Workarounds/en: Difference between revisions
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| Input coordinates and dimensions on the go (when drawing an object) |
| Input coordinates and dimensions on the go (when drawing an object) |
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* Apply dimensional constraints |
* Apply dimensional constraints after drawing the geometry |
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* Manually trace over the geometry created by this tool |
* Manually trace over the geometry created by this tool |
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* [https://github.com/realthunder/ |
* [https://github.com/realthunder/FreeCAD/releases Link Branch] - Defining Geometry tool |
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* Change the Lighting property in the part's view settings to "One side" (very rough equivalent, problem with multicolored parts) |
* Change the Lighting property in the part's view settings to "One side" (very rough equivalent, problem with multicolored parts) |
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* [[Part_SectionCut|Persistent section cut]] tool - deselect all planes before pressing Close, doesn't work for intersecting parts in assemblies |
* [[Part_SectionCut|Persistent section cut]] tool - deselect all planes before pressing Close, doesn't work for intersecting parts in assemblies |
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* [https://github.com/realthunder/ |
* [https://github.com/realthunder/FreeCAD/releases Link Branch] - experimental renderer |
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* Create a separate [[PartDesign_Body|body]] for each solid |
* Create a separate [[PartDesign_Body|body]] for each solid |
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* [https://github.com/realthunder/ |
* [https://github.com/realthunder/FreeCAD/releases Link Branch] |
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* Select edges from the sketch and create a [[Std_LinkMakeRelative|SubLink]] or a [[PartDesign_SubShapeBinder|SubShapeBinder]] and pad that new object |
* Select edges from the sketch and create a [[Std_LinkMakeRelative|SubLink]] or a [[PartDesign_SubShapeBinder|SubShapeBinder]] and pad that new object |
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* [[PartDesign_Pad|Pad]] a complete sketch located on the existing face of the model in the opposite direction (towards the existing shape) so that only new faces are created. Then it is possible to select these faces individually and pad them. This method should be used with caution since unnecessary 3D operations may lead to unexpected errors. Thus, it is recommended to use the previous workaround instead. |
* [[PartDesign_Pad|Pad]] a complete sketch located on the existing face of the model in the opposite direction (towards the existing shape) so that only new faces are created. Then it is possible to select these faces individually and pad them. This method should be used with caution since unnecessary 3D operations may lead to unexpected errors. Thus, it is recommended to use the previous workaround instead. |
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* [https://github.com/realthunder/ |
* [https://github.com/realthunder/FreeCAD/releases Link Branch] - Export Single Geometry and Export Multiple Geometries tools or automatic [[PartDesign_SubShapeBinder|SubShapeBinder]] created when edges forming a closed loop are selected from the sketch before [[PartDesign_Pad|padding]] |
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| A tool for automatic creation of ribs (structural reinforcements) |
| A tool for automatic creation of ribs (structural reinforcements) |
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* Create ribs manually, wedges ([[Part_Wedge|Part Wedge]] or [[PartDesign_AdditiveWedge|PartDesign AdditiveWedge]]) can be used for simple triangular ribs |
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| A tool for automatic creation of domes |
| A tool for automatic creation of domes |
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* Create domes manually, spheres ([[Part_Sphere|Part Sphere]] or [[PartDesign_AdditiveSphere|PartDesign AdditiveSphere]]) with properly adjusted parameters can be used for simple spherical domes |
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* Create domes manually |
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== Workarounds for the Draft Workbench == |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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! width="2%"|No. !! width="28%"|Missing feature !! width="70%"|Workarounds |
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| 1 |
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| Snap to apparent intersections of curved edges, perpendicular extensions, arc extensions, geometric centers and tangent points |
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* Use the other available [[Draft_Workbench#Draft_Snap_toolbar|Draft Snap tools]] and a more manual approach with construction geometry |
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* When working on the XY plane: create a (temporary) projection of the geometry with [[Draft_Shape2DView|Draft Shape2DView]] |
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| 2 |
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| Keyboard shortcuts for [[Draft_Workbench#Draft_Snap_toolbar|Draft Snap tools]] |
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* Enable these tools by clicking their buttons on the toolbar |
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| 3 |
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| Automatically change the colors of objects back to 'normal' when removing them from the [[Draft_ToggleConstructionMode|construction geometry group]] |
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* Move the objects to a [[Draft_Layer|layer]] with the correct color settings |
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| 4 |
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| An option to quickly switch between the three main working planes and their projections at the selected point (for 3D drafting) |
