GTA
Support Equipment For PCP/HPA/CO2 and springers ,rams => 3D printing and files => Topic started by: Ronno6 on November 22, 2024, 09:57:55 AM
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Where would I post questions/request guidance for using Freecad 0.21.2 ??
Anybody using/familiar with it?
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Here are a couple tutorials.............
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8otDF_C_fw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rglvJH9z5ng
Hope this helps some!
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Thank you!
I'll give the second one a go.....
It is the first one I have seen for my version.
The earlier ones showed 2 rows of "Workbench" icons at the header...0.21.2 only has 1 row......
Time to learn!
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Search for Mango Jelly on YouTube has some really good tutorials https://youtube.com/@mangojellysolutions?si=BoQtLn0khl0DOmNH
Version 1.0 of Freecad has been released you might want to start with it if your just learning.
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I'm still on FreeCAD 0.21.1 at the moment. However, I have built 0.22dev (on a Mac, about 6 months ago) to help out a developer. I can't imagine that 0.21.2 and 0.21.1 are that different, as that's a minor revision. I use FreeCAD all the time. Have no idea which forum/gate it would go under here at GTA. If you have questions I'd be happy to try to answer them.
For very technical questions, you can post on their forum. Just have to ask a decent quality question, and provide a working/non-working minimal model. I've received some exceptional help from there, everything from modeling tips, to TechDraw, to FEA, up to CFD.
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I just saw that FreeCAD finally made it to 1.0.0. Honestly, I'm slightly scared to try it, only because of all the time I invested in learning the previous versions. I have quite a few models.
I'll wait a week bit longer and then take the plunge. Want to make sure there's no issues that mess up my existing work. I'll bet there won't be any major issues, but sometimes it pays to be cautious. Maybe next week!
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If I understand correctly, 1.0 IS 0.22 renamed.......
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If I understand correctly, 1.0 IS 0.22 renamed.......
That makes me feel slightly more confident.:). I'll probably try it out this next week then.
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i have 0.21.2 and 1.0
As I don't yet know how to use either, it is of no consequence to me..........
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i have 0.21.2 and 1.0
As I don't yet know how to use either, it is of no consequence to me..........
If I was you, I'd pick 1.0.0 the actual release. I'm going to learn it this coming week, I hope. About two years ago, I bit the bullet and learned FreeCAD, using a series of videos There were over two dozen in the series. After going through a dozen, I became proficient enough to make a lot of things. At least for me, it took about 2-3 weeks for the concepts to sink in. Then the light clicked on. I had never done 3d CAD before. Now, unless it's a trivial back of the envelope sketch, I just do it directly in CAD.
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Yup.
I now have 1.0
That is the one I will attempt to learn............
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Yup.
I now have 1.0
That is the one I will attempt to learn............
Good choice
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Any way to get a view like 3ds Max?
So you see a top, right, front views in seperate panes?
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Any way to get a view like 3ds Max?
So you see a top, right, front views in seperate panes?
I believe so.......
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I have 0.21.2 and haven't figured that out. So I just do 3D modeling in 3ds Max 2010.
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I have 0.21.2 and haven't figured that out. So I just do 3D modeling in 3ds Max 2010.
Trying to understand what you originally wanted? You want 3 windows, or panes with different view? Why? It would be nice I guess, but it would use up a lot of screen.
Here's a screen shot of something I just finished. Hope it will attach.
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Here's what I am use to.
(https://i.imgur.com/lWP1BjQ.jpg)
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Here's what I am use to.
(https://i.imgur.com/lWP1BjQ.jpg)
Ok, so pay a few (or more) grand and have it.
No harm in asking for the moon. It might be possible, but I don't have a clue how.
My needs are far simpler. I just design stuff and enjoy it. Sometimes I machine it, sometimes I print it, sometimes I send it to SendCutSend, sometimes I analyze it. But I really think (my opinion only) that what you showed is a waste of screen space. I'd rather be able to rotate to the view I want and zoom in. It's not like it's hard to get different views. But, that's what you are used to... I learned CAD after retirement, and had zero budget for software, so that's why I have FreeCAD. It's abilities currently outstrip mine. Might not be the case for you.
Hope you find what you need.
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Have 1.0.0 up and running. I did a parallel install, just in case of issues. Opened a "useless" design just to see how much has changed. Answer, not very much. Same basic look and feel as 0.21.1. We'll see if there are any issues, but pretty much seems like what it was.
So, @Ronno6, if you have any questions, let me know here, or PM me.
The video series that I used to learn was: "FreeCAD for Beginners" by Adventures in Creation. Just search for it on YouTube. There's more than two dozen videos. By the time you get through the first dozen, you will be able to do a lot of stuff. For the concepts I had a hard time with, I played the videos at less than full speed so I could figure out what button(s) he was clicking. If I was you, I'd initially rearrange the panel buttons to be close to what the instructor has. You can drag them to where ever you want. There's no harm in replaying a couple of times, particularly something that seems to go by too quick to initially grasp. It gets easier...
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Thanks, Mr. Bruce.
I will try that series!
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@Ronno6 attached is a text file. Edit the extension back to .FCStd. Shows the basic steps. Make the cylinder and dimension. Then add subtractive features one by one. I added a rectangular pocket, then a set of round holes. Finally put a groove around it. It's all nonsense, but shows the basic operations as you create an object (the Body) then either add stuff to it, or subtract.
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The Adventures in Creation series is helping a lot.
But the narrator's voice is so law and mono tone that he puts me to sleep..
I have seen a bunch of things that do not relate to me project, put probably will in time....if I recognize them.
Lemme lay out a word scenario.
