Feature
Appearance
Introduction
In FreeCAD the word "Feature" is normally used to refer to a PartDesign Feature object (PartDesign::Feature class) that is defined by the PartDesign Workbench. This is an operation or modelling step performed to create or modify a solid Shape following the feature editing paradigm.
See PartDesign Feature for more information about this type of object.
Usage
- Switch to the
PartDesign Workbench.
- Press
PartDesign Body.
- Press
PartDesign NewSketch to create a new Sketch.
- Create a closed wire, and then use
PartDesign Pad to extrude the sketch, and create an initial solid. This initial solid is the initial Feature.
- Add more sketches and pads, and use other tools of the PartDesign Workbench to modify and transform the initial solid. Each of these steps correspond to Features of the Body.
- Alternatively, add primitive objects, like
PartDesign AdditiveBox and
PartDesign SubtractiveCylinder. Any number of additive and subtractive steps are Features that are used to create a final volume.
Notes
In the general sense, a "Feature" can be any modelling step used to create a final Shape, with any tool of any workbench.
- For example, in the Part Workbench, in the constructive solid geometry workflow, a "Feature" could be any boolean operation, like
Part Fuse,
Part Cut, or
Part Common.
In a more specific sense, a "Feature" is a modelling step used inside a PartDesign Body.
- For example,
PartDesign AdditiveCylinder,
PartDesign AdditiveLoft,
PartDesign Pocket,
PartDesign SubtractiveCone, etc., are all "Features".
- Helper tools: New Body, New Sketch, Attach Sketch, Edit Sketch, Validate Sketch, Check Geometry, Sub-Shape Binder, Clone
- Modeling tools:
- Additive tools: Pad, Revolution, Additive Loft, Additive Pipe, Additive Helix, Additive Box, Additive Cylinder, Additive Sphere, Additive Cone, Additive Ellipsoid, Additive Torus, Additive Prism, Additive Wedge
- Subtractive tools: Pocket, Hole, Groove, Subtractive Loft, Subtractive Pipe, Subtractive Helix, Subtractive Box, Subtractive Cylinder, Subtractive Sphere, Subtractive Cone, Subtractive Ellipsoid, Subtractive Torus, Subtractive Prism, Subtractive Wedge
- Boolean: Boolean Operation
- Dress-up tools: Fillet, Chamfer, Draft, Thickness
- Transformation tools: Mirror, Linear Pattern, Polar Pattern, Multi-Transform, Scale
- Additional tools: Shape Binder, Involute Gear, Sprocket, Shaft Design Wizard
- Context menu: Suppressed, Set Tip, Move Object To…, Move Feature After…
- Preferences: Preferences, Fine tuning
- Creation and modification: New Sketch, Extrude, Revolve, Mirror, Scale, Fillet, Chamfer, Face From Wires, Ruled Surface, Loft, Sweep, Section, Cross-Sections, 3D Offset, 2D Offset, Thickness, Project on Surface, Appearance per Face
- Boolean: Compound, Explode Compound, Compound Filter, Boolean Operation, Cut, Union, Intersection, Connect Shapes, Embed Shapes, Cutout Shape, Boolean Fragments, Slice Apart, Slice to Compound, Boolean XOR, Check Geometry, Defeaturing
- Other tools: Box Selection, Shape From Mesh, Points From Shape, Convert to Solid, Reverse Shapes, Simple Copy, Transformed Copy, Shape Element Copy, Refine Shape, Set Tolerance, Persistent Section Cut, Attachment
- Preferences: Preferences, Fine tuning
- Core: App DocumentObject
- Basic: App FeaturePython, App GeoFeature, Part Feature, Mesh Feature, Fem FemMeshObject
- Internal shapes: Part TopoShape, Mesh MeshObject, Fem FemMesh
- Structure: App DocumentObjectGroup (Std Group), App Part (Std Part), App Link (Std LinkMake)
- Derived: Part Part2DObject, Sketcher SketchObject, PartDesign Body, PartDesign Feature
- Getting started
- Installation: Download, Windows, Linux, Mac, Additional components, Docker, AppImage, Ubuntu Snap
- Basics: About FreeCAD, Interface, Mouse navigation, Selection methods, Object name, Preferences, Workbenches, Document structure, Properties, Help FreeCAD, Donate
- Help: Tutorials, Video tutorials
- Workbenches: Std Base, Assembly, BIM, CAM, Draft, FEM, Inspection, Material, Mesh, OpenSCAD, Part, PartDesign, Points, Reverse Engineering, Robot, Sketcher, Spreadsheet, Surface, TechDraw, Test Framework
- Hubs: User hub, Power users hub, Developer hub