Draft ShapeString tutorial
Tutorial |
Topic |
---|
ShapeString (Draft workbench) |
Level |
Beginner |
Time to complete |
30 minutes |
Authors |
r-frank |
FreeCAD version |
0.16.6704 |
Example files |
See also |
None |
Introduction
In this tutorial we will discuss how to
- insert a text with the Draft Shapestring tool
- extrude it to be a solid
- position it in 3D space using placement and Draft Move on sketches
- doing an engraving by applying a boolean cut
It is recommended to have completed the sketcher tutorial first.
Creating the basic shape
- Start FreeCAD and create a new document
- Switch to part workbench
- Insert a cube by clicking on XX
- Make sure the cube is selected in the tree view
- Change width to be 50 mm by using the data-tab in the property view
- Choose upper edge on the front face of the cube and apply achamfer of 5 mm
- Make sure object "chamfer" is selected in the tree view and press <Space> to toggle visibility
Inserting text with the Draft ShapeString tool
- Switch to Draft workbench
- Toggle working plane to XY
- Insert text "FreeCAD"
Create 3D text
- Switch to part workbench
- Make sure the Draft Shapestring object in the tree view is selected
- Use Part Extrude-Tool with the parameters:
- extude Z=1 mm
- make sure to tick "create solid"
- Make sure object "Extrude" is selected in the tree view and press <Space> to toggle visibility
Insert sketch for positioning
- Switch to sketcher workbench
- Make sure object "chamfer" is selected in the tree view and press <Space> to toggle visibility
- Choose sloped face created by chamfer operation
- Click on to insert new sketch
- Draw a line (may be horizintal or vertical, length is not of importance ...)
- Constrain one of the endpoints to be +2,5 mm vertical distance and +2 mm horizontal distance away from the origin
- Close sketch
Positioning 3D text in 3D space
- Make sure object "Extrude" is selected in the tree view and press <Space> to toggle visibility
- Make sure, object "Extrude" is selected in the tree view
- Apply incremental placement Z=90°
- Apply incremental placement Y=45°
- Switch to draft workbench
- Switch to wireframe mode
- Make sure, only "snap to endpoint" is activated
- Select "extrude"-object
- Click on move
- In 3D view click on the most upper left corner point of "extrude"-object and then click on the constrained point in the sketch
Creating engraved text
- Switch to part workbench
- Select the 3D text ("extrude") and then the base object ("chamfer")
- Apply a boolean cut by clicking on ...
- Finished
Notes
- for creating curved text you can use the macro FC_CircularText
- for importing text from inkscape look at the "Importing text from inkscape"-tutorial
Demonstration of workflows
Since a picture is better for explaining than text here are small screencasts showing
the workflow for the different chapters.
The films were recorded using FreeCAD 0.16.6704 on Windows 7 64-bit.
FreeCAD was set to "english" language.
The screencasts were recorded using screentogif.