Getting started/bg

Какво Ново

 * Version 0.11 Release notes : Вижте какво ново в версия 0.11 на FreeCAD
 * Version 0.12 Release notes : Вижте какво ново в версия 0.12 на FreeCAD
 * Version 0.13 Release notes : Вижте какво ново в версия 0.13 на FreeCAD
 * Version 0.14 Release notes : Вижте какво ново в версия 0.14 на FreeCAD
 * Version 0.15 Release notes : Вижте какво ново в версия 0.15 на FreeCAD
 * Version 0.16 Release notes : Вижте какво ново в версия 0.16 на FreeCAD

Увод
FreeCAD е 3D CAD/CAE програма за параметрично моделиране. Основно е предназначена за механичен дизайн но има приложение и във всички други области изискващи точно моделиране на 3D обекти.

FreeCAD е все още в ранен стадии на своето развитие. Макар и вече да предоставя много възможности, все още много елементи липсват, особенно в сравнение с някои платени продукти. Може все още да не е достатъчно развита за използване в продукция. FreeCAD има бързо растящо общество of потребители и вече може да намеритемного примери на качествени проекти разработени с FreeCAD.

Както всички проекти с отворен код, FreeCAD не е просто едноседмичен проект доставен веднъж от неговите автори. Програмата разчита на активното общество от потребители и програмист иза да расте, добавя нови възможности и да се стабилизира (тоест да се оправят бъгове). Моля не забравяйте че след като започнете да използвате FreeCAD, ако го харесвате, може директно да участвате в неговото развитие.

Инсталация
Първо (ако все още не сте го направили) свалете и инсталирайте FreeCAD. Вижте страницата Download за линкове за сваляне на последната версия, и страницата Инсталация за информация как да инсталирате FreeCAD. Има готови инсталатори заWindows (.msi), Ubuntu и Debian (.deb) openSUSE (.rpm) и Mac OSX. Тъй като FreeCAD е с отворен код, ако сте готови за приключение, може да видите (и работите върху) най-новите разработки в прогрмата като свалите сорс кода и сами компилирате FreeCAD.

Да Опознаем FreeCAD



 * 1) Прозореца 3D показва обекта върху които работите
 * 2) Прозореца "tree view" (дърво на обектите),  показва йерархията и историята на конструиране на всички обекти в документа
 * 3) Прозореца properties editor, видите и промените свойствата на избраните в момента обекти
 * 4) В прозореца report (също наричан output window), which is where FreeCAD принтира съобщения и грешки
 * 5) В Конзолата на python се принтират всички python команди които се изпълняват от FreeCAD. Там също може да въведете и свой python код.
 * 6) Полето workbench selector, ви позволява да смените активния работен плот

Основната концепция в интерфейса на FreeCAD е разделението на различни работни плотове. Един Работен Плот е сбор от определни инструменти и туул-барове които ви позволяват да изпълните определна задача. Например работния плот meshes ви позволява да работите с меш-ове. Има работен плот за 2D обекти, за скици чрез ограничения и т.н. Може да сменяте настоящия работен плот с полето workbench selector (6). Може да променяте инструментите показани във всеки плот, да добавяте инструменти от други плотове, и дори да добавяте инструменти които сами сте създали (например макроси). Има и "пълен работен плот" в който са събрани наи-често използваните инструменти от други работни плотове.

When you start FreeCAD for the first time, you are presented with the start center:



The Start Center allows you to quickly jump to one of the most common workbenches, open one of the recent files, or see the latest news from the FreeCAD world. You can change the default workbench in the preferences.

Navigating in the 3D space
FreeCAD has several different navigation modes available, that change the way you use your mouse to interact with the objects in the 3D view and the view itself. One of them is specifically made for touchpads, where the middle mouse button is not used. The following table describes the default mode, called CAD Navigation (You can quickly change the current navigation mode by right-clicking on an empty area of the 3D view):

You also have several view presets (top view, front view, etc) available in the View menu and on the View toolbar, and by numeric shortcuts (,, etc...), and by right-clicking on an object or on an empty area of the 3D view, you have quick access to some common operations, such as setting a particular view, or locating an object in the Tree view.

