Alibre Design 9.0 is a low-cost application for 3D parametric solid modeling. With it, you can create precise 3D mechanical designs, and generate and detail 2D associative drawings. Alibre Design has extras not found in other mid-range solid modeling applications – a BOM editor, real-time collaboration, and a direct connection to the Alibre Assistant for expert, on-demand support. Easy to learn and use, you can be productive immediately.

Alibre Design Professional, an extended version of Albre Design, adds:

• Integrated sheet metal design
• The Repository for integrated data management and sharing
• Alibre PhotoRender for generating high-quality photorealistic images
• Alibre Part Library featuring millions of standard and manufacturer parts
• First-pass linear static finite element analysis with ALGOR DesignCheck
• A year of MecSoft VisualMill Basic 3.0 for 3-axis milling and post-processors
• ModelPress Publisher: securely publish models for use with the free reader

Alibre Design Expert includes everything in Alibre Design Professional plus:

• Alibre PhotoRender Industrial Pack for realistic surfaces and effects
• A year of SprutCAM for Alibre Design, a powerful 3D milling application
• Ninety days of Machinist ToolBox, an indispensable shop utility
• A secure 100MB server repository while on maintenance
• Animated, self-paced Alibre Design Training course on CD-ROM

Part- and Assembly Modeling

Sketching. In Alibre Design, all 3D geometry starts with a sketch, either 2D or 3D. Pick a plane or face; then create a sketch and use it for feature creation. Create both design and construction geometry with these sketching tools:

• Line
• Circle
• Ellipse
• Elliptical Arc
• Arc
• Rectangle
• Spline Curve – advanced editing, tangency control, import/export support, etc.
• N-sided regular polygon tool

Sketch Constraints. The intelligent sketcher automatically detects and infers relationships between sketch entities and construction geometry, capturing sketch constraints on the fly. Sketch constraints, which can also be applied manually, include:

• Fixed
• Vertical
• Horizontal
• Intersection
• Symmetric
• Coradial
• Concentric
• Collinear
• Coincident
• Midpoint
• Equal
• Tangent
• Perpendicular
• Parallel

Sketch Operations. Refine sketches with the following operations:

• Extend
• Trim
• Mirror
• Offset
• Fillet
• Chamfer
• Pattern
• Copy

Dimensioning. Use dimensions to parametrically define and constrain sketches. Input an absolute value, or drive dimensions from equations that reference other sketch dimensions, or from an external spreadsheet. A status display indicates the remaining degrees of freedom to aid in correctly constraining your sketch. Or automatically dimension and fully constrain the sketch with the auto-dimension tool.

Part Modeling. Alibre Design is a parametric (dimension-driven), feature-based modeling system. Alibre Design utilizes advanced component technology, including the ACIS modeling kernel and D-Cubed constraint manager, to create precise 3D solid models. A rich set of 3D features is supported:

• Extrude boss (normal and thin wall)
• Extrude cut (normal and thin wall)
• Revolve boss (normal and thin wall)
• Revolve cut (normal and thin wall)
• Loft boss
• Loft cut
• Sweep boss (normal and thin wall)
• Sweep cut (normal and thin wall)
• Helical boss
• Helical cut
• Fillet (fixed and variable radius)
• Chamfer (edge and vertex)
• Shell
• Draft
• Hole

Additional modeling operations complete the geometry creation and editing tools:

• Mirror
• Pattern (linear and circular)
• Remove face
• Offset face
• Move face
• Suppress
• Edit
• Reorder
• Rollback/roll forward

Design Booleans. Associative feature and history-based Boolean operations – useful for creating mold cavities, tools and dies.

• Support for addition/join, subtraction and intersection
• Multiple parts and assemblies can be used as "tools"

Assembly Modeling. In an Alibre Design assembly workspace, users can accurately position, constrain and dimension parts relative to each other to quickly develop complete assemblies.