I want to draw a shaft, 26.4mm in dia and 30mm in length.
The shaft will have a key way along its full length down the linear axis on the side of the shaft.
This key way is 7.62mm wide, then, the tricky part: how to dimension the depth, as is should be dimensioned form the portion
of the arc that is now gone..... the depth from the circumference at the intersect point should be 3.445mm to the bottom of the key way, or maybe 3.86mm to where the arc would be above the center of the key way...
If I draw this with the notched diameter on the x-y axis. then "pad" the keyed circle to 30mm, that oughta do it.
What would be the steps to design this keyed shaft?
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The Adventures in Creation series is helping a lot.
But the narrator's voice is so law and mono tone that he puts me to sleep..
I have seen a bunch of things that do not relate to me project, put probably will in time....if I recognize them.
Lemme lay out a word scenario.
I want to draw a shaft, 26.4mm in dia and 30mm in length.
The shaft will have a key way along its full length down the linear axis on the side of the shaft.
This key way is 7.62mm wide, then, the tricky part: how to dimension the depth, as is should be dimensioned form the portion
of the arc that is now gone..... the depth from the circumference at the intersect point should be 3.445mm to the bottom of the key way, or maybe 3.86mm to where the arc would be above the center of the key way...
If I draw this with the notched diameter on the x-y axis. then "pad" the keyed circle to 30mm, that oughta do it.
What would be the steps to design this keyed shaft?
He's kind of slow at times, especially in the beginning, but his words are gold. They will be important later. You will be hard pressed to keep up in a few videos.
In every situation, there's probably 3 to 4 ways to do it. None are more right than the other. Some may be more convenient than others, however.
You can make the sketch for the pocket on one of several planes. It could be sketched on the same plane as the circular face. (The xy plane.) Or a plane that is tangent to the radius of the circle. (XZ plane, that is offset by the radius of the circle.). Either is fine. It doesn't matter that the cylinder is cut away, you are not using the face of the axial surface as a reference. You are using the radius of the circle as the reference dimension. Since you know the radius, you position the furthest extent of the rectangular sketch at the radial distance. That's it. Then the width, etc, until all the constraints are set. Then pocket. Done.
Or you can work your buns off making a circle with a cut out in the sketch and padding that sketch. Personally, I think that is the hard way. At least for me, making the cylinder, and then adding a pocket is a lot easier, and takes a lot less time. In the end, it's your choice.
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I MIGHT actually understand that!
Now, to see if I can DO it...........
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I MIGHT actually understand that!
Now, to see if I can DO it...........
Show us a picture when you get it!
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I don't imagine that a hole running thru the diameter of a round.shaft can be 3D printed....
Have to be a secondary operation ?
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I don't imagine that a hole running thru the diameter of a round.shaft can be 3D printed....
Have to be a secondary operation ?
In general it will be a secondary operation, as a normal hole will sag. I believe you can make holes with a ^ in them, that print relatively well. Me, for just one's and twos, I just post drill the holes. You do need to make sure when sliced that there's enough meat surrounding the hole to support a drill going through without going into your infill area.
But I have done horizontal holes. With and without support.
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Let's see if I can attach a picture via a link. The shape for a horizontal hole needs to be more like a tear drop, with the point facing upwards when printed. Sagging will round the hole.
https://img.facfox.com/imgs/2022/05/12/1dbfd7cfe2008bf2.png
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Here is a link to a FreeCAD forum post on how to construct the teardrop. https://forum.freecad.org/viewtopic.php?t=82955
I've been too lazy to do this, but I may give it a try. If you are trying to make parts for sale, it's worth printing correctly the first time without post processing.
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I will have to make a fixture for drilling the hole.
It will be a bit tricky as IIRC the thru hole is not on the center line of the "shaft"
And, the dia at 1.040" (26.4mm) can't be bored into a holding block as I can't find a Forstner bit the
right size. I suppose I could chuck up a piece of aluminum plate and bore it on the lathe........
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I will have to make a fixture for drilling the hole.
It will be a bit tricky as IIRC the thru hole is not on the center line of the "shaft"
And, the dia at 1.040" (26.4mm) can't be bored into a holding block as I can't find a Forstner bit the
right size. I suppose I could chuck up a piece of aluminum plate and bore it on the lathe........
Print a fixture?
Drill a hole at 25.4mm then bore out the rest?
Not sure what you are doing, exactly, so hard to make a recommendation. Pictures help.
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OK. Here you go.........
Disregard the screw and larger hole...
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@Ronno6 thanks for the pictures. So are you trying to make this piece out of metal? Is this a single piece or dual piece part? Does the screw hold the piece on a rod? Is this basically the same piece you linked before?
I understand that you have a lathe. Do you have a mill or drill press? If drilling on a curved surface, I'd make a small flat spot to start the drill, with an 1/8" end mill and then drill through. I'd use a drill press with a vise so things go smoother. I'd hate to try hand drilling.
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@Ronno6 thanks for the pictures. So are you trying to make this piece out of metal? Is this a single piece or dual piece part? Does the screw hold the piece on a rod? Is this basically the same piece you linked before?
I understand that you have a lathe. Do you have a mill or drill press? If drilling on a curved surface, I'd make a small flat spot to start the drill, with an 1/8" end mill and then drill through. I'd use a drill press with a vise so things go smoother. I'd hate to try hand drilling.
i intend to 3D print using plastic.
The screw is a bleed port that will not be required.
Yes, it is the same part. This is the rear end of a Vortex gas spring.
They leak so often that I want to replace with another brand, but need to replicate the shape of this part,
only 10mm or so longer with some secondary operations to allow for a centering pocket for the replacement ram.
