TechDraw Workbench: Difference between revisions

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Dimensions, sections, hatched areas, annotations, and [[SVG|SVG]] symbols can be added to the page, which can be further exported to different formats like [[DXF|DXF]], [[SVG|SVG]], and [[PDF|PDF]].
Dimensions, sections, hatched areas, annotations, and [[SVG|SVG]] symbols can be added to the page, which can be further exported to different formats like [[DXF|DXF]], [[SVG|SVG]], and [[PDF|PDF]].

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TechDraw was officially included in FreeCAD starting with version 0.17; it is intended to replace the unsupported [[Drawing_Workbench|Drawing Workbench]]. The Drawing Workbench is still provided in v0.20, but will not be available in future releases ({{VersionPlus|1.0}}). To keep up with TechDraw plans and developments, visit the [[TechDraw_Roadmap|TechDraw Roadmap]].


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* [[File:TechDraw_RedrawPage.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_RedrawPage|Redraw Page]]: forces an update of the selected page. {{Version|0.19}}
* [[File:TechDraw_RedrawPage.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_RedrawPage|Redraw Page]]: forces an update of the selected page.


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* [[File:TechDraw_PrintAll.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_PrintAll|Print All Pages]]: prints all pages in a document. {{Version|1.0}}
* [[File:TechDraw_PrintAll.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_PrintAll|Print All Pages]]: prints all pages in a document. {{Version|0.21}}


== Views == <!--T:21-->
== Views == <!--T:21-->
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* [[File:TechDraw ActiveView.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_ActiveView|Insert Active View]]: inserts a view of the active 3D view. {{Version|0.19}}
* [[File:TechDraw ActiveView.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_ActiveView|Insert Active View]]: inserts a view of the active 3D view.


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:* [[File:TechDraw_ComplexSection.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_ComplexSection|Insert Complex Section View]]: inserts a cross-section view of an existing view based on a profile. {{Version|1.0}}
:* [[File:TechDraw_ComplexSection.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_ComplexSection|Insert Complex Section View]]: inserts a cross-section view of an existing view based on a profile. {{Version|0.21}}


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:* [[File:TechDraw_StackTop.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_StackTop|Move view to top of stack]]: moves views to the top of the stacking order. {{Version|1.0}}
:* [[File:TechDraw_StackTop.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_StackTop|Move view to top of stack]]: moves views to the top of the stacking order. {{Version|0.21}}


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:* [[File:TechDraw_StackBottom.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_StackBottom|Move view to bottom of stack]]: moves views to the bottom of the stacking order. {{Version|1.0}}
:* [[File:TechDraw_StackBottom.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_StackBottom|Move view to bottom of stack]]: moves views to the bottom of the stacking order. {{Version|0.21}}


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:* [[File:TechDraw_StackUp.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_StackUp|Move view up one level]]: moves views up one level in the stacking order. {{Version|1.0}}
:* [[File:TechDraw_StackUp.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_StackUp|Move view up one level]]: moves views up one level in the stacking order. {{Version|0.21}}


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:* [[File:TechDraw_StackDown.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_StackDown|Move view down one level]]: moves views down one level in the stacking order. {{Version|1.0}}
:* [[File:TechDraw_StackDown.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_StackDown|Move view down one level]]: moves views down one level in the stacking order. {{Version|0.21}}


== Clips == <!--T:31-->
== Clips == <!--T:31-->
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:* [[File:TechDraw_HorizontalExtentDimension.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_HorizontalExtentDimension|Insert Horizontal Extent Dimension]]: adds a horizontal extent dimension. {{Version|0.19}}
:* [[File:TechDraw_HorizontalExtentDimension.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_HorizontalExtentDimension|Insert Horizontal Extent Dimension]]: adds a horizontal extent dimension.