• Choice of assembly design method:
  • Bottom-up: Design parts individually and then combine them to create an assembly.
  • Top-down: Start with a new assembly and design all the parts within the assembly. Any existing part can be referenced while designing or editing others.
• Ability to create, insert and edit parts in an assembly
• Assembly constraint types:
  • Mate (w/optional offset)
  • Align (w/optional offset)
  • Tangent
  • Orient
  • Angle

Constraints can also reference construction geometry and features with constituent parts. Furthermore, the Auto Constrain tool in Alibre Design automatically applies align and mate constraints for fast, intuitive assembly. You can also manipulate, build or interrogate parts using the following assembly operations:

• Move parts (freely or precisely)
• Rotate parts (freely or precisely)
• Pattern parts
• Mirror parts
• Anchor parts
• Hide individual parts
• Insert multiple part instances
• Check for interferences
• Create exploded views:
  • Auto-explode assemblies to preset distances
  • Drag parts as desired
• Open larger assemblies quickly with "light assembly loading." Display information loads first; then geometry, constraints and feature details when needed.

Reference Surfaces. Modeling operations may use imported free-form surfaces from applications such as Rhino3D to create more complex solid models.

• Extrude and sweep features to reference surfaces
• Trim solid bodies with reference surfaces
• Thicken a reference surface into a solid body
• Define reference geometry (lines, arcs, etc.) using reference surfaces
• Constrain assembly components using reference surfaces

Additional Modeling Highlights:

• Calculate physical properties for a part or assembly, such as volume, mass, surface area, center of mass, inertial tensor and principal axes of inertia.
• Create 3D section views. Make precise measurements on the sectioned geometry or create a new sketch from the sectioned edges.
• Save and reuse sketches with the Catalog feature.
• Generate a new sketch or reference figures from existing geometry using the project-to-sketch function.
• Insert annotations to communicate manufacturing information (notes, datums and datum targets, weld symbols, surface finish, etc.)

2D Drawing Creation and Detailing

Generate and detail 2D associative drawings in drawing workspaces. Automatically create standard 2D orthographic views (front, top, right, etc.) from the part or assembly. Associativity is maintained between drawings and 3D models – geometry and dimensions changed in the model are reflected in the drawing, and vice versa. Standard drawing templates (ANSI, DIN, ISO) are available, or you can create your own templates according to your company practices or preferences.

• Custom view types:
  • Detail views – automatic update when detail boundary changes
  • Section views – normal and stepped
  • Broken views
  • Auxiliary views
  • Exploded views
• Multiple font types and styles
• Layers and layer attributes - visibility and color
• Drawing operations:
  • Move and scale views
  • Hide parts in assembly views
  • Move views to other sheet
  • Create threaded holes with callouts, standard thread configurations supported
  • Centerline creation and editing
  • Show or hide centerlines, tangent edges, hidden lines
• Balloon callouts
• Rotated text
• Dimensioning:
  • Control dimension styles and appearance – supports popular standards including ANSI, DIN, JIS
  • Modify driving dimensions
  • Insert reference dimensions
  • Delete dimensions

Bill of Materials (BOM). In Alibre Design, you can generate BOMs that are directly associated with an assembly or subassembly model. An intuitive spreadsheet interface lets you create new BOM tables. Associativity between the BOM and the assembly ensures accuracy throughout the design and manufacturing process; if the assembly changes, the BOM is updated automatically.

• Customize table properties – column headings, font size/color, row/column append and manipulation, sort, etc.
• Customize BOM templates
• Hide or show borders
• Launch the BOM editor directly from the drawing workspace
• Associate a BOM with a drawing sheet without displaying it
• Use standard BOM headings – description, part name/number, revision, supplier, material, etc.
• Print a BOM
• Export BOM as .CSV file for use in spreadsheets or MRP systems

Interoperability. Alibre Design is based on STEP (Standard for the Exchange of Product Model data) to ensure robust interoperability with all other major CAD systems. The open STEP standard provides a common data format that is not controlled by any single CAD vendor. As a result, Alibre Design users can generate data without tying their future to any particular application. Plus, Alibre Design can import and export data in a wide range of formats.
Import: STEP (AP 203/214), SAT (ACIS), IGES, DXF/DWG (2D)
Export: STEP (AP 203/214), SAT (ACIS), IGES, STL, DXF/DWG (2D), CSV (BOM)

Team Design Sessions . Multiple Alibre Design users can communicate and work directly on the same sketch, model or drawing in real time. Use Team Design sessions to work with the Alibre Assistant for real-time support, or conduct spontaneous design sessions with your customers or coworkers. In addition to measuring and viewing, you can create and modify geometry together. Simple compact commands are sent between users' systems and executed locally for optimal performance during team sessions.

