TechDraw Workbench: Difference between revisions

From FreeCAD Documentation
(V1.0 -> V0.21)
(Removed references to V0.19.)
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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 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_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_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_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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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.