The Alibre Engine 2

swertel · Aug 20, 2003

To gain more information about this product, I'm trying to figure out what makes it tick.

Alibre Design uses STEP 203 as its native file type, but what modelling kernel does it use? Solid Edge and SolidWorks use parasolid. Others use proprietary kernels. I vaguely remember Alibre using the ACIS kernel. Is my memory correct?

Since STEP is the native file format, how are the features stored? If I import an Alibre STEP file into another CAD package, will the history tree come with it? Likewise, if I export a file from another CAD package into STEP 203 and open it in Alibre, is the feature tree present? Or do you get dumb solids?

--Scott

For some pleasure reading, the Round Table recommends FAQ731-376

MadMango · Aug 20, 2003

I think once you save a model as STEP, it will only open as an imported "dumb" solid.

MadMango
"Probable impossibilities are to be preferred to improbable possibilities."
Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

TateJ · Aug 21, 2003

I think the native file format for Alibre is STEP.
If that's the case - then all the intelligence should go with the parts.
Right?
It's when you IMPORT a STEP file into other packages that use a proprietary format that you go blond.

tatej usfilter.com

Arlin · Aug 21, 2003

Actually, Alibre's native file format is a DERIVATIVE of STEP. They have added their own, proprietary extensions to the STEP format to include parametrics and intelligence. When read by other STEP translators, the simply ignore the parametric feature information.

The standardized STEP format DOES NOT include feature based parametric data. It is a boundary representation similar to IGES.

I heard a rumor that Alibre actually submitted their proprietary STEP extensions to the STEP standards committee. If it does happen to get incorporated into the standard STEP format, it would probably be quite a while.

SeanDotson · Aug 22, 2003

To answer the root question it uses the ACIS kernel.

Sean Dotson, PE
Inventor Tutorials & More

http://www.sdotson.com

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The Alibre Engine 2

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