Alibre Xpress problem

[randyf1965]

I am going thru the tutorials and started drawing some of the easy parts of the JGRO router (adj blocks large and small) but having a problem drawing the gantry sides.... I can't get back to the 2d dimensioned drawing... I have extruded the part after drawing all the holes for the pipe and threaded rod. I am trying to make the pattern of holes around the upper and lower adjustment holes.

What I was trying to do was get back so I could center the hole on the x/y axis and center the pattern there ... Unless there is a way to mark the center of the hole to use as a center point . Also the middle hole for the threaded rod is not centered (can't move it either!) Is there a Idiot's guide or 3d cad for dummies book???

In the attached jpg the lower hole I tried a linear pattern on the upper hole but didn't seem to work for the holes on the other side.

It appears my issue is after extruding the part... can I switch back to a 2d flat drawing again?

[tjones]

This is actually very easy.
On the right side you should see the design explorer. It is the list of features in the drawing. If you do not see the list then turn it on by going to the menu View>design explorer.

Now you should see a set of features. These features are in order they are created. The Features list also has a + or a - beside it that would hide or show what is in the list. Down the feature list you will see hole1, hole2, hole3, etc. If you right click a feature in the cad drawing you will get an option to Show Feature in explorer. Right click the hole you wish to edit and select Show in explorer.

The sketch under one of the holes will highlight. Right click that sketch in the explorer list and select edit.

You will get a sketch with the center point of the hole/holes. The holes will not be shown just the points. Use your dimension tool under the sketch icons to dimension from the datum to the hole center. Change the dimension to what you would like it to be in both direction.

DONE!

[tjones]

BTW:

The guide you requested is called tutorials. The home window that is always open while running alibre has a list of tutorials. It has step by step instructions on doing most things like hole creation.

[randyf1965]

I am designing a part that has several larger >1" hole that need to have 4 bolt hole spaced around them. I modeled a part with 1 hole with 4 bolt holes around it by using the orgin as the center of the part (and large hole) BUT how can I set a point in the center of a hole to use as the center of a pattern?

[tjones]

I am not really sure I understand what you are wanting to do but I will give a few brief descriptions of point placing.

1) Place point by coodrinate entry. Use the Direct coordinate enrty box to type the coodinates.

2) Place point and move using constraint or dimension. Any sketch can have a point placed and then moved by either measuring tool or the constraining tool. Contraints can be circle centers.

3) Place point based on existing feature. Make sure your inspection icons are available (if not then turn on by right clicking on any empty area of the title bar and checking inspection). Click the insert point icon on the inspection icon row (not the sketch row) and select any feature snap position.

[tjones]

Maybe this is what you are wanting.

Using part features as reference in new sketch.

A feature (hole,edge,radius,etc.) can be used as a reference in a different sketch by using the dimension tool. The dimension tool is only available after drawing something in sketch mode. However if you wish to use an existing feature as a reference or snap then use the dimension tool to dimension the feature and it will then be available for reference (snaps,offsets,constraints)in the current sketch.

[randyf1965]

In grey part the hole at the top needs to have the same bolt pattern around it. The botton hole I manually placed the bolt holes.

In the other part I centered the part on the x/y axis and used the x/y as the center point. But don't see how to place a point that I can use once I click on the pattern tool, any point I place disappears.

[tjones]

To pattern using the pattern tool in the feature menu you will need to insert an axis to the hole you wish to pattern around. This feature tool is a 3D feature and can not be determined by a simple point.

To do this select the insert axis icon from the inspection row of icons. Select the hole you wish to use as the axis center and click OK.

[cadfish]

I have a problem, my computer only shows a blank screen where you draw. I click on new part and it still comes up with a Dull Gray color, when I try to draw a Rectangle I clich to start but when I click to end the Rectangle Nothing shows up, I should have all of the other required software up to date. Any suggestions will be apreciated.
Thanx
Cadfish

[tjones]

This sounds like a graphics issue. Related problems occur with graphics card and older graphics drivers.

[cadfish]

Its a 2 year old computer

[ger21]

Try updating the video card drivers if you can. That's most likely the problem.