• Work with others in real time to create, edit or review designs.
• Invite the Alibre Assistant to a session for on-demand help and guidance.
• Communicate using text chat or voice over IP technology.
• Insert redlines and mark-ups during sessions; save the mark-ups with the design including time, date and author.

Interface. Alibre Design has a familiar Windows user interface so users can move easily among the areas of the application. The Home window provides centralized, easy access to the entire application.

• Start new designs; open existing ones and import data.
• Contact the Alibre Assistant for expert guidance in real time – chat, design or troubleshoot with an Alibre representative.
• Activate add-ons for Alibre Design Professional and Alibre Design Expert.
• Use the Invite An Associate feature to give time-limited free trials to coworkers. Once they install Alibre Design, they can work with you in real time.
• Download and access integrated tutorials.

Customization and API (Application Programming Interface). Alibre Design provides an API to automate and customize repetitive operations, and to improve integration with add-on applications like FEA, CAM and standard part libraries.

Alibre Design Professional

An extended version of Alibre Design, Alibre Design Professional includes integrated components and add-ons based on technology from Alibre Solution Partners.

Sheet Metal Design. Create sheet metal parts with standard features including fold and unfold, tabs, flanges, hems, jogs, cuts and dimples. Sheet metal parts can be easily inserted into assemblies with other 3D part models.

Integrated Data Management. The Repository provides a location to organize and securely store data on your hard drive, a network drive or a secure Alibre server. Store files created outside of Alibre Design in the Repository to keep related project data in a central location. Establish access rights for your contracts to protect and share files.

Items are checked in and out so you always know who's working on a particular component. And with version tracking you will know who made changes and you can go back to an earlier version if necessary.

Alibre PhotoRender allows you to generate high-quality photorealistic images of both native and imported designs. You can illustrate your design concepts more effectively and add impact to presentations and proposals.

Integrated part library.

Alibre Part Library provides access to millions of standard and manufacturer-specific components, such as fasteners, bearings, steel shapes, gears and motors.

Use the simple interface to select a specific part and size; then seamlessly download the component into a new workspace. ANSI, ISO, JIS and DIN are supported industry standards. Fifty-two manufacturer catalogs including PEM, NSK, SKF, Globe, Torrington, THK and Thomson are also supported. All components are precise 3D ACIS (.SAT) files.

FEA analysis with ALGOR DesignCheck.

Use ALGOR DesignCheck finite element analysis (FEA) software to verify single part designs with a first-pass engineering analysis. DesignCheck makes it easy to perform linear static stress analysis, evaluate results and prepare professional design reports. The DesignCheck interface features multiple view windows, a tree view of the model and associated data and Windows-native data input screens with real-time data checking for reasonable input. Contact the ALGOR Assistant from the Home window for real-time expert assistance.

Toolpath generated by VisualMill Basic.

MecSoft VisualMill Basic 3.0 is a fully functional 3D milling package. You can transfer your models directly to VisualMill Basic from Alibre Design, define tool paths, run simulations; then output G-code to your CNC machine. Includes basic 3-axis milling, an easy-to-use wizard-based user interface and approximately 50 post-processors. MecSoft VisualMill Basic 3.0 runs for one year.

ModelPress Publisher for Alibre Design allows users to publish and compress 3D models for viewing with the free ModelPress Reader software. Models may be published to a web page or to a highly compressed secure file that may easily be attached to an email message. ModelPress Publisher uses compression technology that reduces model sizes by 70 - 98%.

Alibre Design Expert Extras

MSC.visualNastran 4D provides 3D motion simulation with FEA integration, enabling customers to put their Alibre Design 3D assemblies in motion, perform collision detection, and kinematic and dynamic analysis, and check for stress, strain and displacements. It's also possible to generate highly accurate, realistic animations of models.

Machinist ToolBox provides easy access to useful information and calculators including unit conversions, material speed & feed data, trig calculations, CNC operations, and other machining reference data. It is the result of years of real world shop-floor experience which translates to increased productivity.