FreeCAD 101
Meta
Take-home points and learning outcomes of the 2 tutorials below:
- by learning to sketch in FreeCAD, you can then create any 3D objects imaginable
- Importing part libraries and working with them is a powerful way to do design work using Part Libraries. This can get the casual user to powerful design capacity using real geometries.
Introduction
After these 2 tutorials, you are ready to work on User Contributed Designs. Please pause the videos as needed in order to practice the demonstrated lesson, as these tutorials are dense.
A FreeCAD Manual
The FreeCAD Manual has a different learning approach than the official FreeCAD documentation wiki that makes it more suitable for a first contact with FreeCAD.
Tutorial 1
Tutorial 2
FreeCAD Test
Purpose
This exercise tests your ability to:
- Install OSE Linux
- Download and use library parts in FreeCAD
- rotate, move, and align objects in 3D
- Use the Sketcher in FreeCAD to make features on faces
- Use circular assembly constraints in FreeCAD
- Use Vokoscreen to record instructional screen-casts
- Use KdenLive to edit a basic video, adding images and sound
- Upload videos to YouTube
- Upload FreeCAD source files to the wiki
- Embed videos in the wiki
- Using Disqus and upvoting comments
Test
- Download and install the OSE Linux with FreeCAD, Kdenlive, and Vokoscreen.
- Download 8-hole square tubing (without rounded corners) from the OSE Part Library.
- Use the tubing to create an x-y-z bolted corner cube.
- Record a video of you building the cube, from the beginning, using Vokoscreen.
- When you are done building the cube, create a 1" bolt and nut using the Bolt Library in FreeCAD.
- Insert one bolt through any of the corners, as if you were actually building the cube - using the Assembly Workbench in FreeCAD.
- Tighten the bolt with the nut (just insert the nut onto the bolt).
- Now take any face on the tubing of the resulting cube - and using Sketcher on that particular face - write your initials on that face. Pocket those initials so that they are cut into the face.
- Speed up the file to turn it into a 30 second video using Kdenlive.
- Add Pling by Jaspertine from the Open Source Soundtracks
- Upload the video to YouTube and embed in the section below - above the Disqus section.
- Upload the FreeCAD file to your Work Log.
- Use Disqus below to tell us how long it took you to learn the FreeCAD tutorials and Kdenlive. Please include any suggestions on the videos. Also, please score yourself 0-100 based on the percentage of the Test points that you have completed successfully - and include that score in your Disqus comment.
At that point - Welcome to the Team, Ms/r. Opensourcer. You now have the basic skills to manipulate objects in 3D and to begin composing useful parts - including your ability to document your work with videos.
Self-Verifying FreeCAD Exam Videos
Polemidis
Having completed this exercise, you will enable any reviewer to verify your skill set in 30 seconds by viewing a video with your signature (initials on the cube). Here are the results:
Michael Beyer Jr : 3/29/2017
Roberto Jaramillo : 3/30/2017
Chas Murillo : 4/7/2017
Abe Anderson : 4/7/2017
Frank McCormick : 4/11/2017
Please Comment on Your FreeCAD 101 Test Experience
How long did it take you? Were you able to do it? What could have helped you to learn the skills more effectively? Please upvote most useful responses here.
Brian Hull completed OSE FreeCAD test 2/16/2017
Test took me 30 minutes to complete. A lot of that time was spent clicking around and learning how the software worked. Overall, FreeCAD worked fine and only had a few glitches for me. I would say pretty good for a free software. This was my first time working with the assembly workbench. There was a few places where I thought the software could be improved but I'll wait until I use it more before I complain too much. I would rate myself a 75 out 100.
Jonathan Kocurek - Completed OSE FreeCAD Test 02/28/17
The FreeCAD took me awhile due to software and also a new interface, features, and multiple unknowns. It took me about 6+hrs figuring out certain issues with sketching my initials on to the metal. Definitely will have to study up on all of the different components of the software.
Jean-Baptiste Vervaeck - Completed OSE FreeCAD Test 06/03/2017
After 12+ hours of practicing in FreeCAD, downloads & installations, watching tutorials and reading through freeCAD documentation, I was able to work through steps 3 through 8 in 37 minutes. I was running FreeCAD in ubuntu 16.04 running inside VirtualBox 5.1.14 on a Win7 PC which slowed down the process considerably. It took me quite a while just to find the "just right" configuration in order for kdenlive to properly render the edited video (it was only when my CPU usage maxed out that there were interruptions in the quality of the rendered video). 80/100 -- 10 point deduction for not tightening the nut/washer on the bolt and another 10 point deduction for not adding in the inner parts on the letter "B" in my initials pocket. Also, I started out working with the wrong parts file, not having been able to find the 8 hole tube with square corner file on the wiki till it was pointed out to me.
Michael Beyer Jr : 2017-03-29 : 15 hours
probably more like a total of 45 hours as i am still actively learning linux after making it my main operating system a few months ago, so time spent learning freecad was interspersed through also learning linux at the same time. i believe i completed all tasks in a satisfactory manner. i can't grade myself exactly but i know i would like to just generally keep improving learning all functions of creating and manipulating 3d objects as well as improving creating objects with the most efficient constraint set as possible, and to become quicker at all these processes.
ways to improve my learning will be continued practice, continued vigilant documentation.. having better documentation would have made it easier for me to learn more quickly and effectively, so i seek to add to the documentation. this way, others will have an easier time getting up to speed with the current developments, as the ultimate goal is to decrease barriers to entry and increase motivation to contribute to the project.
Chas Murillo : 08 April 2017 : 15+ hours
I had some trouble with FreeCAD 0.15 freezing while doing part design so I upgraded to 0.16 on my own ubuntu 16.04 OS. I struggled with manipulating the objects and what sides to click on when moving or revolving an object but eventually figured it out after watching some of the tutorials. I also struggled with writing my initials on the edge of the xyzCube. I figured out that by clicking the face part in sketcher view then clicking "create new sketch" the reference sketch would align with the part. My order of operations for creating the pocket was off and I just had to play around with it for a while and watch some tutorials.
With Vokoscreen I had trouble with it not saving my recordings after I stopped or paused the recording multiple times while taking breaks. All in all I give myself a 90/100 cuz I think I could've done a nicer job and I didn't follow directions by upgrading to the newer FreeCAD to finish my part.
User:LaszloLG 09 April 2017
Frank McCormick: April 10 2017: 4 hours
I would say for me i spent a couple of hours just messing around in freecad to get a feel for it. Once I spent a couple of hours in the program I was able to get the hang of it and was able to complete the build fairly quickly(20minutes or so). The longer portion was learning Vdenlive and getting the video rendered. I also had a couple of issues with my files saving. So there was a little rework for me when I lost some files. Overall I would give myself an 85/100. I struggled at first with the bolt and getting it placed and also had a little trouble with Kdenlive at first. I think my initial use of Kdenlive was sloppy and poorly edited. I definitely think I could improve my use there.
-