First steps with FreeCAD
FreeCAD's focus is to allow you to make high-precision 3D models, to keep tight control over those models (being able to go back into modelling history and change parameters), and eventually to build those models (via 3D printing, CNC machining or even construction worksite). It is therefore very different from some other 3D applications made for other purposes, such as animation film or gaming. Its learning curve can be steep, specially if this is your first contact with 3D modeling. If you are struck at some point, don't forget that the friendly community of users on the FreeCAD forum might be able to get you out in no time.

The workbench you will start using in FreeCAD depends on the type of job you need to do: If you are going to work on mechanical models, or more generally any small-scale objects, you'll probably want to try the PartDesign Workbench. If you will work in 2D, then switch to the Draft Workbench, or the Sketcher Workbench if you need constraints. If you want to do BIM, launch the Arch Workbench. If you are working with ship design, there is a special Ship Workbench for you. And if you come from the OpenSCAD world, try the OpenSCAD Workbench.

You can switch workbenches at any time, and also customize your favorite workbench to add tools from other workbenches.

Working with the PartDesign and Sketcher workbenches
The PartDesign Workbench is specially made to build complex objects, starting from simple shapes, and adding or removing pieces (that we call "features"), until you get to your final object. All the features you applied during the modelling process are stored in a separate view called the tree view, which also contains the other objects in your document. You can think of a PartDesign object as a succession of operations, each one applied to the result of the preceding one, forming one big chain. In the tree view, you see your final object, but you can expand it and retrieve all preceding states, and change any of their parameter, which automatically updates the final object.

The PartDesign workbench makes heavy use of another workbench, the Sketcher Workbench. The sketcher allows you to draw 2D shapes, which are defined by applying Constraints to the 2D shape. For example, you might draw a rectangle and set the size of a side by applying a length constraint to one of the sides. That side then cannot be resized anymore (unless the constraint is changed).

Those 2D shapes made with the sketcher are used a lot in the PartDesign workbench, for example to create 3D volumes, or to draw areas on the faces of your object that will then be hollowed from its main volume. This is a typical PartDesign workflow:


 * 1) Create a new sketch
 * 2) Draw a closed shape (make sure all points are joined)
 * 3) Close the sketch
 * 4) Expand the sketch into a 3D solid by using the pad tool
 * 5) Select one face of the solid
 * 6) Create a second sketch (this time it will be drawn on the selected face)
 * 7) Draw a closed shape
 * 8) Close the sketch
 * 9) Create a pocket from the second sketch, on the first object

Which gives you an object like this:



At any moment, you can select the original sketches and modify them, or change the extrusion parameters of the pad or pocket operations, which will update the final object.

Working with the Draft and Arch workbenches
The Draft Workbench and Arch Workbench behave a bit differently than the other workbenches above, although they follow the same rules, which are common to all of FreeCAD. In short, while the Sketcher and PartDesign are made primarily to design single pieces, Draft and Arch are made to ease your work when working with several, simpler objects.

The Draft Workbench offers you 2D tools a bit similar to what you can find in traditional 2D CAD applications such as AutoCAD. However, 2D drafting being far away from the scope of FreeCAD, don't expect to find there the full array of tools that these dedicated applications offer. Most of the Draft tools work not only in a 2D plane but also in the full 3D space, and benefit from special helper systems such as Work planes and object snapping.

The Arch Workbench adds BIM tools to FreeCAD, allowing you to build architectural models with parametric objects. The Arch workbench relies much on other modules such as Draft and Sketcher. All the Draft tools are also present in the Arch workbench, and most Arch tools make use of the Draft helper systems.

A typical workflow with Arch and Draft workbenches might be:


 * 1) Draw a couple of lines with the Draft Line tool
 * 2) Select each line and press the Wall tool to build a wall on each of them
 * 3) Join the walls by selecting them and pressing the Arch Add tool
 * 4) Create a floor object, and move your walls in it from the Tree view
 * 5) Create a building object, and move your floor in it from the Tree view
 * 6) Create a window by clicking the Window tool, select a preset in its panel, then click on a face of a wall
 * 7) Add dimensions by first setting the working plane if necessary, then using the Draft Dimension tool

Which will give you this:



More on the Tutorials page.

Scripting
And finally, one of the most powerful features of FreeCAD is the scripting environment. From the integrated python console (or from any other external Python script), you can gain access to almost any part of FreeCAD, create or modify geometry, modify the representation of those objects in the 3D scene or access and modify the FreeCAD interface. Python scripting can also be used in macros, which provide an easy method to create custom commands.