Daily DIY

In addition to being able to save a Sketch as a Catalog Feature, Extrude Boss and Extrude Cut can be saved as a Catalog Feature. An Extrude Cut Catalog Feature can be used to save the extra step of Extruding the Cut after inserting a Sketch Catalog Feature. This can be useful for creating such features as the Stick and Cope profiles in Rail and Stile parts.


By: woodknot

I decided to make Yet Another BirdFeeder





This is a platform feeder, it’s probably my favorite type, popular with ground feeding birds, and less risk of seed spoilage than a hopper feeder.





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By: Tool Using Animal

This tutorial will use the Catalog Feature sketch created in the “Create a Sketch Catalog Feature” tutorial. That Sketch will be used with a Sweep Cut to route a profile around all 4 edges on the Face of the Part.



A sketch could be created specifically on this part to define the cutter profile, and the techniques are the same as using the inserted sketch Catalog Feature.



We will start with a new rectangular board part 9" across and 12" high, with the Length defined in the Vertical direction for a panel with the grain running vertically. This procedure can be used to create a panel of any size. Refer to the tutorial on creating a board part if required.




By: woodknot

A Catalog Feature is a predefined Sketch or Feature that can be inserted into a model with a single command. The sketch variation of the Catalog Feature allows inserting a sketch that is completely drawn, constrained and dimensioned.



Although equations can be used to define the sketch in the Catalog Feature, only the actual parameter values will be inserted with the sketch, and any formulas will be lost. This prevents creating a catalog feature whose dimensions will automatically adjust to existing parameters within a part. If you need the Catalog Feature to use a formula or part value, you must edit the Catalog Feature parameters after insertion and change the equations to formulas or part values.





In this tutorial we will cover taking a sketch of a Raised Panel cutter profile, and create a sketch Catalog Feature. That cutter profile can then be inserted into a part model, and be used to create a new feature based on the sketched profile. Another Instructable will use this sketch Catalog Feature to create a Raised Panel part with this profile defining the raised panel profile.





If you want to create a sketch Catalog Feature from an existing sketch that is already used to create a Feature, you must first delete that Feature to allow the creation of the Catalog Feature. Just make sure the part is saved that contains the desired sketch, delete the feature that uses the sketch, create the Catalog Feature, and then quit WITHOUT saving the changes to the part file.




By: woodknot

This tutorial covers what experience has shown to be the most efficient way to create a Miter, or Bevel on the edge of a part. While this tutorial is written from the perspective of application to woodworking design, it should be relevant for other applications as well.



Rather than creating a sketch profile for a cross section, or defining a Cut, the 3D Chamfer tool provides options that allows quick creation of Miters and Bevels. The Equal Distance Chamfer Type is excellent for a 45 degree miter, while the Distance-Distance Chamfer Type allows creation of miters and bevels at any angle. Just select the Corner Edge you wish to remove with the chamfer, and set the appropriate parameter values. Miters and Bevels can be created on any edge, and not just on the ends of a part.



Creation of the Part with the parameter Thick defined as the part Thickness, makes specification of the dimensions for the chamfer parameters quick work. It also allows the Miter or Bevel to adjust automatically with changes in the parts thickness.



A useful application of predefined parts and miters is the BaseBoard part model shown below. The part is pre-defined with Miters for all 4 corners of the baseboard ends, so that individual miters can be “unsuppressed” to match the installation requirements. There can optionally be a miter on either the Front or Back corner for either end, as well the angle can be adjusted to suit. No need to keep creating a baseboard part and defining miters; just save the part under a new name, and adjust the miter suppression and parameters as required.



Those users with Configurations capability can also create numerous baseboard parts with varying width, lengths, and miter selection by adding a new configuration for each baseboard part required.




By: woodknot

This tutorial deals with modeling a rectangular shaker leg that is tapered on only two sides, with the taper starting a distance from one end. Loft will be used to create the tapered portion of the leg.



Extrude Cut with a taper could be used to create the tapered portion of the leg, but the taper angle is so shallow that it is impractical to set a template to manufacture the leg using the angle. Instead it is easier to manufacture the actual leg when using a distance to determine the dimensions of the bottom of the leg. Hence, this tutorial will create the leg using a dimension for the bottom of the leg.




By: woodknot

I study medieval woodworking a lot, and I’ve always wanted to try out the medieval style lathe. The major difference between this type, and the modern lathe is that the motion is reciprocal, rather than continuous circular motion. That, and the fact that it is totally human powered. The back and forth motion of a "spring pole" type lathe has been used well past the 1600’s era that I study, and in many places is still in use today.



The whole idea behind a Spring Pole lathe is that you would pinch a piece of wood between two points, wrap a cord around the wood, and pump down on a treadle while putting your cutting tool to the wood. On release, the springy pole attached to the top of the rope would pull up, spinning the wood backwards, and making it ready to be pushed down again and cut.