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:* [[File:TechDraw_VerticalExtentDimension.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_VerticalExtentDimension|Insert Vertical Extent Dimension]]: adds a vertical extent dimension. {{Version|0.19}}
:* [[File:TechDraw_VerticalExtentDimension.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_VerticalExtentDimension|Insert Vertical Extent Dimension]]: adds a vertical extent dimension.


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* [[File:TechDraw_Balloon.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_Balloon|Insert Balloon Annotation]]: adds a "balloon" annotation to a page. {{Version|0.19}}
* [[File:TechDraw_Balloon.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_Balloon|Insert Balloon Annotation]]: adds a "balloon" annotation to a page.


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* [[File:TechDraw_AxoLengthDimension.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_AxoLengthDimension|Insert Axonometric Length Dimension]]: adds an axonometric length dimension. {{Version|1.0}}
* [[File:TechDraw_AxoLengthDimension.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_AxoLengthDimension|Insert Axonometric Length Dimension]]: adds an axonometric length dimension. {{Version|0.21}}


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* [[File:TechDraw_LandmarkDimension.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_LandmarkDimension|Insert Landmark Dimension - EXPERIMENTAL]]: adds a landmark distance dimension. {{Version|0.19}}
* [[File:TechDraw_LandmarkDimension.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_LandmarkDimension|Insert Landmark Dimension - EXPERIMENTAL]]: adds a landmark distance dimension.


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* [[File:TechDraw_DimensionRepair.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_DimensionRepair|Dimension Repair]]: can adjust the 2D or 3D geometry references of a dimension. {{Version|1.0}}
* [[File:TechDraw_DimensionRepair.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_DimensionRepair|Dimension Repair]]: can adjust the 2D or 3D geometry references of a dimension. {{Version|0.21}}


== Annotations == <!--T:70-->
== Annotations == <!--T:70-->
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* [[File:TechDraw_LeaderLine.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_LeaderLine|Add Leaderline to View]]: adds a leaderline to a view. {{Version|0.19}}
* [[File:TechDraw_LeaderLine.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_LeaderLine|Add Leaderline to View]]: adds a leaderline to a view.


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* [[File:TechDraw_RichTextAnnotation.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_RichTextAnnotation|Insert Rich Text Annotation]]: adds an rich text block as annotation to a leaderline or a view. {{Version|0.19}}
* [[File:TechDraw_RichTextAnnotation.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_RichTextAnnotation|Insert Rich Text Annotation]]: adds an rich text block as annotation to a leaderline or a view.


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:* [[File:TechDraw_CosmeticVertex.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_CosmeticVertex|Add Cosmetic Vertex]]: adds a Vertex which is not part of the source geometry. {{Version|0.19}}
:* [[File:TechDraw_CosmeticVertex.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_CosmeticVertex|Add Cosmetic Vertex]]: adds a Vertex which is not part of the source geometry.


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:* [[File:TechDraw_Midpoints.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_Midpoints|Add Midpoint Vertices]]: adds Cosmetic Vertices at midpoints of selected edges. {{Version|0.19}}
:* [[File:TechDraw_Midpoints.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_Midpoints|Add Midpoint Vertices]]: adds Cosmetic Vertices at midpoints of selected edges.


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:* [[File:TechDraw_Quadrants.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_Quadrants|Add Quadrant Vertices]]: adds Cosmetic Vertices at quarter points of selected (circular) edges. {{Version|0.19}}
:* [[File:TechDraw_Quadrants.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_Quadrants|Add Quadrant Vertices]]: adds Cosmetic Vertices at quarter points of selected (circular) edges.


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:* [[File:TechDraw_FaceCenterLine.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_FaceCenterLine|Add Centerline to Faces]]: adds a centerline to selected face(s). {{Version|0.19}}
:* [[File:TechDraw_FaceCenterLine.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_FaceCenterLine|Add Centerline to Faces]]: adds a centerline to selected face(s).