The clevis aspect of the part allows the trigger assembly to slide in and mates up with that shape on the rear block/safety assembly.
The larger dia. thru hole is a fill port that will not be needed.
So, the shape is all that I need to 3D print.
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Is it necessary for any sketch to be fully constrained to be applied by pocket?
Certainly some dimensions will not be centered on an axis.......does this affect the constraint?
The large opening across the diameter of my part is not centered on the vertical axis, but cam be drawn that way,
If you consider a rectangular centered larger portion of that slot, then add a smaller one along the side of that slot to the step at the bottom corner.
I have to see how that measures out......
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Is it necessary for any sketch to be fully constrained to be applied by pocket?
Certainly some dimensions will not be centered on an axis.......does this affect the constraint?
The large opening across the diameter of my part is not centered on the vertical axis, but cam be drawn that way,
If you consider a rectangular centered larger portion of that slot, then add a smaller one along the side of that slot to the step at the bottom corner.
I have to see how that measures out......
You strictly speaking don't have to constrain your sketch, but I strongly suggest you should constrain it. You do not have to have the sketch on an axis, it can be offset. Just constrain the distance from the axis. Why fully constrain? So if you need to make a change, you know where you started from! Or where to go back to.
You can have the center of a rectangle or circle or hexagon be anywhere - just tell sketcher where it is, via the constraints. If you don't like it, you can always go back and edit the value.
You can pocket air, it just won't cut away from the body. So to make a multi-step pocket, do the big one first, then the other one. You can reference the pocket side from an axis, or a displacement from the axis, whatever is more natural to you.
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Here a circular sketch is not on the axis, but it's diameter and x and y coordinates are constrained.
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Solid model with hex pocket in part of it, with offset holes and chamfers. The interface is significantly different. Been learning how to do this as well. Somethings are much better, others, well I liked it better the previous way. Still pretty good.
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If taken as 2 separate sketches to pocket, the wider,longer one would be on C/L.
The thinner, shorter one would be adjacent.......
I think that is the way to go.
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I am becoming a bit more comfortable with working in the program.
My biggest problem comes when tools go missing from my tool bar..........like PAD and POCKET go away,
and I do not as yet understand how come they do that, or how to get them back........
Sometimes the SKETCH icon is gone............
I keep re-watching the early lessons and can't seem to translate them into use......
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I am becoming a bit more comfortable with working in the program.
My biggest problem comes when tools go missing from my tool bar..........like PAD and POCKET go away,
and I do not as yet understand how come they do that, or how to get them back........
Sometimes the SKETCH icon is gone............
I keep re-watching the early lessons and can't seem to translate them into use......
Can you explain "where you are" when the tools go missing? Hard for me to understand what is happening. Some buttons are context sensitive, they come and go depending on what you are doing. If you are in sketcher mode, pad and pocket will not be present. Pads and pockets are 3D concepts, not 2D, which is the mode during sketcher.
Please don't get irritated with me, I'm trying to help, but it's unclear to me what is happening. Can you do a screen capture when something is gone and post it?
Now, I have to admit, I messed up the configuration once and had to reset all of FreeCAD. That's pretty drastic, as it totally blows away all of your customization.
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No irritation on my part.......
I will re-examine my steps... I may still be in sketcher mode...I forget to right click to exit the current tool....
Thanks!
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It's great that you have a good attitude about asking for help online.
On a different forum, not airgun related, was trying to help someone. They got bent out of shape because we asked for pictures of their set up. Don't really know why, but that fellow felt like we thought he was an idiot. Gentleman withdrew and left the thread, without getting any help. We didn't think the person was an idiot, but just someone who had a problem to solve. But that guy had preconceived notions that the issue was X, and didn't want to take the time to tell us the essential background information. It was his loss.
It's my experience that photos or screenshots reveal more of the underlying issues than verbal descriptions. I often use the expression, "help us help you by posting pictures". Sometimes it leads to sidetracks and dead ends, but most often it helps folks converge on the issues and solutions.
All of the above is not directed at you, but is based on my experience both learning machining and helping others to learn. Similarly for me learning CAD. There's no question too dumb to ask. If you ask and learn something from it, your question was successful.
I don't profess to be any kind of expert or know the answers, but will try to help the best way I can. If I don't know, I'll tell you that. If it's a technical question, or a bug, I'm willing to post it on the FreeCAD forum for you, or you can do that yourself.
CAD was a struggle for me, it took a while to learn the basics. Then one day it started to make sense. So it's normal for it to be tough sledding for a while.
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I have used cad programs in the past. I didn’t like autocad, but I found Solidworks impressive. It was much easier to do the simple stuff that I did. I downloaded the 0.19, no joy. I downloaded 1.0 it’s much better.
Ronno, you are right, sometimes the task window just disappears, with no apparent way to get it back.
I have noticed that the sketcher does have a “leave sketch” icon, but “leave sketch” is not in the drop down menu. I haven’t learned how to edit the menus yet. It doesn’t come up if I “right click” when a menu or sub menu.
I am just trying to draw a disk with a subtractive center cylinder, and 4 through holes between the center cylinder and the outer limit.
I have started over many times because the undo doesn’t place me back to where I was before.
You are also right about mono-Tony’s voice inducing zzzzzzzzzzz
Hunter
p.m.s. ( I mean p.s. )
I have a new I-phone, it is a total pain to use compared to my old galaxy S9.
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Just curious if any of you have tried TinkerCAD? tinkercad.com
3D solid modelling, simple but effective interface.
No doubt FreeCAD will blow it out of the water if you need to do really complicated/high precision stuff, but for most of what I've seen here, TinkerCAD could knock it out very quickly. It's good to 0.01mm, which is quite adequate for anything going to a 3D printer.
