User:RussHensel
So this is my page. More coming, this is just a login test.
Why
Notes about me, my work, and links I find useful.
Who
Old guy who programs arduino, Python, and FreeCad
Some of My FreeCad Work
Some projects have 2 links, and documentation to some projects are at a wiki that is currently broken.
- Raspberry Pi Platform : 7 Steps - Instructables
- Any Size Enclosure You Want : 4 Steps (with Pictures) - Instructables
- russ-hensel/nut_knob: A parametric model ( FreeCad )of a knob for tool free adjustment of nuts and hex head bolts.
- russ-hensel/delta_bandsaw_blade_guide: FreeCad blade guide for the 14 inch bandsaw
- russ-hensel/hose_knob: knob for the female end of a hose for tool free connections
- russ-hensel/nut_knob: A parametric model ( FreeCad )of a knob for tool free adjustment of nuts and hex head bolts.
- russ-hensel/PiPlatform: Mounting platform for Raspberry Pi and other Modules 3D Printed, FreeCad files
- russ-hensel/Parametric-Case-Enclosure: Parametric Case-Enclosure in FreeCad for electronics or other projects. In FreeCad
Pages of Interest
"MY" Pages
Really just pages I am starting:
- Best Practices with SpreadSheets
- Microscope Adapter Model
- FreeCad on Video
- FreeCad with Multiple Monitors
- Hints on Using the Forum and Wiki
- FreeCad Workbenches
New User
- Broken Models
- New User Gotchas
- Sketcher ValidateSketch - FreeCAD Documentation
- FreeCad Getting Started - BD_USD_SSD_WIKI
- Category:Common Questions/en - FreeCAD Documentation
- User hub - FreeCAD Documentation
- User hub This is the main help area for newcomers to FreeCAD.
Wiki
Wiki Meta
Finding info on FreeCad is a bit like Hunt the Wumpus Hunt the Wumpus - Wikiwand . Lots of info out there but finding it is a chore. I have been using FreeCad as a hobbyist for years and still do not know how to navigate all the info. Some is at the official website, Wiki and Forumn, but lots is just out there. Aside from just complaining I am working on a page, but is this a good idea, or just a waste of my time.
Proposed: a table of contents ( links ) for working with the wiki for wiki content creators. As a start it might look something like this:
Wiki TOC
Introduction
This page is a table of contents for information about the FreeCad Wiki, not FreeCad, it is a meta page.
So if you want to help create more wiki ( or related ) content this might be a good place to start.
The intent here is to link to other resources, a guide map, not to actually discuss the Wiki issues.
Also see the discussion tab for this page for another meta level of discussion.
Category Links
- Check out the category pages related to the Wiki
Forum
- Discuss the wiki at: Wiki - FreeCAD Forum
Other Links
- Translation Policies....
- Localisation
- FreeCAD translations in Crowdin
- Enough info?
- Where to store binary ( non-image ) files: Link Needed
- Link(s) required.
- Linking to github, gitlab, YouTube, pdf's blogs.....:
- Link(s) required.
- Managing the Wiki's relationship to versions of FreeCad:
- Enough info?
- Categories: how to classify a page into categories and maintain the categories:
- Categories - FreeCAD Documentation
- Enough info?
- Style Guide:
- Procecures for Wiki Cleanup:
- Style: Link(s) required.
- Grammar, spelling... Link(s) required.
- To indicate a page is in process:
- [GuiCommand model]]
says: While the page is under construction, add the Template:UnfinishedDocu template at the top of the page by simply typing: {{UnfinishedDocu}}
- A reader's guide to reading/navigating the Wiki
- No link found so far
- A Wiki todo list:
- No link found so far
Wiki To Do
- Categories are not documented on their own pages.
Using the Wiki
- Start at the main page and work through the various links or menu on the main page ( Actually this menu repeats on every page ) then use the links in each page as you find then. Sort of a treasure hunt with hints. If it works for you use it, but it can be tedious.
- As a sub category to above if you know which workbench you want use that in the menu.
- Of course you can search the Wiki, use the search feature ( upper right ).
- The discussion and history tabs can be useful, they may alert you to issues about the page, or plans for it.
- Normally a page belongs to one or more categories. You can see all the pages in a category by clicking on the category then navigate to other pages in the same category.
- To see all categories click on the word Category: at the left hand list of the categories, then on to a category, and finally a page or more.
- Use the what links here link ( on the left ) to ( perhaps ) go to a more general page on the same or similar topic.
Using the Forum
- Its a forum so it is like one, like other ones you have used.
- It is arranged by broad topic areas and then by date. Topics may or may not come to conclusions.
- To search it use the search, try with a mix of key words.
- In the forum are some instructions on how to use it.
- Link 1
- Link 2
FreeCad Getting Started: a Table of Contents
Cad software, especially powerful software, almost always has a steep learning curve. If you are here you may well be at the beginning of the curve trying to climb it. This is one guide, mostly links to the many resources on the web which may help you.
- User hub a long existing page "This is the main help area for newcomers to FreeCAD"
- Manual
- Workbench Overview
- Forum
- FreeCad Workbenches a page I propose to write. a bit more than the current list. Private draft at FreeCad Workbenches - BD_USD_SSD_WIKI will be announced in the Wiki forum for comment.
