External workbenches: Difference between revisions

From FreeCAD Documentation
(No need to link back to the workbenches with this sentence. There is already a word "workbenches" in the first sentence that can be used as a link.)
(Sections Engineering, Architecture, General, to better organize the external workbenches. Changed the redaction of some sentences)
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=== General === <!--T:17-->
=== General === <!--T:17-->

* [[BIM Workbench|BIM]] aims to implement complete [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Building_information_modeling Building Information Modeling] (BIM) tools and workflow in FreeCAD. It builds on top of the Arch Workbench
* [[Defeaturing Workbench|Defeaturing]] provides tools to edit STEP models by removing selected features.
* [[Defeaturing Workbench|Defeaturing]] provides tools to edit STEP models by removing selected features.
* [[DynamicData Workbench|DynamicData]] allows creation of container objects for holding custom properties.
* [[DynamicData Workbench|DynamicData]] allows creation of container objects for holding custom properties.
* [[EM_Workbench|EM Workbench]] ElectroMagnetic Workbench for [http://www.fastfieldsolvers.com FastFieldSolvers] free tools.
* [[Flamingo Workbench|Flamingo]] a set of customized FreeCAD commands and objects that help to speed-up the drawing of frames and pipelines.
* [[KicadStepUp_Workbench|KicadStepUp]] is aimed at helping both KiCad and FreeCAD users in collaborating with electrical (ECAD) and mechanical (MCAD) design.
* [[Reinforcement Addon|Reinforcement]] augments the [[Arch Workbench]] with additional rebar tools.
* [[SheetMetal Workbench|SheetMetal]] provides tools to design and unfold sheet metal parts.
* [[WebTools Workbench|WebTools]] contains a series of tools to communicate with Web services from within FreeCAD.
* [[WebTools Workbench|WebTools]] contains a series of tools to communicate with Web services from within FreeCAD.
* [https://github.com/execuc/LCInterlocking LCInterlocking] (github link) tools to create parts for laser-cutters. Add tabs and hinges. Export to SVG


=== Architecture and facilities ===

* [[BIM Workbench|BIM]] aims to implement complete [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Building_information_modeling Building Information Modeling] (BIM) tools and workflow in FreeCAD. It builds on top of the [[Arch Workbench]].
* [[Reinforcement Addon|Reinforcement]] augments the [[Arch Workbench]] with additional [[Arch Rebar]] tools.
* [[Flamingo Workbench|Flamingo]] is a set of customized FreeCAD commands and objects that help speed-up the creation of frames and pipelines.


=== Assembly === <!--T:18-->
=== Assembly === <!--T:18-->
As of FreeCAD 0.18 there is no official assembly workbench. However, several external tools have been created and some being under active development to manipulate objects to produce assemblies.
As of FreeCAD 0.18 there is no official assembly workbench. However, several external tools have been created or are in development to manipulate objects to produce assemblies.


<!--T:19-->
<!--T:19-->
* [[Assembly2 Workbench|Assembly2]] provides tools to create multi-part assemblies. Consider using [[A2plus Workbench|A2plus]].
* [[Assembly2 Workbench|Assembly2]] provides tools to create multi-part assemblies. Consider using [[A2plus Workbench|A2plus]].
* [[A2plus Workbench|A2plus]] provides tools to create multi-part assemblies. Extension of the Assembly2 workbench.
* [[A2plus Workbench|A2plus]] provides tools to create multi-part assemblies. It is a fork and extension of the [[Assembly2 Workbench]].
* [https://github.com/realthunder/FreeCAD_assembly3 Assembly3] (github link) is in development and requires a own FreeCAD branch. It is the most complex solution and supports thinsg like interactive kinematics.
* [https://github.com/realthunder/FreeCAD_assembly3 Assembly3] (github link) is in development and requires a forked version of FreeCAD with some core changes. It is the most complex solution and supports things like interactive kinematics.
* [https://github.com/Zolko-123/FreeCAD_aws Assembly4] (github link) is a solution based on the own FreeCAD branch that Assembly3 is using. It does not work with constraints at all and focuses on building structures with Local Coordinate Systems (LCS). This is computation friendly and should allow even to assembly large structures with may parts. This is the newest of the assembly workbenches and is indended more as a demonstrator.
* [https://github.com/Zolko-123/FreeCAD_aws Assembly4] (github link) is a solution based on the forked FreeCAD branch that Assembly3 uses. It does not work with constraints at all and focuses on building structures with Local Coordinate Systems (LCS). This is computationally friendly, and should allow for creating large assemblies with may parts. This is the newest of the assembly workbenches and is intended more as a demonstrator.
* [[Manipulator Workbench|Manipulator]] is aimed to help FreeCAD users in aligning, moving, rotating and measuring 3D objects through a friendly GUI.
* [[Manipulator Workbench|Manipulator]] is aimed at helping users in aligning, moving, rotating and measuring 3D objects through a friendly graphical interface.
* [[Macro WorkFeatures|WorkFeatures]] adds a wide range of helper objects such as alignment planes or axes, and tools to help you to position and align objects along those helper objects.
* [[Macro WorkFeatures|WorkFeatures]] adds a wide range of helper objects such as alignment planes or axes, and tools to help you to position and align objects along those helper objects.