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Speaking only for myself, I've only tried FreeCAD. I've heard that Tinker CAD is easy to get going with, but limited. That might not be the case though.
But, since I put in the time to learn FreeCAD, don't really see the need to try something else. It was a tough ramp up to speed for me to learn it, but really the main thing was to put in enough un-interrupted time to learn the basics. After that, it was just practice. Since then I've done over 200 designs, so I've gotten used to it. I use FreeCAD to model stuff for me to machine, as well as doing 3D prints. I did a partial model of my lathe so I could figure out how to add and electronic lead screw to it. That was really helpful, my machined parts all fit, and everything lined up. Printed up some brackets to hold the read heads on the DRO that I installed.
Nowadays, it's mostly AG stuff. Moderator adapter, SSG for my 2240, occasional moderator or shroud, things like that. It's not beautiful stuff, (not that good of an artist) but it is all functional.
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Thank you very much Bruce, Bob and Ron. I started down this path to try to create a drawing of a little widget for the air rifle that I could send to a machinist. I now think that it may have been easier to carve it with an exacto knife. L.o.l
I will endeavor to persevere!
Now whwew in creation is that "how to" video?
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Thank you very much Bruce, Bob and Ron. I started down this path to try to create a drawing of a little widget for the air rifle that I could send to a machinist. I now think that it may have been easier to carve it with an exacto knife. L.o.l
I will endeavor to persevere!
Now whwew in creation is that "how to" video?
It takes a while to become proficient in many things. Anyways, here's a view of the SSG model I made. I could have made it without any CAD, but it was fun to stretch my (limited) skills.
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Nice Bruce.
F.Y.I. I used long brake line fittings for the bolt with the through hole.
Hunter
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Nice Bruce.
F.Y.I. I used long brake line fittings for the bolt with the through hole.
Hunter
Thanks.
I made the "bolt" from a piece of 12L14 hex stock, and machined it round. Then I drilled a hole through and reamed it to 3/16". After that, the threads were single pointed to 3/8"x24 on the lathe. Pretty much machined everything, rather than using bolts, using what stock I had. Bought the spring at the hardware store though. I don't know how to wind my own springs yet.
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Bruce,
I respect your taking the time to learn the more traditional CAD, in the long run you can do a lot more. Tinkercad is somewhat limited -- but still quite capable. On your SSG, only the threaded rod would be a challenge in Tinkercad -- but I could import that from a McMaster-Carr STL file and knock it out. Or just simulate it with an unthreaded rod if it's not critical for prototyping the project part dimensions.
Hunter, I wish I could make a short video of how easy it is in Tinkercad to plop down a cylinder, size it, plop down another hole cylinder on the same center to core the first one, and add 4 more hole cylinders to make your through holes. Done. No offense intended when I add that elementary kids use Tinkercad.
The downside is you now have an object you want, and a few filetypes to download it in (obj, stl, glb), but not a traditional dimensioned drawing to send off -- Tinkercad doesn't do that.
I used to use Autocad, but so infrequently, it was very frustrating. Much like trying to remember how to use MS Word -- I spend more time googling how to do things than actually doing them. Wordpad for the win 99% of the time. I feel like I'm insulting Tinkercad, comparing it to Wordpad, but it's a pretty good analogy. ;)
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There's many ways to skin a cat. That being said, I wanted to learn CAD, something that wasn't limited. So that's what I did. It took me three weeks to learn. And I can (and have) done finite element analysis with it. Others may be able to get by with lesser tools. What ever works for you is good.
I want to be limited only by my imagination. I want to be able to do more sophisticated things with the tool. Might not succeed, (due to my limitations) but I want to at least be able to try.
Perhaps someone can tell me if TinkerCAD can do multi-start threads? I'd like to try that sometime.
I can do Hunter's kind of thing in a couple of minutes, using a couple of different methods. It's not hard (to me) because I've internalized the tool's basics. "Stuff is usually hard when you don't understand something." I suspect a couple of misconceptions could be cleared up to help people, but at the moment, I don't know what the issue is. The model I posted with slots and holes in it took me about a minute to make. I don't want to come across as a knowitall, not my intent. It was hard for this old dog to learn, but well worth while. Just some basic concepts that you have to know - pretty much like any program that you have to use.
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Perhaps someone can tell me if TinkerCAD can do multi-start threads? I'd like to try that sometime.
Yes, but no. As far as I know that specific object does not exist. There is an adjustable screw thread object with a trapezoidal cross-section, and I can place 2 180 degrees apart, so that looks like a yes. You'll need to know your dimensions -- it does not have a library of thread types. If you already have an STL of your threads, it can be imported. You could create a thin disk, with the exact contours you want, duplicate it, raise it one thickness, and rotate it the degrees appropriate for that height change, and repeat a multitude of times (literally hit the repeat button, and it duplicates, raises, and rotates same as was done the previous one.) That would be inefficient, and somewhat faceted, but if fine enough, at the 3D print level the facets would smooth out.
It also has codeblocks for parametric design -- I'm pretty sure that was used on the screw threads mentioned above -- very powerful, but I've not needed to learn how to create them, just use pre-fab ones sometimes.
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As far as I know there isn't a multi-start thread object in FreeCAD, but all this stuff is pretty easy to implement. For normal screws, I just pick a screw from the fastener workbench, although sometimes I just make one from a helix.
I create a profile, like an ISO vee, or acme, or trapezoidal and tell the helix how many turns and what the pitch is. Then I select the helix and click polar pattern, which 1) keeps the original helix and 2) creates as many copies as I like at whatever angular rotation I select. It's easier than that, you just say how many helices you want total. So 4 would give you a 4 start thread. The helix can be additive or subtractive, which is kind of neat. Polar pattern works on pockets (holes) or pads.
