3D Modeling for Mechanical Design
3D modeling for mechanical systems is the core competency of Alibre Design. Create complex parts from scratch or by using existing or imported parts as a reference. Assemble them together to create a final product, and evaluate the physical and motion characteristics.
3D Part Design
Learning at your fingertips
Find easy access to information about the tools in Alibre Design by hovering over any icon.
Fully parametric design
Everything in Alibre Design is parametric – driven by dimensions you specify. Beyond precision, a huge advantage of parametric modeling is that you can easily change the design by modifying the dimensions. You can also use the built-in Equation Editor to set up complex relationships, or import data from Excel to drive the design.
Infinite complexity, easily
Create parts of any complexity with advanced modeling tools. The features in Alibre Design are geared for the design of mechanical systems. Lofted parts allow you to achieve more organic shapes and transitions.
Part Modeling Tools
- Extrude Boss
- Extrude Cut
- Revolve Boss
- Revolve Cut
- Sweep Boss
- Sweet Cut
- Loft Boss
- Loft Cut
- Thin-wall boss/cut
- Helical Boss
- Helical Cut
- Hole Tool
- Cosmetic Thread Tool
- Fillet
- Chamfer
- Chamfer Corner
- Mirror
- Draft
- Shell
- Scale
- Trim
- Boolean (Add, Subtract, Union)
- Global Parameters
- Equation Editor
- Move Face
- Offset Face
- Remove Face
- Convert to Sheet Metal
Working with Meshes
- Import Mesh
- Position/Scale Mesh
- Convert Mesh to Solid
- Boolean with Mesh
Surfacing
- Import Surface
- Move/Rotate Surface
- Scale Surface
- Trim Surface
- Split Surface
- Stitch Surface
- Thicken Surface
- Convert Surface to Solid
- Create Surface from Face
- Delete Surface Face
- Trim Model
Drag and drop assembly creation
To put parts together into a mechanical system, simply drag parts onto other parts using intelligent snapping. The correct constraints are automatically applied, and you can modify them on the fly. When you’re done, the assembly will move like it would in the real world.
Exploded Views
Create exploded views using the auto-explode tool or by manually exploding your assembly. Publish exploded views into a 2D drawing, or into an animated 3D PDF so others can walk through assembly or disassembly step by step.
In-context part creation and editing
From within an assembly, you can create new parts or edit existing ones using other parts as a reference. Using a technique known as top-down design can speed up the design process by creating parts in the context of an existing assembly.
Create complex assemblies
Alibre Design can handle large and complex mechanical systems with many hundreds of parts. However, it is not intended for assemblies with thousands of parts.
Analyze your design
Using tools like Interference Detection, you can quickly find problems and fix them before the first prototype. You can also find the combined physical characteristics of your model, such as its weight.