FreeCad Software
FreeCad is a free multiplatform CAD design software package for Linux, Windows or Mac. Use it to create two dimensional sketches or create 3D objects from 2D that can be exported to a 3D printer.
INSTALLATION
- Using linux command line enter sudo snap install freecad
- Launch FreeCad from command line with FreeCad or via desktop icon
- Edit Preferences to set your default settings
NEW DESIGN GETTING STARTED
- Start a New Design
- Switch to Part Design Workspace
- Click Model Tab
- Click File menu and save project as a new filename
- Create New Body on the top menu bar
- Click Origin and hit spacebar to select the plane you wish to work in Usually XY-Plan
- Click Create Sketch from menu bar
- Select XY Plane
DRAW A SQUARE
- Sketch Tasks - Click on Line tool to start drawing
- Sketch Tasks - Click on Constraints - Coincident to align your lines
- Sketch Tasks - Constrain Horizontal Distance to set fixed horizontal measure
- Sketch Tasks - Constrain Vertical Distance to set fixed vertical measure
- Sketch Tasks - Fix at origin by using horizontal and vertical distance constraints and selecting origin as first point and corner as second exact half distance for each.
- Sketch Tasks - Click update then close
- Model - Click on Sketch name and rename to Square
- Model - Select your Square Sketch and click PD to create 3D object
- Model - Rename Pad to what you want like maybe Base
- Model - To change dimensions click under Pad or Base and select Sketch in this case named Square and double click
- Sketch Tasks - Double click on dimension to change, update and close
- Save your work
SHORTCUTS
- Push Mouse Wheel - Move object in workspace
- Shift - R Click - Turn object in 3D space
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