FreeCAD also supports parametric design. I added a spreadsheet to one of my designs and FreeCAD automatically updates the model with whatever is in the spreadsheet which is very nice indeed. You can also write scripts in python to automate stuff, but I haven't done that yet. I've written a lot in python, (wrote radar simulations) but haven't figured out how to work with it in FreeCAD.
In the end, it's what you get used to. I somewhat "get" FreeCAD at this point, so I continue to use it. If you are productive in a different tool, keep using it.
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I'll try this:
The current state of my spacer drawing...
The two small wings at the top are actually upper corners of a rectangle that I want to "pocket" into the circle (actually a solid cylinder.)
But, I can't locate the POCKET tool.....
I want that to be a groove down the side........
What am I not doing??
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What version are you running? 0.21.2 or 1.0.0?
In 1.0, it's Under the Tasks window, Modeling Tools, right under Pad. I just so happened to have 1.0 open. For 0.21.2 I need to open up a file.
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In 0.21.1 (that's my older version) its in the Combo View under tasks.
Sketch tools
Create sketch
Pad
Pocket
...
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@Ronno6
Ok, you have 1.0. When you finish your sketch, there are some tools. What I don't see on your display is the Tasks Panel.
You can make that visible by going to View > Panels > Tasks
The default view of FreeCAD includes this.
When you click your notch or key sketch, then the Tasks Panel should be visible. Then click Pocket. HTH.
The Tasks Panel is context dependent. If a sketch is selected in the tree, then all the valid options are displayed in the task panel.
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Just not there........part of my frustration
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You can make that visible by going to View > Panels > Tasks
Tasks should be checked. If it is checked, then the panel is underneath your panel on the left hand side, or minimized somewhere.
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@Ronno6, your Tasks Panel is on the right hand side. You need to select a sketch under the Model tree, then the Tasks Panel ought to show you all the possible tasks for a sketch. You can't pocket with an empty sketch. Once the sketch is constrained, and finished, select the sketch in the model tree. Then the Tasks panel on the right should have a list of things similar to what I showed.
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Tasks panel on the right hand side
Under where it sez tasks....
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Go to the model tree. Select the pad (that is the key) and use your delete key. The sketch of the key shape remains.
Then select (single click) the sketch of the key. On the right hand side you should see a list of things. Take a screen capture and show me what is there.
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Howz zis??
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It seems you are either using the tool in a non-standard way, or in a way I'm unfamiliar with.
Using dark mode is lovely, but it makes it very hard for me to see if you selected anything in the model tree. Can you change it to a lighter mode? I'm assuming you know what the model tree is, but I don't know if you actually know what it is. You do need to know the nomenclature, or you'll really have a tough time.
It seems that you are not following what I asked for you to do. This may be an incorrect conclusion on my part. Or I'm a lousy long distance teacher. (Likely)
What I see were three pics of things that didn't seem relevant to what I asked for. Tell me what you were doing in each one, so I get the context. Give me more info so maybe I can help you.
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I will have to review my steps....
Perhaps I will need to re-take the tutorial and take notes for nomenclature........
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OK.
Let's try this:
I left click on the pad then hit delete.....this is the result.
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OK.
Let's try this:
I left click on the pad then hit delete.....this is the result.
I think you deleted the cylinder pad. Undo that. You want a solid cylinder, correct? I rename objects (pads, and things like that) so they are descriptive. That way I don't act on the wrong object. If you right click on the object in the model tree (far left panel) there should be a menu that includes Rename. Rename is near the bottom of the menu.
You need to delete the key way pad and you will be left with a sketch that you intend to pocket into the cylinder. Do that and highlight (single click) the sketch in the model tree. Take a picture of that and show me what you see.
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This just isn't sinking in.........
When I click on what I think is the keyway pad then hit delete, the cylinder goes to a single plane and the keyway remains....
Maybe I need to start from scratch
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This just isn't sinking in.........
When I click on what I think is the keyway pad then hit delete, the cylinder goes to a single plane and the keyway remains....
Maybe I need to start from scratch
It means you have mixed up your objects! That's why I strongly recommend you name each as you make them... It seems slow, but as things get more complicated it's essential to know what object are operating on. Maybe you should restart this.
Making a cylinder with a key way shouldn't take very long. Here are the steps.
New file. Save the file, give it a name!
New body
New sketch
Draw circle
Dimension circle
Exit sketch once fully constrained. (dimensioning). Click Ok in the task panel.
Single click sketch in model tree
Task panel on right side should show options. Click on Pad. Enter length. Click ok in task panel.
Right click in model tree your Pad. Rename to CylinderPad.
New sketch.
Draw rectangle, using rectangle tool.
Dimension adjacent sides. Dimension x and y offset from axes. Click Ok in the Task panel!
Single click sketch in model tree.
Right side tasks should show Pad, then Pocket, etc. Select Pocket.
Enter length of desired pocket. Click Ok, in Task panel which exits Pocket menu.
Right click Pocket in model tree. Rename Pocket to KeywayPocket.
You are done. Save the file!
This took a lot longer to type than it would take to do! It took me 3 minutes, because I was studying what I did.
Every model is simply a variation of the above. Sometimes the geometry gets weird, and you don't understand the axes, but still, it's just these basics. You need to master this part, or sadly, CAD won't work for you. Really, this is the essential part of CAD. Any CAD. Building up a part with little bits and pieces added or subtracted.
Change the extension of the text file to .FCStd this is the file that I just did with a key way in a cylinder. No other funny business, simply what I explained above. Hope it helps.
