Release notes 0.20
This page tracks new features as they are added to the development version of FreeCAD, which is currently 0.20. When the 0.20 feature freeze happens, delete these messages, and don't add more features to this page. FreeCAD 0.20 is expected to be released in 202x.
Are features missing? Mention them in the Release notes for v0.20 forum thread.
See Help FreeCAD for ways to contribute to FreeCAD.FreeCAD 0.20 was released on DD Month 202x, get it from the Download page. This is a summary of the most interesting changes. The complete list of changes can be found in the MantisBT bugtracker FC 0.20 changelog.
Older FreeCAD release notes can be found in Feature list.
Highlights
General
Python 3 and Qt5
Some issues
Development
To compile FreeCAD under Windows, there are different Libpacks (prepackaged libraries) available:
- Libpack for Windows with Qt xx, OCC yy, and Python zz
Other development news:
Documentation
Known Limitations
User interface
File:Navi Cube 0.20.gif | The navigation cube was reworked to enable these new features:
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Further User Interface Improvements
- It is now possible to pan the view of the dependency graph with the mouse. Forum discussion, pull request #4638.
App::Link and assembly
Core system, App, Base, and Gui namespaces
Addon Manager
Arch Workbench
Draft Workbench
Further Draft Improvements
FEM Workbench
Effect of Mesh Size From Curvature; left: set to 12, right: deactivated |
There is a new property for the Gmsh mesher. The number of mesh elements per times the radius of the curvature can be specified. The default is 12 and to get a finer mesh at small corners or holes, this value can be increased for better results. This feature requires Gmsh 4.8 or newer. |
File:FEM Gmsh-RecombinationAlgorithm.png Effect of the rcombination algorithm; left: using Simple, right: using Simple full-quad |
FreeCAD allows now to select an algorithm as well as 3D mesh recombination for the Gmsh mesher. For more details about the mesh element recombination see this Wiki page. |
Further FEM Improvements
- The element order of Gmsh meshes can be changed via the mesh dialog. PR #4660
- Material cards can now contain values for the electrical conductivity. PR #4647
- Material cards added for Nitrogen and Argon. PR #4649
- Support for the Gmsh mesh algorithms "HXT" (3D) and "Packing Parallelograms" (2D) added. PR #4654
- Allow to set for the Gmsh property High Order Optimize a certain algorithm. PR #4705
Import
Material handling
Mesh
Further improvements
Part Workbench
Further improvements
- The dialog to edit Cylinders allows now to specify an angle in respect to the normal of the chosen attachment plane. This way one can create skew cylinders. Pull request #4708
PartDesign Workbench
File:PD Pad-Length-alog-direction.gif Effect of the new option Length along sketch normal. Click on the image to show the animation. |
There is a new option to pad a certain length along the direction. The length is either measured along the sketch normal or along the custom direction. |
The dialog to edit Cylinder (additive and subtractive) allows now to specify an angle in respect to the normal of the chosen attachment plane. This way one can create skew cylinders. |
Further improvements
- The Helix feature has the new mode Height-Turns-Growth to create flat spirals. Forum thread PR #4590
- The Sprocket feature can now create also ISO-normed sprockets. Forum thread PR #4478
Path Workbench
Render Workbench
Sketcher Workbench
- Refactored Trim support Pull Request Discussion <-- Needs screencasts
Spreadsheet Workbench
- It is now possible to select in the row/column context-menu at what positions new rows/columns will be inserted. Furthermore, when selecting several rows/columns, the row/column context-menu offers now to insert as many new rows/columns as selected. pull request #4704.