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:* [[File:TechDraw 2LineCenterLine.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_2LineCenterLine|Add Centerline between 2 Lines]]: adds a centerline between 2 lines. {{Version|0.19}}
:* [[File:TechDraw 2LineCenterLine.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_2LineCenterLine|Add Centerline between 2 Lines]]: adds a centerline between 2 lines.


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:* [[File:TechDraw 2PointCenterLine.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_2PointCenterLine|Add Centerline between 2 Points]]: adds a centerline between 2 points. {{Version|0.19}}
:* [[File:TechDraw 2PointCenterLine.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_2PointCenterLine|Add Centerline between 2 Points]]: adds a centerline between 2 points.


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* [[File:TechDraw_2PointCosmeticLine.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_2PointCosmeticLine|Add Cosmetic Line Through 2 points]]: adds a cosmetic line connecting 2 vertices. {{Version|0.19}}
* [[File:TechDraw_2PointCosmeticLine.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_2PointCosmeticLine|Add Cosmetic Line Through 2 points]]: adds a cosmetic line connecting 2 vertices.


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* [[File:TechDraw_CosmeticEraser.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_CosmeticEraser|Remove Cosmetic Object]]: removes cosmetic objects from a page. {{Version|0.19}}
* [[File:TechDraw_CosmeticEraser.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_CosmeticEraser|Remove Cosmetic Object]]: removes cosmetic objects from a page.


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* [[File:TechDraw_DecorateLine.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_DecorateLine|Change Appearance of Lines]]: changes the appearance of selected line(s). {{Version|0.19}}
* [[File:TechDraw_DecorateLine.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_DecorateLine|Change Appearance of Lines]]: changes the appearance of selected line(s).


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* [[File:TechDraw_ShowAll.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_ShowAll|Show/Hide Invisible Edges]]: shows/hides invisible lines/edges in a view. {{Version|0.19}}
* [[File:TechDraw_ShowAll.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_ShowAll|Show/Hide Invisible Edges]]: shows/hides invisible lines/edges in a view.


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* [[File:TechDraw_WeldSymbol.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_WeldSymbol|Add Welding Information to Leader]]: adds welding specifications to an existing leaderline. {{Version|0.19}}
* [[File:TechDraw_WeldSymbol.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_WeldSymbol|Add Welding Information to Leader]]: adds welding specifications to an existing leaderline.


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* [[File:TechDraw_SurfaceFinishSymbol.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_SurfaceFinishSymbol|Add Surface Finish Symbol]]: adds a surface finish symbol to a page. {{Version|1.0}}
* [[File:TechDraw_SurfaceFinishSymbol.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_SurfaceFinishSymbol|Add Surface Finish Symbol]]: adds a surface finish symbol to a page. {{Version|0.21}}


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* [[File:TechDraw_HoleShaftFit.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_HoleShaftFit|Add Hole/Shaft Fit]]: adds a hole/shaft fit using ISO 286 to a dimension. {{Version|1.0}}
* [[File:TechDraw_HoleShaftFit.svg|32px]] [[TechDraw_HoleShaftFit|Add Hole/Shaft Fit]]: adds hole or shaft tolerances using ISO 286 to a dimension. {{Version|0.21}}


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== Limitations == <!--T:321-->
== Limitations == <!--T:321-->


