Arch Workbench

Introduction
The Arch Workbench provides a modern building information modelling (BIM) workflow to FreeCAD, with support for features like fully parametric architectural entities such as walls, beams, roofs, windows, stairs, pipes, and furniture. It supports industry foundation classes (IFC) files, and production of 2D floor plans in combination with the TechDraw Workbench.

The Arch Workbench imports all tools from the Draft Workbench, as it uses its 2D objects to build 3D parametric architectural objects. Nevertheless, Arch can also use solid shapes created with other workbenches like Part and  PartDesign.

The BIM functionality of FreeCAD is now progressively split into this Arch Workbench, which holds basic architectural tools, and the BIM Workbench, which is available from the  Addon Manager. This BIM Workbench adds a new interface layer on top of the Arch tools, with the aim of making the BIM workflow more intuitive and user-friendly. See FreeCAD BIM migration guide.

The developers of Draft, Arch, and BIM also collaborate with the greater OSArch community, with the ultimate goal of improving building design by using entirely free software.



Tools
These are tools for creating architectural objects.


 * [[Image:Arch_Wall.svg|32px]] Wall: creates a wall from scratch or using a selected object as a base.


 * [[Image:Arch_Structure.svg|32px]] Structural element: creates a structural element from scratch or using a selected object as a base.


 * Arch CompRebarStraight.png Rebar tools: the Reinforcement Addon augments the Arch Workbench Structures.
 * [[Image:Arch_Rebar_Straight.png|32px]] Straight Rebar: creates a Straight reinforcement bar in a selected structural element.
 * [[Image:Arch_Rebar_UShape.png|32px]] UShape Rebar: creates a UShape reinforcement bar in a selected structural element.
 * [[Image:Arch_Rebar_LShape.png|32px]] LShape Rebar: creates a LShape reinforcement bar in a selected structural element.
 * [[Image:Arch_Rebar_BentShape.png|32px]] Bent Shape Rebar: creates a Bent Shape reinforcement bar in a selected structural element.
 * [[Image:Arch_Rebar_Stirrup.png|32px]] Stirrup Rebar: creates a Stirrup reinforcement bar in a selected structural element.
 * [[Image:Arch_Rebar_Helical.png|32px]] Helical Rebar: creates a Helical reinforcement bar in a selected structural element.
 * [[Image:Arch_Rebar_ColumnReinforcement.png|32px]] ColumnReinforcement: creates a reinforcing bars inside a Column Arch Structure object.
 * [[Image:Arch_Rebar_ColumnReinforcement.png|32px]] ColumnReinforcement TwoTiesSixRebars: creates a reinforcing bars inside a Column Arch Structure object.
 * [[Image:Arch_Rebar_BeamReinforcement.png|32px]] BeamReinforcement: creates reinforcing bars inside a Beam Arch Structure object.
 * [[Image:Arch_Rebar.svg|32px]] Rebar: creates a custom reinforcement bar in a selected structural element using a sketch.


 * [[Image:Arch_CurtainWall.svg|32px]] Curtain Wall: creates a curtain wall from scratch or using a selected object as a base.


 * [[Image:Arch_BuildingPart.png|32px]] Building Part: Creates a building part including selected objects


 * [[Image:Arch_Project.svg|32px]] Project: Creates a project including selected objects


 * [[Image:Arch_Site.svg|32px]] Site: Creates a site including selected objects


 * [[Image:Arch_Building.svg|32px]] Building: Creates a building including selected objects


 * [[Image:Arch_Floor.svg|32px]] Level: Creates a floor including selected objects


 * [[Image:Arch_Reference.svg|32px]] Reference: Links objects from another FreeCAD file into this document


 * [[Image:Arch_Window.svg|32px]] Window: Creates a window using a selected object as a base


 * [[Image:Arch_Roof.svg|32px]] Roof: Creates a sloped roof from a selected face


 * Arch CompAxis.png Axis tools: The Axis tool allows you to places a series of axes in the current document.
 * [[Image:Arch_Axis.svg|32px]] Axis: Adds a 1-direction array of axes to the document
 * [[Image:Arch_AxisSystem.svg|32px]] Axis System: Adds an axis system composed of several axes to the document
 * [[Image:Arch_Grid.svg|32px]] Grid: Adds a grid-like object to the document


 * [[Image:Arch_SectionPlane.svg|32px]] Section Plane: Adds a section plane object to the document


 * [[Image:Arch_Space.svg|32px]] Space: Creates a space object in the document


 * [[Image:Arch_Stairs.svg|32px]] Stairs: Creates a stairs object in the document


 * Arch CompPanel.png Panel tools: Allows you to build all kinds of panel-like elements.
 * [[Image:Arch_Panel.svg|32px]] Panel: Creates a panel object from a selected 2D object
 * [[Image:Arch_Panel_Cut.svg|32px]] Panel Cut: Creates a 2D cut view from a panel
 * [[Image:Arch_Panel_Sheet.svg|32px]] Panel Sheet: Creates a 2D cut sheet including panel cuts or other 2D objects
 * [[Image:Arch_Nest.svg|32px]] Nest: Allow to nest several flat objects inside a container shape


 * [[Image:Arch_Equipment.svg|32px]] Equipment: Creates an equipment or furniture object


 * [[Image:Arch_Frame.svg|32px]] Frame: Creates a frame object from a selected layout


 * [[Image:Arch_Fence.svg|32px]] Fence: Creates a fence object from a selected post and path.


