Finished My First 3D Alibre Part!
beagley - 8/4/11 at 12:28 PM
Not much to look at, but then again I've only been using the software for a week. I'm still hunting for a few dimensions, but the plan was
to fit this to a 2.0L Duratec. I'm trying to stay within the confines under the bonnet, but still have a well designed manifold that provides
equal air to each cylinder.
Once I get the port spacing, port size I can edit the parts to make them more accurate.
I haven't added the inlet stack yet to the bottom, but you can see the cut I've made for it.
Manifold Below
For you guys in the UK this view would be from the passenger side, for us here in the states is the driver side.
Manifold Right Side
This would obviously be looking over the top of the engine.
Manifold Left Side
Alibre is a pretty powerful CAD program thats way cheap ($99,00) for the personal edition. I'm still trying to figure out how to do the
"Book" chassis as a tutorial but didn't get very far.
Anyone else here head of/using Alibre?
Beags
blakep82 - 8/4/11 at 12:42 PM
looks good, but seems a little over complicated? why do the pipes need to be an S shape? could they come out the top of the plenum, straight up, 90
degree turn into the engine?
and could the plenum go a lot higher?
or was it just an excercise to see if you could do it that way on the software? looks like a good cad job anyway. i certainly couldn't have done
it, especially in a week
designer - 8/4/11 at 12:45 PM
Agree, seems a bit convoluted.
Well drawn though.
loggyboy - 8/4/11 at 12:49 PM
Could have done the same in Sketchup for free
beagley - 8/4/11 at 12:52 PM
quote:
Originally posted by designer
Agree, seems a bit convoluted.
Well drawn though.
Thanks guys.
Yes, it is QUITE convoluted but that was done on purpose. I've been trying to teach myself some of the more complex features like drawing a line
in 3D space and then sweeping a shape along that path.
Hes proably thinking I'm stalking him cause I've asked so many questions about his build and the duratec, but I was looking through Flak
Monkey's GTS build diary and noticed that he had to run the intake plenum out the side of the bonnet. I was trying to think of a way to keep it
all inside hence the "S" shape. I totall agree that coming straight from the block then a 90 degree turn down into the top of the plenum
would be a much easier shape to do. Also when reading my "Supercharged!" book from a couple of weeks ago it was stated that a symmetrical
plenum design makes it easier for each cylinder to get the same airflow which is why I did this particular design.
I never did fully develop my engineer bug as a kid, went the computer programming route instead.
Beags
Doctor Derek Doctors - 8/4/11 at 12:57 PM
quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
Could have done the same in Sketchup for free
But you didn't did you, so it was pointless to make that statement.
Anyway, some nice modelling there, the only thing I would say (with regard to the flow rather than the CAD) is that if you have the inlet stack in the
middle between cylinders 2 and 3 you will get uneven air flow with the flow to cylinders 1 and 4 being longer.
To solve this you could either have twin inlet stacks (very cool) or a 4-2-1 airbox arrangment, instead of the 4-1 system you have there........ but
then again it probably wouldn't make a noticeably difference.
The other thing is have you considered the manufacturabilty of that? Do you have enough weld access? (always a problem) Have you got a way to make
those bowled ends?
beagley - 8/4/11 at 01:17 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Doctor Derek Doctors
To solve this you could either have twin inlet stacks (very cool) or a 4-2-1 airbox arrangment, instead of the 4-1 system you have there........ but
then again it probably wouldn't make a noticeably difference.
The other thing is have you considered the manufacturabilty of that? Do you have enough weld access? (always a problem) Have you got a way to make
those bowled ends?
Nope! 
I do like the idea of twin inlet stacks which I do think would look awesome. Maybe I'll work one of those up in the next couple of weeks.
Regarding the bowled ends, In actuality those will probably be flat. May use that opportunity to try and learn how to make some threaded holes so
that I can bolt a cap on the ends of the manifold. Not really a good idea, but good way to learn.
Now that you've got me thinking about it again I will make a couple of "Y" shaped lines from the plenum to the cylinders.
Beags
loggyboy - 8/4/11 at 06:20 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Doctor Derek Doctors
quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
Could have done the same in Sketchup for free
But you didn't did you, so it was pointless to make that statement.
Sorry for trying to point other users who may think they need to spend money to something like that, towards a free option. i thought this was
LOCOSTbuilders.co.uk, not 'spendmoneyonthingsyoudontneedtobulders.co.uk??
As for pointlessness, a bit pot and kettle?
beagley - 8/4/11 at 06:56 PM
Thanks for pointing that out loggyboy
This post is in no way a sales pitch for Alibre or to infer that people need to spend hard earned money on something like this. There are
plenty of free CAD programs available. In my instance I wanted more functionality than what Sketchup offered which is why I went the Alibre route.
Now thats out of the way, wasn't there a post recently of the different CAD programs available? I'm familiar with the bigger names
(AutoCAD, Solid Works, etc...) but what else is there?