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* Set the [[Draft_SelectPlane|Draft working plane]] to Automatic, and then select any of the standard views: [[Std_ViewFront|front view]], [[Std_ViewTop|top view]], etc. |
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* Use the [[Draft_Constrain|Draft Constrain]] feature - snaps to axes, not to planes |
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* Use [[Draft_WorkingPlaneProxy|working plane proxies]] |
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| 5 |
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| Remove one arrow from a [[Draft_Dimension#Usage_radial_dimension|radial dimension]] |
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* Add a line with an arrow: |
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*# Create a [[Draft_Line|Draft Line]] from the center of the arc or circle to a point on its edge |
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*# Set the Arrow Type property of the line to "Arrow" |
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*# Create the radial dimension and snap to the endpoint of the line when defining its position |
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*# Reduce the size of the arrows of the dimension to almost zero |
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| AutoCAD-like command line input |
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* Use FreeCAD's widgets or [[Scripting_and_macros|Python scripting]] for input |
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| [[Draft_Hatch|Hatch]] a region enclosed by wires |
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* Create a face (a hatch can only be applied to objects with planar faces): |
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** In case of a single closed wire: set its Make Face property to "true", and its Display Mode to "Wireframe" |
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** [[Draft_Upgrade|Upgrade]] multiple wires two or three times until you have a face, or a single closed wire (see above) |
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** If the wires must stay separate, but are connected end-to-end, create a [[PartDesign_SubShapeBinder|SubShapeBinder]] from them |
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** Trace over the region with a closed wire (not parametric) |
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| Manually add geometry to generated views |
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| Sketch in drawings |
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* Cosmetic line tools in [[TechDraw_Workbench#Annotations|Annotations]], limited |
* Cosmetic line tools in [[TechDraw_Workbench#Annotations|Annotations]] and [[TechDraw_Workbench#Extensions|Extensions]], limited |
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* Create [[TechDraw_View|regular views]] and [[TechDraw_DraftView|Draft views]] of sketches and [[Draft_Workbench|Draft]] objects |
* Create [[TechDraw_View|regular views]] and [[TechDraw_DraftView|Draft views]] of sketches and [[Draft_Workbench|Draft]] objects |
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* Export the page as SVG. Then convert the SVG to PDF by using e.g. [http://www.inkscape.org Inkscape] or open the SVG in a web browser and then save or print as PDF. |
* Export the page as SVG. Then convert the SVG to PDF by using e.g. [http://www.inkscape.org Inkscape] or open the SVG in a web browser and then save or print as PDF. |
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| 9 |
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| [[Std_BoxSelection|Box selection]] of TechDraw objects |
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* Select objects manually, one by one (while holding Ctrl) |
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| Modify regular and section views using sketching tools |
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* Manually create and modify the views: |
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*# If a section view has to be modified, use the [[Part_SectionCut|Part SectionCut]] tool or boolean operations to cut the part in the same way as it would be done by the [[TechDraw_SectionView|section view]] tool |
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*# Use the [[Draft_Shape2DView|Draft Shape2DView]] tool to create a 2D line representation of the view or section view |
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*# Use the [[Draft_Workbench#Drafting|Drafting]] tools with proper [[Draft_Workbench#Draft_Snap_toolbar|snaps]] to modify the view |
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*# Use the [[Draft_Draft2Sketch|Draft Draft2Sketch]] tool to create a sketch out of the Draft objects |
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*# Use the [[Sketcher_ValidateSketch|Sketcher ValidateSketch]] tool to make sure that the sketch has no missing coincidences, doubled lines and so on (those issues may impact the face selection in TechDraw) |
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*# Use the [[TechDraw_View|TechDraw View]] tool to create a view of the sketch in TechDraw. |
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| Meshing with hexahedral elements |
| Meshing with hexahedral elements |
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* Create the geometry in FreeCAD, export it for meshing in external software (e.g. Gmsh or Salome_Meca), import the mesh (e.g. in .inp or .unv format), drag it to the Analysis container and apply constraints to the geometry |
* Create the geometry in FreeCAD, export it for meshing in external software (e.g. [https://gmsh.info/ Gmsh] or [https://www.code-aster.org/V2/spip.php?article303 Salome_Meca]), import the mesh (e.g. in .inp or .unv format), drag it to the Analysis container and apply constraints to the geometry |
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* Prepare the analysis with the first step, write the .inp file, edit it to add definitions of subsequent steps and run the analysis |