- FreeCad Beginner Gotchas a page I propose to write. Private draft at FreeCad Beginner Gotchas - BD_USD_SSD_WIKI will be announced in the Wiki forumn for comment.
Frequently asked questions --- add to category common Questions and or change category to frequently asked questions FAQ
scratch
- User hub consider some changes
preserve old contents with name ???/ rename current contents to perhaps FreeCad Getting Started: a Table of Contents change discussion page to a meta page to discuss the FreeCad Getting Started: a Table of Contents add some content: ( I would be willing to author, or at least partly author some of these ) I have a document that gives, I think, a needed overview of the workbenches, but only 4 of them so far see.... a page on beginner gotchas a page on how to use the Wiki -- everyone is not born knowing link in some additional material already existing like material on Videos ( including my new page ) ......
Video tutorials -- broken down by application
Video tutorials for product design -- as it says, for product design
Video tutorials for architectural design
Add a category Videos Add a Category Example files Add advice on categories to view like Tutorials
Sketcher ValidateSketch - FreeCAD Documentation Category:Common Questions/en - FreeCAD Documentation Frequently asked questions
What is a Workbench
A workbench is a set of tools that can create or modify objects in your model. The sorts of objects each workbench can create is usually limited to a fairly small number ( see discussion below ). This topic may be a bit confused because some tools occur in multiple workbenches and you can configure the benches by adding or deleting tools.
Introduction
Freecad typically makes complicated objects by building up from simple objects. The tools....
Links to example files will attempt to show very simple examples of how this works. Files that show more complicated models using multiple wokbenches will be linked to at the end of this page.
Part
- Overview
The Part workbench makes geometric objects in a couple of ways: from basic named 3 d objects like spheres, cones, blocks, or from manipulation of 2D sketches into a third dimension. The discussion below my simplify some of the nuances of the workbenches: it is an overview
- Can Make:
- Parts
- Can Modify:
- Sketch from 2D to 3D
- PartDesign objects
- Meshes
- Detailed Docs:
PartDesign
- Overview
The PartDesign workbench makes geometric objects in a couple of ways:
Sketcher
- Overview
The Sketcher primarly makes 2D objects in a plane that are typically used by other workbenches to create 3D objects.
Spreadsheet
- Overview:
The Spreadsheet workbench makes spreadsheets, think OpenOffice, Excel.... Compared to dedicated spreadsheet programs it is quite limited. But it has a magic ability: It can link its calculated or entered values into expression throughout objects in the rest of FreeCad. All the important variables and calculations can be kept in one place, and the model dynamically ( parametrically ) modified from there.
- Can Make:
- Spreadsheets
- Can Modify:
- CSV file -> Spreadsheets ( and interface to Excel in this way )
- Example Files:
- Detailed Docs:
Template
- Overview:
The xxx workbench makes
- Can Make:
- Can Modify:
- Detailed Docs:
something else
categoryxxx:Example Models
These are models that have made a significant attempt to be useful as examples. All should link to their "source code" so the model can be downloaded and inspected. The links should be to some sort of publicly accessible repository, perhaps github or gitlab. The model may or may not be part of a tutorial. At a minimum a model should have:
- documentation of version of FreeCad
- at least one screen shot
- a discussion of the model, need not be a full tutorial ( unless also in category Tutorials )
- Link to the model file or files ( the source code ).
Categories
consider adding....ask powers that be
- User -- is there a way of finding user pages easily .... may alreaady be a special page
- YouTube -- index to youtube videos -- and other platforms
- Models -- index to models....keep actual model on gitxxxx or similar and link
- HowDoI -- answer questions of how do I do something ... may only need one page that indexes to others
- Best Practices -- my current interest
Of interest to me at some time needs cleanup to clean links
- Category:External Command Reference
- Category Developer Documentation
- Category:Administration
- Category:Common Questions
- Category:Reinforcement
- Category:Sandbox
- Category:Spreadsheet
- Category:Roadmap
- Category:Python Code
- Category:Developer
- Category:Tutorials
Scratch Notes
- (2) FC v0.17dev: Part Design Next Usecases and Best practices - Page 5 - FreeCAD Forum
- (1) FC v0.17dev: Part Design Next Usecases and Best practices - Page 5 - FreeCAD Forum
- (1) SketchUP to FreeCad, or best practices from mesh to drawing - FreeCAD Forum
- (1) How to get wiki editing permissions - FreeCAD Forum
- Spreadsheet Workbench - FreeCAD Documentation
- Units - FreeCAD Documentation
- Quantity - FreeCAD Documentation
- Manual:The Community - FreeCAD Documentation
- Posts containing 'freecad' - 3D Printing Stack Exchange
- Wiki brainstorming
What Ends the Parametric Model Chain
When you add some features to a parametric part of a model, you may get a result that is not longer parametric: Say feature A is the basis for feature B. If changes in feature are not reflected in a change to feature B then the parametric nature of the model is broken at the transition A -> B breaks the model chain. In most cases operations do not break the chain, the following table documents some modeling operations and effects:
Modeling Step | Still Parametric | Comment |
Parametric Part -> Mesh | No | Often a file step to export for the purpose of 3D Printing |
Parametric Part -> Clone | Yes | Use this to......
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