Imported CAD models of SES parts

Lynxmotion Servo Erector Set
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I have imported the main SES parts and saved them in Alibre Design’s format. However, they don’t look very good. :frowning: They definitely don’t look as good as they did in Solid Edge.

With this new 3D CAD software, I want my designs to look as good as they possibly can, and this might mean I have to model an entire new set of parts within Alibre Design to accomplish this.

If I need to create a set of brand new models, what is the best way to go about it? Do I just need to buy one of every part, measure them, and input the data into Alibre Design for new parts? Or is there existing CAD data on the parts I could get and take advantage of?

Alibre Design also has a nifty Animation Module I want to take full advantage of, so I may have to model some items in more detail, such as servos that have motion components. I can import DXF/DWG, IGES, SAT, STP, STEP, and 3DM (Rhino) files.

I’d like feedback on the best way to proceed on this.

Thanks!

8-Dale

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The safest thing to do is to model them yourself if you have the parts.

The STEP format doesn’t work well with Alibre?

I thought I read there that that is what it was based on, or Was it DWG/DXF?

IGS should work well too but you’ll lose all of the parametric info.

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Well, actually, I imported all but two of the parts from IGES files I exported from Solid Edge. Maybe I should go back and use the STEP files instead. This could be an error on my part.

You may be right on this as Alibre Design can import all kinds of STEP files. I will go back and import a few parts from the STEP files I have and see how things go.

I definitely want to maintain the parametric info. :smiley: It would be kind of silly not to, given Alibre Design is a parametric modeler. :wink:

8-Dale