* Prepare the analysis with the first step, write the .inp file, edit it to add definitions of subsequent steps and run the analysis |
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| [[Std_BoxSelection|Box selection]] of geometric entities for constraints |
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* Select geometric entities manually, one by one |
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| Improved appearance/rendering of 3D models |
| Improved appearance/rendering of 3D models |
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* [https://github.com/realthunder/ |
* [https://github.com/realthunder/FreeCAD/releases Link Branch] |
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* Various customization packages created by the community |
* Various customization packages created by the community |
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* [https://github.com/realthunder/ |
* [https://github.com/realthunder/FreeCAD/releases Link Branch] |
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* Model complex shapes in a "traditional" way - e.g. using add-on [[Curves_Workbench|Curves]] and [[CurvedShapes_Workbench|CurvedShapes]] workbenches |
* Model complex shapes in a "traditional" way - e.g. using add-on [[Curves_Workbench|Curves]] and [[CurvedShapes_Workbench|CurvedShapes]] workbenches |
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* Sculpt meshes, for example in Blender, and |
* Sculpt meshes, for example in [https://www.blender.org/ Blender], and import them into FreeCAD |
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Revision as of 07:35, 9 September 2022
Introduction
The goal of this article is to list some currently missing features in FreeCAD and provide workarounds for them. It can be helpful for new users who can't find a particular functionality in FreeCAD.
Workarounds for the Sketcher Workbench
No. | Missing feature | Workarounds |
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1 | Auto snap to objects (midpoints, center points, quadrants, extensions, intersections) |
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2 | Chamfer tool |
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3 | Circular pattern |
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4 | Offset tool |
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5 | Rotate tool |
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6 | Scale tool | |
7 | Adaptive dimension constraint |
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8 | Input coordinates and dimensions on the go (when drawing an object) |
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9 | Tangency to B-spline edge |
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10 | Check geometric and mass properties of the sketch (area, center of mass, second moments of area and so on) |
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11 | Possibility to use the results of the External Geometry tool directly for operations on the sketch |
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12 | Project multiple edges at once with the External Geometry tool when a face is selected |
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13 | 3D sketches |
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14 | Projection of cut edges when making a sketch on a plane cutting through an object | |
15 | View section tool showing filled cuts |
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16 | Rectangle from 3 corners and rectangle from 3 points by center tools |
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17 | Diameter dimension with respect to a symmetry axis for revolved parts |
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Workarounds for the Part Workbench and Part Design Workbench
No. | Missing feature | Workarounds |
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1 | Check the geometric and mass properties of the model |
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2 | Display the center of mass of the model (part or assembly) | |
3 | Clipping plane that doesn't make the model look like it's hollow |
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4 | Creation of an axis on the intersection of 2 planes and a plane midway between two faces/points, possibly more variants for datum creation |
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5 | Automated midsurface extraction (for thin-walled parts) |
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6 | Project (map/wrap) sketches on non-planar (e.g. cylindrical) faces |
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7 | Support for multiple solids within a body |
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8 | Select which part of the sketch to pad |
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9 | Fillets and chamfers that can consume adjacent faces/edges |
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10 | Variable radius for the PartDesign Fillet tool |
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11 | Parametric curves | |
12 | Cosmetic threads | |
13 | Partitions (splitting surfaces and volumes with sketches and datum planes while keeping the number of parts unchanged) |
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14 | Guide rails for Additive Pipe and Additive Loft or their equivalents in the Part Workbench |
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15 | Twist for PartDesign AdditivePipe or Part Sweep |
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16 | Bending existing parts |
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17 | Pattern along a curve |
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18 | Cut scope - cut tools affecting only selected part of the model |
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19 | Merging adjacent faces |
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20 | Hole tool using points from sketches |
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21 | Datum points from coordinates |
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22 | A tool for automatic creation of ribs (structural reinforcements) |
