and currently don't have CAD software, look no further ... it's superb. I modelled an oscillating engine a while back on the free version. I was able to produce the parts before but not mate them together in 1 assembly. I was also limited with functionality when doing the 2D drawing. Tonight I quickly assembled all the parts and published the 3D model as a PDF (see attachment) which is really useful. When I click on the engine in Adobe Reader I can manipulate it, spin it around, select different views, backgrounds, zoom in and out, change to wire frame etc. I'm not sure if anybody can now do that to the PDF or it's just because I have some sort of alibre plug in? If you're considering CAD, it's well worth a look.
Nick
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Nick that is amaising..... :clap:
I was supprised just how much you can manipulate stuff in PDF...
I have used AutoCad quite a bit, but only ever in 2D and never progressed into 3D. It just went way over my head.
Can I ask, would Alibre be easier for a novice,I'm totally self taught and still quite limited but my drawings were good enough for the CNC guys to work with. Some machines just read the CAD drawing and got on with it. No doubt with a little help from the programmer I assume. But all the real info was on the drawings.
Would someone like me find Alibre easier to continue learning with?
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Would someone like me find Alibre easier to continue learning with?
The answer is yes!
Eric
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Darren,
Definitely. Once you get the concept of creating the 3D parts first then letting the computer generate 2D drawings from that geometry, it's so easy to go back and change things. I've said before, I've used Pro Engineer and we use Unigraphics at work but Alibre is much more intuitive than those.
Quick example, for the engine shown in the PDF I must have dropped a boo boo last time I revised the parts. When I assembled it together last night I noticed the piston was sticking out of the top of the cylinder slightly when at TDC. My immediate thought was that I'd designed the con rod too short. So I flipped to a view from the back (cyldinder side) of the engine, set the crank to bottom dead centre (if you constrain the parts properly in an assembly you can actually turn the assembly over as you would in real life). Then I surpressed the cylinder so I could see the innards, at which point I could confirm with the measuring tool that I had indeed drawn the con rod too short. I measured from the bottom of the piston to the cylinder cover and it was 3/32", not the 1/32" I had intended. Set it back to TDC and it's sticking out 1/16", therefore I've made the connecting rod 1/16" too short. So went into the con rod part, extend the middle section by 1/16". If you have the settings right, the 2D drawing automatically updates as does the assembly. Job done!
With 2D CAD a boo boo like this isn't likely to be found until you have made and assembled the parts together!
If you're thinking about it, don't, just go for it at this price, you definitely won't regret it. I can't see this price lasting too long.
Nick
ps can feel my :proj: getting stronger. My next project was supposed to be an electric loco, then a flame gulper, then an ic engine. My 3 year old keeps hassling to get my 3 1/2" gauge Mabel up and running though and a 4 1/2" scale simplicity roller! I keep thinking of other engines to make though, this is not good, at this rate nothing will get done! :doh: Sorry :offtopic:
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incidentally, the PDF won't load up properly in Adobe v 6 at work. It only shows the bottom of the engine and no manipulation. A warning message comes up saying it was created with functionality that this version of acrobat doesn't support. :doh: Can't remember what version I have at home. Presume it worked ok for you Darren?
Cheers,
Nick
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Yes worked perfectly, using Adobe 9.1...
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Great :ddb: So it's just because we're so far behind the times here at work then!
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I have paid my $99 as I was impressed with the trial, I see it as a complimentary application to autocad as I can draw 2d much faster in autocad and it is very easy to copy it over and work on it.
Has anybody bought the $49 exercise book ?
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I might spring for it after I finish all the tutorials and modules if I still think I know more. I am going to print out the pdf this weekend so I have that in hard copy.
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BTW here is a link to the online modules I have been doing incase someone hasn't found these yet.
http://webservices.alibre.com/OnlineTutorials/adtutorial.htm
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BTW here is a link to the online modules I have been doing incase someone hasn't found these yet.
http://webservices.alibre.com/OnlineTutorials/adtutorial.htm
thanks for that I can look at on the other computer while I am doing the tutorial
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Never been able to do this stuff...... Always had to ask others..... Never got very far with that either!! :poke:
Some of you guys sure do know lots of mad stuff!!!
Ralph.
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Never been able to do this stuff...... Always had to ask others..... Never got very far with that either!!
I'm probably not the most reliable one to ask...
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I posted this offer on another board but wanted the members here to see it also.
I will be happy to try to help out when I get home this evening. The easiest way for us to get this done would be using voice with Skype and a program called Team Viewer. Doing it this way will allow me to see your screen in real time and the voice on Skype will allow me talk you through it. If your interested in doing this let me know and we will set up the programs on your PC. I spent several hours with Circlip on Sunday with is method.
Here is the link to Team Viewer:
www.TeamViewer.com
Here is the link to Skype:
http://www.skype.com/
PS, this goes for any of the memebers that need help that I maybe able to give. I am a newbie also but I am willing to pass on what I have learned so far.
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Well I just made my 1st part in Alibre that I will actually make in real life. I know it isn't much ,just a flywheel, but it feels good to produce a finished design. Now if only I can turn and mill it out to look like the drawing :lol:
Tim
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Good stuff Tim. I find it good designing your own parts as you are usually thinking about how you are going to machine it whilst designing it. Your flywheel is good. I stopped putting fillets and chamfers on my models as couldn't be bothered specifying it all on the drawings!
I guess the danger with software like Alibre is after a few hours of learning, anyone can throw fantastic looking assemblies together without a clue how to actually make the bits! I've seen people doing it on other forums, chucking stuff together and creating drawings without the intention of making it themselves to see if it's actually possible!
Nick
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Thanks Nick :thumbup: I've already turned the outside shape, all I have to do is turn the recess each side, drill the 3 holes and then drill and tap the fixing screw hole.
Hopefully the real thing will resemble the virtual one :D
Tim
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Tim, nice job. The pdf creator is kewl.
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Am sure it will Tim, you'll be designing your own engines next! I quite enjoy doing these simple little engines, it's satisfying to see them go from concept to a set of drawings and a working engine that actually resembles the drawing!
However, another part of me just thinks, don't re-invent the wheel and just use somebody elses design because time spent on the computer could be time in the workshop!
Bit of a trade off I suppose!
Nick
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time spent on the computer could be time in the workshop!
Bit of a trade off I suppose!
Nick
that is a very valid point, I find I spend too much time faffing about with drawings when I could just have knocked up the part with a sketch :bang:
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I find I spend too much time faffing about with drawings when I could just have knocked up the part with a sketch
Enter Boggo industries C-o-C version 2.8 :lol:
It's been around for many years and seems to work just fine :thumbup:
:)
Ralph.
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That is so true. I've used C-o-C plenty of times before but it's just nice to have a proper record of what you've done sometimes and have the facility to assemble things virtually in 3D before you do it for real!
Nick