=== Engineering ===

* [[EM_Workbench|EM Workbench]] ElectroMagnetic Workbench for [http://www.fastfieldsolvers.com FastFieldSolvers] free tools.
* [[KicadStepUp_Workbench|KicadStepUp]] is aimed at helping both KiCad and FreeCAD users in collaborating with electrical (ECAD) and mechanical (MCAD) design.
* [https://github.com/execuc/LCInterlocking LCInterlocking] (github link) tools to create parts for laser-cutters. Add tabs and hinges. Export to SVG.
* [[SheetMetal Workbench|SheetMetal]] provides tools to design and unfold sheet metal parts.


== Deprecated extensions == <!--T:20-->
== Deprecated extensions == <!--T:20-->

Revision as of 20:53, 31 March 2019

Introduction

Power users have extended FreeCAD with various custom workbenches and addons that are not integrated into the FreeCAD source code but can be added to an existing FreeCAD installation.

Most extensions can be installed from the Addon Manager, menu Tools → Addon manager; specific instructions are provided in each extension page.

Current extensions

General

  • Defeaturing provides tools to edit STEP models by removing selected features.
  • DynamicData allows creation of container objects for holding custom properties.
  • WebTools contains a series of tools to communicate with Web services from within FreeCAD.

Architecture and facilities

Assembly

As of FreeCAD 0.18 there is no official assembly workbench. However, several external tools have been created or are in development to manipulate objects to produce assemblies.

  • Assembly2 provides tools to create multi-part assemblies. Consider using A2plus.
  • A2plus provides tools to create multi-part assemblies. It is a fork and extension of the Assembly2 Workbench.
  • Assembly3 (github link) is in development and requires a forked version of FreeCAD with some core changes. It is the most complex solution and supports things like interactive kinematics.
  • Assembly4 (github link) is a solution based on the forked FreeCAD branch that Assembly3 uses. It does not work with constraints at all and focuses on building structures with Local Coordinate Systems (LCS). This is computationally friendly, and should allow for creating large assemblies with may parts. This is the newest of the assembly workbenches and is intended more as a demonstrator.
  • Manipulator is aimed at helping users in aligning, moving, rotating and measuring 3D objects through a friendly graphical interface.
  • WorkFeatures adds a wide range of helper objects such as alignment planes or axes, and tools to help you to position and align objects along those helper objects.

Engineering

  • EM Workbench ElectroMagnetic Workbench for FastFieldSolvers free tools.
  • KicadStepUp is aimed at helping both KiCad and FreeCAD users in collaborating with electrical (ECAD) and mechanical (MCAD) design.
  • LCInterlocking (github link) tools to create parts for laser-cutters. Add tabs and hinges. Export to SVG.
  • SheetMetal provides tools to design and unfold sheet metal parts.

Deprecated extensions

Drawing Dimensioning
adds powerful dimensioning and annotation tools to the Drawing Workbench.

Missing documentation

(February 2019) These extensions lack documentation in this wiki. If you are the developer or a user of these addons, consider creating a page for them, or providing a link to their documentation
  • Assembly3
  • Bolts
  • Cfd
  • EaglePCB_2_FreeCAD
  • Gears
  • FreeCAD-CuraEngine
  • Animation
  • Lattice2
  • Exploded Animation
  • Fasteners
  • GeoData
  • Nurbs
  • Persistent toolbars
  • Retr3D
  • Timber