Workbenches: Difference between revisions

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FreeCAD, as many modern design applications such as [[wikipedia:Revit|Revit]], is based on the concept of [[wikipedia:Workbench|Workbench]]. A workbench can be considered as a set of tools specially grouped for a certain task. In a traditional furniture workshop, you would have a work table for the person who works with wood, another one for the one who works with metal pieces, and maybe a third one for the guy who mounts all the pieces together.
Workbenches are the main user access to FreeCAD. The following Workbenches exist:


In FreeCAD, the same concept applies. Tools are grouped into workbenches according to the tasks they are related to.
===Main Workbenches===
These are the standard workbenches bundled with every FreeCAD installation
Currently we have the following workbenches availible:
* [[Complete Workbench|Complete]] loads all modules and shows the complete functionality
* [[PartDesign Workbench|Part Design]] is dadicated to the parametric associative CAD modeling
* [[Mesh Workbench|Mesh]] work with all kind of triangle meshes


'''Built-in workbenches'''
===Alternative Workbenches===
* The [[Mesh Workbench]] for working with triangulated meshes
These workbenches are not part of the official FreeCAD installation, but can be easily [[Installing more workbenches|plugged in]].
* The [[Part Workbench]] for working with CAD parts
* [[Draft Module|Draft]] adds basic 2D drafting tools to FreeCAD
* The [[Image Workbench]] for working with bitmap images
* The [[Raytracing Workbench]] for working with ray-tracing (rendering)
* Several testing workbenches. Since FreeCAD is still in early phase of development, you'll find in the workbenches list several workbenches for testing different areas and functionalities.

'''Extension (plugin) workbenches'''
* The [[Draft Module|Draft Workbench]] for doing basic 2D CAD drafting

When you switch from one workbench to another, the tools availible on the interface change. Toolbars, command bars and eventually other parts of the interface switch to the new workbench. But the contents of your scene doesn't change. You could, for example, start drawing 2D shapes with the Draft Workbench, then work further on them with the Part Workbench.

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Revision as of 23:26, 8 March 2009

FreeCAD, as many modern design applications such as Revit, is based on the concept of Workbench. A workbench can be considered as a set of tools specially grouped for a certain task. In a traditional furniture workshop, you would have a work table for the person who works with wood, another one for the one who works with metal pieces, and maybe a third one for the guy who mounts all the pieces together.

In FreeCAD, the same concept applies. Tools are grouped into workbenches according to the tasks they are related to. Currently we have the following workbenches availible:

Built-in workbenches

  • The Mesh Workbench for working with triangulated meshes
  • The Part Workbench for working with CAD parts
  • The Image Workbench for working with bitmap images
  • The Raytracing Workbench for working with ray-tracing (rendering)
  • Several testing workbenches. Since FreeCAD is still in early phase of development, you'll find in the workbenches list several workbenches for testing different areas and functionalities.

Extension (plugin) workbenches

When you switch from one workbench to another, the tools availible on the interface change. Toolbars, command bars and eventually other parts of the interface switch to the new workbench. But the contents of your scene doesn't change. You could, for example, start drawing 2D shapes with the Draft Workbench, then work further on them with the Part Workbench.