Here is my build process as posted in my woodworking blog: http://wood.box23.net



– Badger


By: badger

This tutorial covers the creation of a standard woodworking board or sheet goods part. Since most woodworking parts are simple rectangles or linear sticks, an Extrude Boss will be used create most woodworking parts.



This tutorial is compatible with all versions of Alibre including Xpress.



It is important though to follow certain conventions and standards to ensure consistent part creation and reliable predictable models. Below are some of the most important considerations:



Create Parts and Assemblies with attention to view orientation. The standard Orthographic views of Front, Top, Right and Isometric should reflect those orientations for the Parts and Assemblies. The Front view of a part should be face of a board or molding, and not an edge or end. The Front view of an Assembly should be the front of a piece of furniture, cabinet, or when unclear something reasonable like the face of a bed headboard or footboard. Considering these orientations while creating parts and assemblies will make creation of a drawing easier, as well as provide a smooth and consistent workflow.



Parts and Assemblies should be created symmetrically about the reference planes where possible. There are always exceptions, but you should have a good reason when deviating from this “best practice”. This is a best practice that crosses software brand, and is considered a good modeling technique no matter what vendors software you are using. This will allow you to use the “reference geometry” to constrain parts and sub-assemblies in assemblies.



When creating Sheet Goods parts, we prefer to create those parts with the Length oriented horizontally along the X axis, and Width vertically with the Y axis. This convention has its basis in orientation used in Cutlist and sheet goods layout and optimization programs. It is consistent with working with sheet materials on a panel saw, on saw horses or a workbench, or doing layout work. It also helps when dealing with specifying edge banding. By using the convention of grain running horizontally, from Left to Right when there is a grain directionality, assures consistent material handling and will reduce errors. It will also allow design work to proceed with a consistent understanding of grain directionality and orientation from modeling to construction.



While Alibre does not have material directionality indicators to show grain direction, with this convention you can use the normal arrows from the reference planes to determine face/reverse side and grain direction. Just turn on reference geometry for a part in an assembly and hover over the Planes line item in the Design Explorer to display the normals arrows. We has also begun including a directional arrow on the face of sheet goods parts to aid in properly orientating parts during model assembly. This is a simple arrow shaped line sketch created on the face of the part, and an Extrude Cut 1/64" deep into the face of the part. This indicated Face side as well as grain orientation, and can easily be Suppressed or deleted when modeling is completed.



Lumber can be created with a horizontal or vertical orientation, with a horizontal orientation being common because of sheet good creation conventions. While vertical orientation may be more comfortable when creating legs or stiles, the final orientation of the part in the assembly is determined by assembly constraints to the rest of the model and not the original orientation during part creation. With a little practice, you get used to inserting a part and simply constraining it into position without regard to original orientation, or need to manually rotate the part before applying constraints.



Rather than creating all parts from scratch, we are tending toward using parts saved to a standard “library” parts folder. That way the directional and grain arrow features can be included, as well as a variety of miter features that can be suppressed and unsuppressed as required for baseboards, moldings and other standard uses. We also recommend the “Primitive Wizard” board creation program for Alibre that automates the task or creating rectangular parts (plans.thefrankes.com).



With sketches constructed on the XY plane, a standard board or sheet is Extruded for thickness along the Z axis. While moldings or profiled cross sections are best constructed on the YZ plane and extruded to Length along the X axis. It is a simple matter to orient the display to an isometric view, selected the reference plane on which to sketch, and Activate a 2D sketch on the selected plane. You can then Orient to Sketch plane (if not done automatically) or with a little practice you get used to sketching in an isometric orientation. Remember, construct your parts with consideration to the standard Orthographic drawing views and orientations. It is useful to turn on all the available toolbars.



One last note before creating our board. Woodworking normally only requires the use of a 2D sketch to create even the most complicated of parts. If you are trying to work with a 3D sketch, you should re-evaluate what you are trying to accomplish as it can probably be accomplished in a much easier manner. Besides sketching on the initial reference plans and user created planes, you can use the faces of parts as the plane for a 2D sketch. With Revolve, Sweep, and Loft you can create 3 dimensional shapes using a combination of 2D sketches of profiles and paths.




By: woodknot

How to make a little willow table. Process can be extended to create all kinds of furniture. I make part of my living from doing this (though not this particular item anymore, so feel free to copy it)


By: SlimJim

The trebuchet is a medieval invention originally designed to lay seige to fortresses and castles. The largest of them could hurl immense stones hundreds of yards. Now you can have one to play with in your own home. The whole device stands about foot tall when unloaded and flings various things ten feet or more. Moreover, this is a nice introductiory woodworking project that you can do with mostly basic tools. Make sure to check all of the images. A lot of the details are in the notes there.




By: AcceptableRisk