Basic Surfacing Features
I understand that Alibre Design is not a free-form surface modeler or an industrial design package, but basic surfacing features allow mechanical designers to create parts built by processes other than machining, like plastic molding or forging.
Many complex shapes or distortions capable with molds or forgings can not be modeled with purely prismatic solid features. They need to be sculpted by surfaces, such as having a bi-directional crown where the radius in the U-direction is different than in the V-direction.
I would like to see surface features that mimic the existing solid features: extrude, sweep, & loft. The usual array of surface editing features is also needed: stitch, trim, & extend. And of course you need to have surface evaluation features: zebra stripes & curvature combs.
Scott Wertel
shared this idea
Available in Alibre Design 2012
6 comments
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Gerardo Hernandez
commented
I used autocad for several years before purchasing alibre and feel that
surface drawing are essential to designing complex parts. -
Duane Bailey
commented
Surface features is one of the key needs that I have since I deal with the design of forging tooling. When I purchased Alibre I was aware of the lack of this feature but as I work with it more I have found that surfacing would make my jobs so much easier. The options I have would be to purchase solidworks.
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ChiknNutz
commented
Absolutely, I didn't know it was missing until I went to try and use those features :-) Having used higher -end products such as Unigraphics and Catia, it's standard in the work I've done. Granted, I use Alibre for just my own "home" modeling, but would like to see it become a real competitor to some of these bloated and overpriced products.
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dppmfg
commented
Absolutely this is the only reason i still miss solidworks
split a solid part into two new parts with a simple surface how beautiful -
Aytac
commented
Yes, none of the Cad programs with hybrid modeller offer free-form surfacing tools but they provide basic commands like boundary, sweep /drive contour, trim&extend as discussed above.
Surface commands are very useful when making molds and dies. You can easily get the part's outer or inner surfaces to make electrodes for the edm for example. Otherwise, you have to prepare some parts and make boolean subtracts. The worst part is that you have to "fill in the blanks" of the part before you do the boolean subtract to get the simple surface of the electrode.
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Mark Landsaat
commented
This is something I can totally get behind. Just to clarify things. I'm not looking to get free-from surfacing features from Alibre, but a set of parametric surfacing features would be very welcome.
On top of existing solid features I would like to see a "fill" feature that allows you to close gaps between surfaces. And a "boundary" feature. This would be like a loft in two directions. One set of edges in the U direction and one set of edges in the V direction.
