3D cad learning

[bobh]

I’m having a terrible time learning Alibre CAD and I’m thinking I need a very simple CAD program to learn the work flow and thought process of 3D work. I have 2 strikes against me, 20 years of autocad 2D habits to overcome and I’m 64 so learning is quite a bit harder. I’d like to use my MAC to learn on. Anyone have any suggestions? Bob. 

[Dave Otto]

There are at least a few of us here that use Alibre, what are you struggling with, maybe we can help?
Have you gone through any of the tutorials?

Dave

[Jasonb]

Ask away here or on ME forum as there are quite a few of us there who use it and one of the Alibre staff is on hand to help too.

[CI]

I learned Solidworks in 2012, and I was a long-time 2D Autocad user.
I thought that since I knew Autocad so well, then learning 3D modeling would be much easier.
Boy was I wrong.

I struggled with SW for I guess a year.
One problem was that there were no tutorials for designing model engines, and so no good examples that were close to what I needed to do.

Another problem was coming up with some sort of algorithm in my head as far as what it was I was suppose to be doing, and how I was suppose to be doing it.
Drawing with pencil and paper is easy.
Drawing on a computer in 2D mimics what is done with pencil and paper.
Modeling something in 3D has some unique analogies.

I will start a tutorial here, for those who want to learn 3D modeling.
During the year when I was trying to learn 3D modeling, I gave up in total frustration over and over again.
The curse words flowed profusely from my mouth like lava from an highly active volcano.

Bottom line; I never thought I would be able to learn 3D modeling.
Then I thought that if I did learn it, I would never be able to create a model of any significant complexity.
And I thought I was too old for learning new stuff.
I was wrong on every account.

Looking back, the endless options are what make it so complex.
In reality, I use about 5 general commands, over and over again, and I wonder what all the fuss was about.

I will try to start a tutorial tonight, and post it here.
I think you will find it much easier once you know the basic concepts.

Here is my latest 3D model.
Not that difficult to make this model, except for the window in the water hopper, that has been resisting completion.

.

[Jasonb]

Pat, will that be just using the one program or your rather unique method of mixing two programs?

Your method is not how Alibre like many other programs are intended to be used so could end up confusing Bob more rather than helping.

Bob it would help to know if you are using the slightly stripped down Atom as that does not have all thefeatures so answers need to be tailored to that or the more advanced Pro or Expert options and also what version.

[Admiral_dk]

A GREAT place to start / find help and tricks are here :

https://www.youtube.com/@AlibreLLC

There is a complete Beginners course there - starting with the very basics (have a look under Videos) and if you start with #1 it should automatically continue with #2 etc.

I had Alibre for close to 18 years and still learned quite a lot doing that last year 
The follow ups are even better - both those showing how to use new functions in new versions and those showing how to do things smarter ....

Per           

[Jasonb]

Be careful, the beginners coarse uses pro/expert features. If you are using the cheaper Atom then look though the playlists for the one specifically for Atom as that bases the tutorial on the screen you have and only uses the tools that you have.

[Art K]

Bob,
I also use Alibre and have since I bought a Tormach mill in 2007. It came with Alibre & SprutCam, I still use both.  You might want to check out the Alibre forum. I have found it helpful when I get stuck. I did take some cad/cam classes at the local technical college which used master cam. That will introduce some of the ideas and how to do things. I still struggle with both but usually find a way to do what I need.
Art

[Charles Lamont]

If you want to do 3D cad on a  MAC, try Onshape.

I’m having a terrible time learning Alibre CAD and I’m thinking I need a very simple CAD program to learn the work flow and thought process of 3D work. I have 2 strikes against me, 20 years of autocad 2D habits to overcome and I’m 64 so learning is quite a bit harder. I’d like to use my MAC to learn on. Anyone have any suggestions? Bob. 

Bob, if you want to learn 3D cad using a MAC, try Onshape. It is not simpler than Alibre, the concepts are essentially the same, and there are lots of ways of finding help and instruction. 

[bobh]

I'm still here but having the grand kids over while my daughter gets eye surgery is not conductive to learning. I have the full version of Alibre and you have talked me into giving it another try. Maybe I can identify specific problems and ask for help. Thanks everyone. Bob.

[PaulR]

I’m having a terrible time learning Alibre CAD and I’m thinking I need a very simple CAD program to learn the work flow and thought process of 3D work. I have 2 strikes against me, 20 years of autocad 2D habits to overcome and I’m 64 so learning is quite a bit harder. I’d like to use my MAC to learn on. Anyone have any suggestions? Bob. 

Just a thought on your original post. If you wanted to try something 'simple' why not have a look at Solvespace or Dune3D? Both are free 3D parametric CAD programs with far less intimidating interfaces (and bells and whistles) than the big boys. The basics you learn there will still be applicable if you decide to persevere with Alibre.

[bent]

I took started on a drawing board and learned to do 3d projected views the hard way with dividers and trace lines.  Then learned (somewhat) how to use AutoCad.  Then fiddled with IronCad a bit.  Then learned SolidWorks and liked it...mostly.  Then learned AutoDesk Inventor, and used that for the last 20-some years.  All of them suck a bit, in different ways.  And all of the big ones use a subscription model, which is annoying when you have grown up owning things, not renting them.

As a now retired engineer, but wanting to generate 3d models for printing and possibly for consulting, I took advice from this forum and picked up a perpetual license of Alibre (they have a subscription plan too, but still let people like me just buy the single latest version).  I like it, it does enough of what I want, and struggles with the same things that other solid modelling programs do - mainly intersections of tapered/curved surfaces and fillets on multiple joined surfaces.  There are ways to work through those issues, usually by re-ordering the model "tree" (what feature gets built ahead of what other feature).

[Laurentic]

Bob - I might be missing something here, but you said you wanted to learn Alibre - but do it on your Mac.

I thought Alibre was only available for Windows?  Whenever I have looked, Windows was the only download available?

Chris

[Jasonb]

It can be made to run on a mac but not directly it needs something like Parallels & a Windows licence

[Charles Lamont]

As well as working on a MAC, Onshape is similar to SolidWorks, being developed by former members of the SolidWorks team. It does complex shapes and awkward fillets pretty well. But you can't use the free plan for commercial purposes.