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* TechDraw drawings and its API are not interchangeable with the [[Drawing Workbench|Drawing Workbench]] and its API. It is possible to convert Drawing Pages to TechDraw Pages using a Python script ({{incode|moveViews.py}}).
* It is possible to have both TechDraw and Drawing Pages in the same FreeCAD document, as each page is completely independent from each other.
* There are minor differences in specifying editable texts in [[SVG|SVG]] templates compared to the Drawing module. In TechDraw the scaling of the SVG document affects the position of the editable text fields. See the forum discussion [https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=24981&p=196271#p196271 TechDraw templates scale] for more details.
* Do not cut, copy and paste TechDraw objects in the [[Tree_view|Tree view]] as this generally does not work out well.
* Do not cut, copy and paste TechDraw objects in the [[Tree_view|Tree view]] as this generally does not work out well.
* Do not drag TechDraw objects in the [[Tree_view|Tree view]] with the mouse.
* Do not drag TechDraw objects in the [[Tree_view|Tree view]] with the mouse.
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* TechDraw Workbench [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LbOmSGW9F0 Part 1 (Basics)], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3w84RfvqaE Part 2 (Dimensions)], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNjXg-m38aI Part 3 (Multiview)]
* TechDraw Workbench [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LbOmSGW9F0 Part 1 (Basics)], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3w84RfvqaE Part 2 (Dimensions)], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNjXg-m38aI Part 3 (Multiview)]
* TechDraw Workbench [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zSdeFV6I5o Part 4 (Section and Detail)], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcmdJ7xa7gg Part 5 (Customizing Templates)]
* TechDraw Workbench [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zSdeFV6I5o Part 4 (Section and Detail)], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcmdJ7xa7gg Part 5 (Customizing Templates)]

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Do you want to know about the future of the TechDraw Workbench? Visit [[TechDraw_Roadmap|the TechDraw Roadmap Page]] to learn more.





Revision as of 16:06, 18 May 2023

TechDraw workbench icon

Introduction

The TechDraw Workbench is used to produce basic technical drawings from 3D models created with another workbench such as Part, PartDesign, or Arch, or imported from other applications. Each drawing is a Page, which can contain various Views of drawable objects such as Part::Features, PartDesign::Bodies, App::Part groups, and Document Object groups. The resulting drawings can be used for things like documentation, manufacturing instructions, contracts, permits, etc.

Dimensions, sections, hatched areas, annotations, and SVG symbols can be added to the page, which can be further exported to different formats like DXF, SVG, and PDF.

If your primary goal is the production of complex 2D drawings and DXF files, and you don't need 3D modelling, FreeCAD may not be the right choice for you. You may wish to consider a dedicated software program for technical drafting instead, such as LibreCAD or QCad.

Pages

These are tools for creating Page objects.

Views

These are tools for creating View objects.

  • Insert Section Views:

Stacking

These are tools for changing the stacking order which controls the apparent depth of views on a page.

  • Adjust Stacking Order:

Clips

These are tools to create and manage Clip objects (clipped views).

Decorations

These are tools to decorate pages or views:

Dimensions

These are tools for creating and working with Dimension objects.

Linear dimensions can be based on two points, on one line, or on two lines.

  • Insert Extent Dimensions:

Annotations

The annotation tools are for "marking up" a drawing with additional information.

  • Add Cosmetic Vertices:
  • Add Centerlines:

Extensions

These are tools to improve your TechDraw drawings.

Attributes and modifications

  • Change Length of Cosmetic Lines or Centerlines:
  • Align Dimensions:
  • Evenly Space Dimensions:

Centerlines and threading

  • Add Centerlines:
  • Add Cosmetic Threads:
  • Add Cosmetic Circles or Arcs:
  • Add Cosmetic Parallel or Perpendicular Lines:

Dimensions

  • Create Chain Dimensions:
  • Create Coordinate Dimensions:
  • Create Chamfer Dimensions:
  • Insert Prefix:
  • Change Decimal Places:

Export

These are tools for exporting pages to other applications.

Additional features

Preferences

  • Preferences: preferences for the default values of the drawing page such as projection angle, colors, text sizes, and line styles.

Scripting

The TechDraw tools can be used in macros and from the Python console. For more information see:

Limitations

  • Do not cut, copy and paste TechDraw objects in the Tree view as this generally does not work out well.
  • Do not drag TechDraw objects in the Tree view with the mouse.

Tutorials

A "few" added lines of code result in a tool like the Macro TemplateHelper.

Video tutorials by sliptonic

Development

Do you want to know about the future of the TechDraw Workbench? Visit the TechDraw Roadmap Page to learn more.