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23 | A tool for automatic creation of domes |
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Workarounds for the Draft Workbench
No. | Missing feature | Workarounds |
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1 | Snap to apparent intersections of curved edges, perpendicular extensions, arc extensions, geometric centers and tangent points |
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2 | Keyboard shortcuts for Draft Snap tools |
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3 | Automatically change the colors of objects back to 'normal' when removing them from the construction geometry group |
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4 | An option to quickly switch between the three main working planes and their projections at the selected point (for 3D drafting) |
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5 | Remove one arrow from a radial dimension |
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6 | AutoCAD-like command line input |
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7 | Hatch a region enclosed by wires |
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Workarounds for the TechDraw Workbench
No. | Missing feature | Workarounds |
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1 | Advanced section views (half, broken out, offset and aligned sections) |
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2 | Auto diameter dimension on side views |
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3 | Manually add geometry to generated views |
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4 | Shaded views in drawings |
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5 | Ordinate dimensions |
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6 | Broken (interrupted) views |
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7 | Exclude ribs from hatching |
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8 | Export of TechDraw pages as PDF without making the text from the template (path text) unmarkable/unsearchable. |
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9 | Box selection of TechDraw objects |
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10 | Modify regular and section views using sketching tools |
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Workarounds for the FEM Workbench
No. | Missing feature | Workarounds |
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1 | Beams with arbitrary cross-section |
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2 | Pressure load on shells, distributed load on beams | |
3 | Support for multiple meshes and thus possibility to define contact between touching (not separated) faces |
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4 | Apply torque to any surface |
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5 | Define rigid bodies and virtual elements |
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6 | Advanced material models (hyperelasticity, creep and so on) |
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7 | Composite shells |
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8 | Simple creation of node and element sets as well as surfaces |
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9 | CalculiX keyword editor that can fold data lines and allow changes not only right before running the analysis |
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10 | Meshing with hexahedral elements |
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11 | Analyses with 2D (plane stress, plane strain, axisymmetric) elements |
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12 | Multistep analyses (e.g. preload for frequency/buckling analysis) |
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13 | Box selection of geometric entities for constraints |
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General workarounds
No. | Missing feature | Workarounds |
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1 | Official assembly workbench |
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2 | Improved appearance/rendering of 3D models | |
3 | Status bar instructions (“Now pick this …”) for many tools that would benefit from them (e.g. Sketcher constraints) |
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4 | Consistent selection order - some tools require the user to pick the geometric entity first while others allow selection after enabling the tool |
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5 | More GUI customization options - pie menus, different icon styles and themes and so on |
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6 | Selection filter (picking only faces, edges, points and so on) |
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7 | Assembly workbench with an option to constrain parts to the origin and to datums |
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8 | Transform tool with an option to move and rotate with respect to edges and global coordinates |
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9 | More texturing options |
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10 | View normal to a face (useful for creating specifically aligned views in TechDraw) |
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11 | Highlight only the individual PartDesign feature in the 3D view when the corresponding operation is selected in the Tree view |
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12 | Select only the individual PartDesign feature in the Tree view when a corresponding element is selected in the 3D view. |
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13 | Freeform modeling |
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14 | Assembly component generators and calculators for: bolted and riveted connections, shafts, splines, keys, cams, gears (spur, bevel, worm), bearings, springs, belts and chains, pins, o-rings |
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15 | A tool for kinematic analysis on properly constrained sketches | |
16 | GD&T directly on 3D models - MBD approach |
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