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Thanks.
I'll give it a go once I get my frozen outdoor faucets un-frozen and SWMBO lets me
back on the computer.........
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Thanks.
I'll give it a go once I get my frozen outdoor faucets un-frozen and SWMBO lets me
back on the computer.........
It was -11F here this morning. At least there wasn't any wind.
Last February we had -17F and 30mph winds. Our laundry, kitchen and both baths frozen. No burst pipes though, so that was a blessing. Just needed to heat up the rooms to 80F with electric heaters...
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OK for steps 1 and 2
When I click on Body and click on Sketch, I get an Exception...Access Violation.
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
I can't even bring up a fresh start screen and have all the tool icons.........
I think I am done................my mind just isn't grasping ANY of the concepts..........
thank you for your help!
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I can't even see a way to delete files.
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OK for steps 1 and 2
When I click on Body and click on Sketch, I get an Exception...Access Violation.
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
I can't even bring up a fresh start screen and have all the tool icons.........
I think I am done................my mind just isn't grasping ANY of the concepts..........
thank you for your help!
Hmm, seem to be snatching defeat from victory. Lets try again, with more details.
Precision of words matters here.
1. Create new file.
2. Save new file.
3. Create New Body, by going to the Task Panel and clicking the icon. The icon looks like a staircase.
4. Create sketch, by clicking the Create sketch icon. It is in the Task Panel. It's just under a Body icon labeled Helper tools.
5. Select the xy plane. Click Ok in the Task Panel. The Task Panel changes. Now draw your circle, typically centered at the origin.
6. Dimension the diameter to what you want. The pop up menu says Insert diameter. Enter the value. Click Ok.
7. Your Tasks Panel should have a green message under Solver Messages, saying "Fully constrained". Click Close. If not fully constrained, you probably didn't put the center at zero. So dimension the two coordinates, x & y (if in the xy plane). If fully constrained, click close.
8. Your Tasks Panel should have a Body icon labeled as Modeling Tools. Click Pad.
9. Tasks should have Pad parameters. Type in the Length, which is typically already highlighted. Mine is in light blue. You may or may not want to click the Reversed box, which simply extends the pad in the opposite direction. Leave it unchecked. Click OK.
10. Right click on the Pad and click Rename. Call it something clever like CylinderPad.
11. This is tricky. Find the Create sketch icon up at the top of the ribbon. It is not in the Tasks Panel. Alternatively click on Sketch > Create sketch up on your app ribbon bar.
12. Repeat the steps 5-7, except draw a rectangle. Constrain the rectangle (dimension it). The Tasks Panel should show "Fully Constrained". Click Close.
13. The new sketch you made should be highlighted. If not, please single click it. Not the CylinderPad! The sketch. The Tasks panel should show the available options, including Pocket. Click Pocket.
14. I typically select Through all as Type if I want it all the way through the Body. Or just dimension, if you want a partial pocket. Direction/edge should be set to Sketch normal. Then click OK.
15. Recommend Right clicking the Pocket and renaming it to "KeyPocket" just to give you a hint what it is.
16. Save the Model by clicking the Diskette Icon, or File>Save
I include a zip file of pictures of the steps. Look at them in order, the earliest first. Try to see what's there and also what the menus look like.
I strongly recommend you go back and repeat some of the videos. It seems you have forgotten many basic steps. This isn't hard, but it requires some practice to master. It's no different than machining, or even playing an instrument. Takes practice and repetition, until it becomes second nature. You will grasp it, if you keep at it. If my ADD self could do it, anyone can. Hope this helps, as I spent a bit of time writing this up.
While I was doing this, I was printing what I hope is a magnetic bowden tube quick disconnect, that I re-engineered from something I found online. I had to totally redraw it. Not going to lie, this was hard for me. My rendition is quite inartistic. I hope at least it's functional.
When your head is clear, give the instructions and the pictures a look again. I have a practically unmodified FreeCAD 1.0.0 installation, so I'm hoping my instructions will be helpful to you.
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I can't even see a way to delete files.
Delete the old model file from windows. Or simply just create a new one.
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I am still trying to follow your last tutorial.
Vert frustrating that I draw lines when I do not want to a,d can't get things to be where I want them.
I have a cylinder.
When I attempt to draw the rectangle, where do I draw it?
Where I want ti to be positioned in the XY plane of the cylinder, or in free space above the circumference of the cyl?
I drew one, but then was not able to move it to where I wanted it..........
Getting an early start to my daily dose of frustration.........
Now I have a rectangle not the correct size and not where I want it to be..... in free space that I cannot delete........
The ONLY musical instrument that I can play is the stereo..........
AND...the cylinder is no longer a cylinder.......somehow I managed to delete that..............
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Oh dear. That last picture is not good. Somehow you have rearranged the model tree so it's screwed up. There's a hierarchy to the model tree. It should look like
FileName
Part
Body
Pad
Sketch
Pad001
Sketch001
Body001
Sketch002
etc
You have have bodies above and at the same level as Part. This is totally incorrect hierarchy. Not going to work. Furthermore, you need to have an active body to work on. Otherwise your work is effectively discarded.
I have to say, you need to go back to (video) school, and follow the lessons. And physically do what you are being shown, on your computer, even if it takes ten repetitions to get it right. I had to slow down the videos so I could follow them initially. I'm no genius, some lessons took me several sessions. Skipping the actual physical process of making models lulls you into thinking you get it, but you don't. You have to burn in the good habits. If you don't follow the basic strategy (paradigm) for building things, as shown in the videos, well, you won't get expected (good) results. The hierarchy matters.
