Alibre Design Suggestions
Welcome to the official Alibre feedback forum. Here you can suggest ideas and vote on existing ones. This helps us to hear what you want so we can implement the features that our users most care about.
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Global Reference Data as an Improvement to Top-Down Modeling
Alibre Design as of version 2012 lacks the capability to create, access and protect global, or project-level reference information. For many design situations and in multiple fields such capability is critical to accepted, effective design methods. Global references are also highly parametric since geometry, features, parts, assemblies and sub-assemblies may be constructed based on, and linked to, that higher-level global information. Changes made at the global level will automatically be reflected throughout the geometry, sketches, parts, assemblies and sub-assemblies or drawings of a project. Conflicts and changes necessitated from global changes will be evident from the usual messages and warnings… more
7 votes -
1 vote
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Stop the random rotation when editing a sketch.
I notice that when I start editing a sketch, Alibre always seems to take it upon itself to rotate the sketch to some bizarre orientation (e.g., Z axis pointing down, sideways, etc.) It's always different from the rotation the model was in when you started editing. This is annoying as hell, since the first editing step is to rotate back to something reasonable.
I'm thinking it should either (a) keep the same overall orientation as the model as much as possible when editing sketch mode, or, better, (b) remember the orientation in use last time you edited the sketch and… more
1 vote -
Exploded views for 3D presentation in PDF.
Enable exploded views to be published in PDF. Customers may need to rotate them during presentation.
1 vote -
Italian language
It's March and was released Alibre 2012 sp2, can you insert in the next update the Italian language.
Thanks
9 votes -
Correct the 2D drawing format sizes
I imagine most users that need to customize the drawing formats just create their own.
For those that use the default templates I have found that the ANSI A -E formats are the wrong size.
I checked the formats by exploding the format symbols and dimensioning the outside borders and found the following:
A-size should be 8.5 x 11.0, checks 8.0 x 10.5
B-size should be 11.0 X 17.0, checks 10.0 x 16.0.
C-size should be 17.0 x 22.0. checks 16.0 x 21.
D-size should be 22.0 x 34.0, checks 21.0 x 32.5
E-size should be 34.0 x 44.0, checks… more1 vote -
Equation Editor should sort dimensions and angles alphanumerically AND chronologically at the same time!
When I sort variables in the Equation Editor it sorts them alphanumerically. This means d10 sorts before d2, even though d2 was created first.
There is a simple fix!!!
use d001, d002, d003, etc. for the dimension naming I don't know anyone who will have more than 999 dimensions for a single part!
Even better would be to have the default names for dimensions and angles START with a number followed by a character, such as:
001A
002A
...
001D
002D
...2 votes -
"Save All As" should include 2D drawings and Parts lists
The Save All As feature does not include 2D drawings and Parts Lists. If this is not an error, then at least make it an option. It would resemble the "Copy with reference" function found elsewhere. Would save a lot of time when using an assembly as the basis for the next project, where perhaps only a few parts need to be changed.
7 votes -
2D drawings - Make it possible to end dimension extension lines at edge of part
Currently, dimension lines always terminate at the feature being dimensioned. For complex parts with many features, all of these extension lines clutter the drawing terribly. It would be very nice if we had a handle at the end of the extension line (like in AutoCAD) that we could drag back to the edge of the part. The dimension should still be attached to the feature, but allow the extension line to visibly end at the part edge.This would be much better than having 3 drawings to reduce the clutter - otherwise you can't see the part for the extension lines!
3 votes -
In context right click configuration selection
On assembly, when you select a part and right click you can change configuration, without travel to browser menu.
3 votes -
Smart setting for dimension arrrow direction not so smart
It would be nice if the Smart setting for dimension arrow placement would actually work. Now it doesn't seem to recognize when the text and arrows are too close to the extension lines and flip the arrows to the outside.
1 vote -
combine the color properties window with the color window.
It's too time consuming to open one window in order to open another window. Please combine the 2 so the color properties window will show the color picker as well with the color opacity and reflectivity.
1 vote -
Assembly flexibility even when linear patterns are used
At the moment an assembly cannot be made flexible if there are patterned componets inside it. Would like to see this change.
1 vote -
Make "Selection Filter" easier to use
When selecting something in a dialouge selection box, for instance the "Project to Sketch" feature - add a few radio buttons for fast access to filtering edges, surfaces or both.
Today is't quite clumsy and the filter selection is sometimes reset for each new selection.
1 vote -
1 vote
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1 vote
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The option to make multiple bodies in a single part enviroment
I would like to request the option to make multiple bodies in a single part then in a drawing have the option of selecting which body I want to show.
1 vote -
Assembly variables that individual parts can reference
It would be great to have assembly level variables that all the parts within the assembly could reference. This would allow me to change a variable within the assembly and have all the parts update. Essentially, have the equation editor displace local AND assembly/subassembly varialbles.
The alternative: to constrain parts realtive to assembly planes or other parts causes too many errors when surfaces and parts change and is VERY cumbersome when working with many assembly/subassembly levels that change.
Another alternative: To use Excel for the Global variables requires intensive file management and if the referenced cell changes in Excel then… more
1 vote -
Use the Windows API for the save function
The navigation is cumbersome with the Alibre "save as" and "save all as" functions. I have to click through the long file structure every time I have a version change.
1 vote -
Weldments
Please add weldment functionality to Alibre! This would be incredibly useful to anyone modeling frames e.g. welded steel car frames and rc plane balsa fuselage truss structures.
1 vote