Beags
Doctor Derek Doctors - 9/4/11 at 09:35 AM
quote:
Originally posted by beagley
Thanks for pointing that out loggyboy
This post is in no way a sales pitch for Alibre or to infer that people need to spend hard earned money on something like this. There are
plenty of free CAD programs available. In my instance I wanted more functionality than what Sketchup offered which is why I went the Alibre route.
Now thats out of the way, wasn't there a post recently of the different CAD programs available? I'm familiar with the bigger names
(AutoCAD, Solid Works, etc...) but what else is there?
Beags
If you PM me I can give you a run down of whats availiable and I might have a 'copy' kicking about if you want to try something else.
But basically:
CATIA V5= Powerful, very powerful but not so easy to use (mainly OEM and Aerospace use)
SolidWorks = Easier Interface than CATIA but less powerful and requires a better PC (small engineering companies and home use)
NX = Great for 3D modelling but less well supported (often used by larger but less engineering driven companies with TCe to save money from Siemens)
ProE = Not to bad but not as good as the 3 above.
AutCAD = Like the retarded wheezing sibling of design software.
I have used and taught them all, currently I use CATIA at work and SolidWorks/CATIA combo at home.
Doctor Derek Doctors - 9/4/11 at 09:38 AM
quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
quote:
Originally posted by Doctor Derek Doctors
quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
Could have done the same in Sketchup for free
But you didn't did you, so it was pointless to make that statement.
Sorry for trying to point other users who may think they need to spend money to something like that, towards a free option. i thought this was
LOCOSTbuilders.co.uk, not 'spendmoneyonthingsyoudontneedtobulders.co.uk??
As for pointlessness, a bit pot and kettle?
Haha, I have CATIA, SolidWorks and NX on my laptop and it cost me..... £0, as a professional CAD user I have found Google Sketch-Up to be rubbish and
as it saves no money there is no point using it.
Yeah I could probably model a pot and a kettle? why do you ask?
FASTdan - 10/4/11 at 07:12 PM
Sketchup does exactly what it says on the tin.......sketches.......NOTHING else, so almost as much use as a chocolate teapot (as we appear to be on a
kitchenware theme).
Model looks good, what (if any)manufacture data can you get out of alibre? Not heard much about it tbh.
[Edited on 10/4/11 by FASTdan]
FASTdan - 10/4/11 at 07:24 PM
quote:
But basically:
CATIA V5= Powerful, very powerful but not so easy to use (mainly OEM and Aerospace use)
SolidWorks = Easier Interface than CATIA but less powerful and requires a better PC (small engineering companies and home use)
NX = Great for 3D modelling but less well supported (often used by larger but less engineering driven companies with TCe to save money from Siemens)
ProE = Not to bad but not as good as the 3 above.
AutCAD = Like the retarded wheezing sibling of design software.
I have used and taught them all, currently I use CATIA at work and SolidWorks/CATIA combo at home.
Comparing autocad to the rest is a little unfair, its a 2d package (and still industry standard) that has been around since the arc. Autodesk did the
smart thing and unlike many of the other big players decided to stop flogging a dead horse and develop something entirely new (inventor) rather than
try and push the autocad 3d. From what I understand pro e, catia, unigraphics (now Nx) are all ancient kernels that have been pushed to the max but in
reality heavy and non user friendly when compared to iv and sw. Luckily as you mention they are so heavily supported by the big industry hitters that
they will continue to be hailed for years to come.
beagley - 10/4/11 at 08:43 PM
quote:
Originally posted by FASTdan
Sketchup does exactly what it says on the tin.......sketches.......NOTHING else, so almost as much use as a chocolate teapot (as we appear to be on a
kitchenware theme).
Model looks good, what (if any)manufacture data can you get out of alibre? Not heard much about it tbh.
[Edited on 10/4/11 by FASTdan]
I need to double check but I think you can get CNC machine data from it as well as traditional blueprints of any parts that you make. Unfortunately
that comes with the "pro" version(499,00 while inexpensive for a business license is too much for little old me). I only have the personal
which basically let's me design parts and publish them to a PDF document. Tomorrow I will call the sales guy and ask him about the different
formats that the data can be exported as.
Beags
FASTdan - 11/4/11 at 06:41 AM
$500 for a license of anything is pretty cheap.
I think inventor lite would cost me around 1k a year if I was to invest (as it is, I get a free 'home use' license from my main place of
work). 'Lite' being a basic version of the normal package allowing only some functionality, but enough for what I do.
Is your manifold modelled as one single component? Does Alibre allow you to work with assemblies at that price? I'll go have a look at the Alibre
site I reckon.
beagley - 11/4/11 at 10:47 AM
quote:
Originally posted by FASTdan
Is your manifold modelled as one single component? Does Alibre allow you to work with assemblies at that price? I'll go have a look at the Alibre
site I reckon.
My manifold is made of 4 individual parts. I did the flange, runner, main body of the manifold, and the domed end caps as part files and created an
assembly to establish their relationships.
Yes, Alibre totally allows use of assemblies at the personal edition. I was very surprised at the features included with their personal edition
license.
They also have a forum that you can join which has helped me out in a couple pinches.
Alibre's Site
Beags