 * [[Image:Arch_Truss.svg|32px]] Truss: Creates a truss from a selected line of from scratch.


 * [[Image:Arch_Profile.svg|32px]] Profile: Creates a parametric 2D profile.


 * Arch CompSetMaterial.png Material tools: The Material tools allows to add materials to the active document.
 * [[Image:Arch_SetMaterial.svg|32px]] Material: Creates a material and attributes it to selected objects, if any
 * [[Image:Arch_MultiMaterial.svg|32px]] Multi-Material: Creates a multi-material and attributes it to selected objects, if any


 * [[Image:Arch_Schedule.svg|32px]] Schedule: Creates different types of schedules


 * Arch CompPipe.png Pipe tools
 * [[Image:Arch_Pipe.svg|32px]] Pipe: Creates a pipe
 * [[Image:Arch_PipeConnector.svg|32px]] Pipe Connector: Creates a corner or tee connection between 2 or 3 selected pipes

Modification tools
These are tools for modifying architectural objects.


 * [[Image:Arch_CutPlane.svg|32px]] Cut with plane: Cut an object according to a plane.


 * [[Image:Arch_CutLine.svg|32px]] Cut with line: Cut an object according to a line.


 * [[Image:Arch_Add.svg|32px]] Add component: Adds objects to a component


 * [[Image:Arch_Remove.svg|32px]] Remove component: Subtracts or removes objects from a component


 * [[Image:Arch_Survey.svg|32px]] Survey: Enters or leaves surveying mode

Utilities
These are additional tools to help you in specific tasks.


 * [[Image:Arch_Component.svg|32px]] Component: Creates a non-parametric Arch component


 * [[Image:Arch_CloneComponent.svg|32px]] Clone component: Produces Arch Components that are clones of selected Arch objects (not to be confused with Draft Clone)


 * [[Image:Arch_SplitMesh.svg|32px]] Split Mesh: Splits a selected mesh into separate components


 * [[Image:Arch_MeshToShape.svg|32px]] Mesh To Shape: Converts a mesh into a shape, unifying coplanar faces


 * [[Image:Arch_SelectNonManifold.svg|32px]] Select non-solid meshes: Selects all non-solid meshes from the current selection or from the document


 * [[Image:Arch_RemoveShape.svg|32px]] Remove Shape: Turns cubic shape-based arch object fully parametric


 * [[Image:Arch_CloseHoles.svg|32px]] Close Holes: Closes holes in a selected shape-based object


 * [[Image:Arch_MergeWalls.svg|32px]] Merge Walls: Merge two or more walls


 * [[Image:Arch_Check.svg|32px]] Check: Check if the selected objects are solids and don't contain defects


 * [[Image:IFC.svg|32px]] Ifc Explorer: Browse the contents of an IFC file


 * [[Image:Arch_ToggleIfcBrepFlag.svg|32px]] Toggle IFC Brep flag: Forces a selected object to be exported as an IfcFacetedBrep.


 * [[Image:Arch_3Views.svg|32px]] 3 Views from mesh: Creates top, frontal and side views from a mesh.


 * [[Image:Arch_IfcSpreadsheet.svg|32px]] Create IFC spreadsheet...: Creates a spreadsheet to store IFC properties of an object


 * [[Image:Arch_ToggleSubs.svg|32px]] Toggle Subcomponents: Shows or hides the subcomponents of an Arch object.

Preferences

 * [[Image:Preferences-arch.svg|32px]] Preferences: preferences for the default appearance of walls, structures, rebars, windows, stairs, panels, pipes, grids and axes.

File formats

 * IFC: industry foundation classes
 * DAE: Collada mesh format
 * OBJ: Obj mesh format (export only)
 * JSON: JavaScript Object Notation format (export only)
 * 3DS: 3DS format (import only)
 * SHP: GIS Shapefiles (import only)

API
The Arch module can be used in Python scripts and macros using the Arch Python API functions.

Tutorials

 * Architecture workflow: An example of how FreeCAD can begin to have its preliminary place in an architecture workflow.
 * Arch tutorial (v0.14)
 * Quick arch overview on Yorik's blog (v0.13)
 * Video presentation of the Arch workbench (2016)
 * Arch panel tutorial (v0.15)
 * BIM modeling chapter from the FreeCAD manual
 * Import from STL or OBJ
 * Export to STL or OBJ