If your basic hierarchy can't be made to look like what I've shown, you have some weird, garbled installation. That means totally uninstall FreeCAD and download a fresh version from the official FreeCAD site. Do not install from anywhere else.
Every file needs to have a similar hierarchy. Attached is a picture of a plinth for my lathe that I have been working on. (I'm not finished.) You can see the hierarchy in the model tree. And the order of creating the part, top to bottom. Now, this isn't the epitome of design, but it's a good basic strategy. Notice I have renamed the basic Bodies, and Pads to something descriptive to identify which thing is which. This is essential on complicated designs. I've also done some extra stuff, but that's not the point I'm making, it's the hierarchy.
Basic process is to add a Body to your Part. Make it active. It should be in bold, if active. Then create sketch. If you constrain the sketch, you won't be able to move it in the sketch. That's kind of the point. Put it where it should be! That's what the dimensions are all about. After constrained, you may exit the sketch by clicking ok in the task panel. Then Pad the sketch. The sketch now is hierarchically under the Pad. You have created the first object in the Body. If you want another object that is physically contiguous with the Body, like adding something to the Body, or putting in a hole or groove, then create another sketch while the Body is active. Sketch the object. In your case, you want the sketch to likely be in the same plane as where you drew your cylinder. Draw the key exactly where you want it to be, or close. Then use the constraints to put it exactly where it should be, ie. right on top of the cylinder circular face, extending through the radius of the part. It's ok if the rectangle is longer than the cylinder radius. A pocket will be cut that is the depth specified. If the key goes beyond the radial wall, nothing bad happens.
If you want to make something that will not be contiguous (part of) the first Body, you need to make a second body. When you do that, Body001 will become active. If you create a sketch it will now be hierarchically under Body001, not Body. I can tell you I've been messed up with this several times! Make Body001 into whatever you want. If you decide to alter the original Body, you need to make it active first! Or you will be adding things to Body001, and things will stop making sense. Been there, done that, just recently too!
Seriously, nearly all other cool stuff is basically a variant of all the above. All of the above should be covered in the video series. One lesson is not enough.
Anyways, here's a view of the plinth drawing in FreeCAD. I'm trying to figure out what might work to install a knurler on it. The reference edge is set against the cross slide to exactly register it.
Hope some of this helps.
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Yup.
I think I was putting Body (yellow stairs IIRC) at the top, then adding Parts (blue stairs) ............wrong order........
The UNDO tool is my friend.......
I'll give it another go, but, with the temp warming up, I have a backlog of work to catch up on.......
On the brighter side, I did find that my tool icons are there, but many are collapsed and I have to find them.
I have re-opened most of them and put back on the tool bar
I had been watching another series before getting onto the Adventures in Creation tutorials, and I think I manipulated the tool bars using the
other series...Mango Monkey IIRC
Adventures first tutorial kinda moved full speed ahead, and you have to go to lessons 2 and 3 to get the basics.......
All that gets confusing to my simple mind.....
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It seems that I had been thinking about this incorrectly.
I had thought that the cylinder was 1 body, then the slots were
additional bodies that could be applied to the cylinder as pockets.
As there is only 1 component to my object, it will be the only body in my part drawing.
The grooves and slots will be additional sketches that are drawn and constrained in place, then each
pocketed when sketched.
Is this correct??
Will these slots and grooves require naming? Can I name something that is not a body?
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I became disgusted with my Freecad 1.0.0 so I uninstalled it in hopes of getting 1.0 RC2
Nope. Not on the Freecad website.
So, I downloaded 1.0.0 again.
The tutorial dude uses a tool called "Section View."
I either cannot find that tool or do not have it.
I can sketch and pad the cylinder, but when I attempt to sketch the rectangle for the keyway, I am unable to see any lines that are inside the circle of the cyl.
So, I am drawing blind...........
How do I make it so that I can see those lines??
That is when the tutorial uses Section View.............
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How yoiu do a sketch in front of a body so that the lines will be visible?
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How yoiu do a sketch in front of a body so that the lines will be visible?
There's an icon on your ribbon for that. Alternatively, use from your top ribbon menu, Sketch > View Section. The top ribbon is the ribbon at the top of the application that contains stuff like File Edit View Tools, etc. Under Sketch, you will see View Section. It also should display an icon. Look closely at it. You should see the same icon while you are in sketch mode.
Then your sketch and the axes can be seen.
This is the part of FreeCAD that took me the longest to learn. The tutorials go by this stuff real quick, and if you didn't catch it, well you are in trouble! That's why I've stated several times to rewind the video at the moment you don't know what to do, and replay it at a slower speed, so you can see the icon being selected. Then freeze the video and find it on your screen. It sounds dumb, but it works for a numskull like me! I'd bet it will work for you too.
Here's a tip. At the top of the app are all sorts of icons. You can hover your mouse over them. After a short while, a little tooltip is shown, which gives the name of the icon and sometimes a brief description. I suggest you hover over many of the buttons and see what they are. You don't have to click them, but at least you will know their names. Another thing is you can rearrange the buttons somewhat. In the beginning (0.21.1 and earlier) I rearranged them to match the tutorials. That way I didn't have to panic that I couldn't find them. I totally understand your initial learning woes. I suffered almost all of them myself when learning this.
The View Section button is just under my macro recording button (the red round button in the attached picture) on the right. HTH.
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I knew what the icon looked like.but I could swear that I had nothing like it.
Now that I have reloaded the program, I find that icon way on the left when the sketch workbench is active.
OK
I'll give it another go.........
Since my object only has one structure, do I even need to use "Body?"
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I knew what the icon looked like.but I could swear that I had nothing like it.
