====== FreeCAD ======

===== Tips =====

To fuse solids together it is better to have **overlapping** solids.

==== Part Design vs Part ====

=== Part Design Workbench ===

Part Design modelling has a sequential workflow, the operations are piled one after another (except for sketches which are nested inside their operation).

Sketches are automatically hidden after use in an operation.

<blockquote>

The PartDesign workbench uses a parametric, feature editing methodology, which means a basic solid is sequentially transformed by adding features on top until the final shape is obtained.

[...]

The PartDesign Workbench is intrinsically related to the Sketcher Workbench. The user normally creates a Sketch, then uses the PartDesign Pad tool to extrude it and create a basic solid, and then this solid is further modified.

<cite>FreeCAD wiki</cite>
</blockquote>

=== Part Workbench ===

Part modelling has a hierarchal workflow where instances are nested into each other after operations.

Sketches are not hidden after use in an operation.

<blockquote>
The Part Workbench is based on a constructive solid geometry (CSG) methodology for building shapes.

<cite>FreeCAD wiki</cite>
</blockquote>

===== Dependency Graph =====

A useful tool to inspect how many solids compose a single document.

==== GraphViz ====

The dependency graph depends on the GraphViz library.

On major linux distribs you can simply install graphviz from the repos :

<code>
$ sudo apt install graphviz
</code>

If FreeCAD signals that it cannot find the GraphViz package when you are sure it is installed, you can correct this by pointing it to /usr/bin/ with the appropriate dialog box.

===== SVG to 3D model =====

Make a plain svg and import as geometry in FreeCAD

use draft workbench and up and down arrows to join each paths into faces

use part workbench and extrude each face. Tick "Make solid"

use cut operations to cut out inner parts in o, B, e, A, etc...

Use part menu to make a compound out of it

use draft workbench to move around the text and reset origin

use translation to move the text into position

use cut in part workbench to cut out the text out of another part or join to fuse with another part

[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-jqKb0f-78]]

===== Functions =====

==== Groove ====

|  Create a shape to be grooved (Sketch + Pad)  |  {{software:groove1.jpg?200}}  |
|  Create **another** sketch along the correct axis and create a closed shape to mark the groove  |  {{software:groove2.jpg?200}}  |
|  Select the first shape and the sketch and apply a groove along the corresponding axis (here Z)  |  {{software:groove3.jpg?200}}  |