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FreeCAD v1.1

blog.freecad.org

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Re: FreeCAD v1.1

#51

Post by digdugdirk »

class3shock wrote: post #45

Is it any closer to functioning like Solidworks, NX, Creo, and all the other professional CAD software packages? Edit: After opening it up it seems better than before but still not a replacement. I can use the draw tool to create a rectangle but than immediately cannot apply symmetry or equal length constraints until I delete others which shouldn't overlap. Clicking to create a cut or hole opens up a window that does…

It's inherently limited by its geometry kernel. Most "real" CAD suites use something like parasolid, usually with a bunch of extras slapped on top. Making a new one from scratch is a massive undertaking, but I'll remain forever hopeful that we get a new, modern, open-source kernel one of these days...

Re: FreeCAD v1.1

#52

Post by emporas »

eblanshey wrote: post #37

FreeCAD is really the only serious contender for CAD on Linux. I love how everything is hackable via Python APIs. Every release seems to fix more and more UX issues. I have very high hopes for it to eventually start attracting more commercial usage, much like KiCad and Blender did in their spaces. We need more open software like that.

>I love how everything is hackable via Python APIs.

It is hackable with languages other than Python too. The Python interpreter has no restrictions to access and execute everything it likes. Contrast this with Gimp, which it's Scheme interpreter cannot access anything except objects inside Gimp.

This opens some security hole risks in Freecad, given that plugins can execute arbitrary code in the user's machine, but that means one can write C, C++, Rust and automate the gui.

Freecad btw, very unfortunately, it loads each .so external library only once, and it will load the library only with different name or version number. I lost 5 hours messing up with Python versions and .venv installations till I figured that out.

Re: FreeCAD v1.1

#53

Post by hn92726819 »

2muchcoffeeman wrote: post #35
acrophobic wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can also use VarSet[0], which I think is easier than spreadsheet since you don't have to switch the workbench. [0]: https://wiki.freecad.org/Std_VarSet

Did not know about this. How do you see all the properties?

Just click the varset in the tree view and it lists them in the properties pane

Re: FreeCAD v1.1

#54

Post by Gigachad »

faangguyindia wrote: post #34

In coming time you can see freecad massively improving. This space lacks good opensource solution. I have tried creating my parts, tried tinkercad (which is simple but limited) Tried fusion. And pretty much other things don't support mac. I've a hunch lots of vibe coders are going to come and launch stuff like freecad and Gimp (which I never liked, can't even get simple tasks done in gimp) Future is bright for openso…

Linkedin sentence structure + baseless LLM promotion.

There is no evidence here the latest update was vibe coded. It's fairly offensive to devalue the work that the FreeCAD developers put in like this.

Re: FreeCAD v1.1

#55

Post by Rebelgecko »

I've designed some basic parts in Tinkercad and openscad but have never really been able to grok Freecad or Fusion. Is there a good resource for making that leap? Just the explosion of menu bar options is a lot

Re: FreeCAD v1.1

#56

Post by mauvehaus »

I’m a furniture maker (like, for money). I’ve been using it for largely 2-D jig making for a few years and it’s been great in conjunction with a ShopBot for precise templates.

I updated to the 1.1 release candidates, and it’s been great. I do a lot of design for people who are remote, and being able to model things with more complex curves has been a game changer. Sketchup is adequate at the free level and not good enough to convince me to upgrade to paid.

The Assembly workbench has let me use FreeCAD much more closely to how I think about putting a piece together, and the sketcher-based workflow is a godsend for curved work.

1.1 is a huge leap forward. I delivered a table last year that I modeled for the client in FreeCAD. The model was super rough. I’m designing chairs for it now, and for the first time, I feel like my skills are the limit, and not the software.

If you’ve found it clunky before, it still has its rough edges, but it’s legitimately at the point where I think the good parts are good enough for me to overlook the rough edges and move to FreeCAD almost entirely.

Re: FreeCAD v1.1

#57

Post by blcArmadillo »

digdugdirk wrote: post #50
arcanemachiner wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is for after you've done a tutorial or two: There was a PDF I had a while back (can't remember the name) which has a bunch of shapes you had to design in a 3D CAD program, with some guiding measurements. The shapes got harder to create as you progressed through the book. That was a good, fun way to sharpen my skills after I learned the basics.

Commenting here in case you or someone else remembers what this is. I'm always on the lookout for practice resources I can recommend to CAD beginners.

Maybe something like: https://www.solidworks.com/sites/default/files/cswpsampleexa... (jump to page 18).

Re: FreeCAD v1.1

#58

Post by nirui »

cgearhart wrote: post #14

Slightly unrelated to this story, but I’m curious if anyone has good resources for learning FreeCAD. I have quite a lot of experience with SolidWorks, AutoCAD, OnShape, and similar software, but FreeCAD has always been hard for me to pick up.

Just a pre-heads-up: depending on what you're trying to do, the exact tool and thus tutorial you need maybe slightly different.

For example, I made a gasket for my mini PC awhile ago using FreeCAD. Designing it was a hell until I discovered the Sheet Metal Workbench in the plugin manager, and just like that, I got it designed & manufactured within ~4 days.

During my experience, most of my time was spent on learning how to use the Sheet Metal Workbench as well as how it interacts with other FreeCAD builtin features. FreeCAD itself is not that hard to learn.

Also, there are Piping Workbench too if you want to work on pipes, Wood Work Workbench if you want to do wood work etc, see: https://github.com/FreeCAD/FreeCAD-addons. Use the correct workbench for the right job will save you a lot of time.

Re: FreeCAD v1.1

#59

Post by MegaDeKay »

acrophobic wrote: post #23
_whiteCaps_ wrote: post #8

I post this in every FreeCAD thread: If you're going to start designing something with it, use the spreadsheet tool to make everything parametric. You'll save yourself a ton of time as your designs get more complicated. Maybe this isn't anything new to experience CAD users. I don't know if other CAD tools do this as I started using FreeCAD after playing with 3D printing.

You can also use VarSet[0], which I think is easier than spreadsheet since you don't have to switch the workbench. [0]: https://wiki.freecad.org/Std_VarSet

The downside of spreadsheets is they can really slow your model down. Every cell change triggers a full recompute of the 3D model. VarSets offer much faster performance while sacrificing a couple spreadsheet features. So always choose VarSets over spreadsheets if you can.

Re: FreeCAD v1.1

#60

Post by sinker »

_whiteCaps_ wrote: post #8

I post this in every FreeCAD thread: If you're going to start designing something with it, use the spreadsheet tool to make everything parametric. You'll save yourself a ton of time as your designs get more complicated. Maybe this isn't anything new to experience CAD users. I don't know if other CAD tools do this as I started using FreeCAD after playing with 3D printing.

Spreadsheets are better in theory but varsets work so much better in practice.
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