Now that I have reloaded the program, I find that icon way on the left when the sketch workbench is active.
OK
I'll give it another go.........
Since my object only has one structure, do I even need to use "Body?"
NOW I CANNOT EVEN DRAW A CIRCLE IN THE CENTER OF THE XY AXIS..........................
ANOTHER NEW FRUSTRATION......................
the Centering tool does..................nothing...............
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It seems that I had been thinking about this incorrectly.
I had thought that the cylinder was 1 body, then the slots were
additional bodies that could be applied to the cylinder as pockets.
As there is only 1 component to my object, it will be the only body in my part drawing.
The grooves and slots will be additional sketches that are drawn and constrained in place, then each
pocketed when sketched.
Is this correct??
Will these slots and grooves require naming? Can I name something that is not a body?
The Body is the base object upon which you build. When I first started FreeCad I tried using Part with a Body & it totally confused my workflow. So now I’d I make a boxi create a document called box. The create a Body which I will rename to Body-Box in that Body I will create the basic box using Sketcher then extrude it. I will then use other Sketches to modify the original box object into how I want it to look. When I’m done with the Box I create another Body for the Lid, rename it to Body-Lid & then proceed to draw the lid the way I wanted it.
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You need to create a body. For the simple thing you are making, you can do it all in one Body.
Make a body
Make a sketch within the body. Complete the sketch.
Do an operation on the sketch, such as a Pad or Revolution.
Make another sketch UNDER THE SAME BODY.
Do a different operation on the sketch, like Pad, Groove, Revolution, additive or subtractive helix, etc.
Only time you are required to make a second body is if the object you want is separated from the first body you made. If a boundary is contiguous, it can be in the original Body. If not, it has to be a separate Body.
For a key way in a cylinder, both the Pad making the cylinder, and the key way Pocket can be under the same body.
One thing that is not allowed is a pocket creating two separated pieces, as if you sawed the cylinder in half. Other techniques are required. Can't make two or more Bodies out of one, as far as I know.
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I knew what the icon looked like.but I could swear that I had nothing like it.
Now that I have reloaded the program, I find that icon way on the left when the sketch workbench is active.
OK
I'll give it another go.........
Since my object only has one structure, do I even need to use "Body?"
Yes. Follow the hierarchy of design in the tool! Have to have a Body if you have a 3D object.
Bodies have sketches and other objects under them. If you don't follow the rules of the software, it won't work! If you want different rules, write your own CAD tool. If you want to create stuff in FreeCAD you have to follow the FreeCAD design rules... It's the same with any software, if you don't follow the rules, then weird stuff happens.
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I sketched a rectangle as sketch002
I figured that I could re-size it afterward when viewed in View Selection...........
Nope
Can't re-size ot
Can't re-shape it
Can't dimension it
Can't move it
And lastly.............
Can't DELETE IT.................
I am at the end of my rope................
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Ron, you have to select the sketch (double click the sketch) in the model tree in order to edit it. You have the body highlighted not the sketch.
You also have a second invisible sketch that is extra. You can make it visible by single clicking it and then hitting space bar. Space bar will toggle visibility. If the second sketch is in error delete it. Don't leave it there if it doesn't belong, it will screw you up! If you intend to use it later, that's fine.
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The first sketch is the cylinder
The second sketch is the keyway rectangle at 12 o'clock
I have right clicked it
I have left clicked it..
I cannot alter nor delete it........
I will try the double click.....
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Hope I’m not messing up the dialog here but it appears you are still working in Sketcher and need to be in Part design (iirc) to perform an operation with a sketch.
Dave
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Hope I’m not messing up the dialog here but it appears you are still working in Sketcher and need to be in Part design (iirc) to perform an operation with a sketch.
Dave
If you are in Part Design and double click the sketch, it automatically opens Sketcher, which is what the picture shows. That's ok. The PlugBody is ok. It appears the Pad is correct. Under the Pad, but hidden is Sketch, which should be a circle. Sketch can be revealed by clicking on the > to the left of Pad.
It seems that Ron is not closing the last sketch when he's done. He needs to do that in the task window to finish the sketch.
So in the Task panel click the close button. Sketch002 has been created but has nothing in it.
Delete the two wrong sketches Sketch001 and Sketch002.
Single click PlugBody. The Task panel should have Create sketch. Click it.
A new sketch should come up. Select the xy plane, click ok. Draw the rectangle. Dimension it. When the Task panel says it is constrained, click ok. YOU HAVE TO CLICK OK in the Task Panel!!!!!! Don't click ok, if you haven't put the sketch in the right place, it just makes work for you. Do click ok when done.
The sketch should be at the same indentation level as the Pad.
The Task panel should show the possible tasks, one of which is Pocket. Click Pocket. Depending on how things were done, you may have to reverse the pocket for it to be visible. Blah, blah, set the dimensions, whatever. Click ok when done. If you don't the pocket won't be created.
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Apparently the diameter of my plug is too large.....
How can I see that dimension?
How can I manipulate it?
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^ This is why I gave my 3D printer away LOL ;D
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^ This is why I gave my 3D printer away LOL ;D
I haven't been this frustrated since my first marriage.......
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Apparently the diameter of my plug is too large.....
How can I see that dimension?
How can I manipulate it?
By opening up the sketch that is hierarchically beneath the Pad that made the cylinder. You can always do this (reopen a sketch), as long as the Body is active.
It's kind of obvious (to me) that you are struggling with the basic rules, which I think were explained in video #1. Rewatch it. Do the examples. Repeat as necessary until you get it. Watch video #2 and 3. Do the examples, multiple times until you get it. Don't watch additional videos until you can do the previous one, because the new lessons assume you know everything from the previous ones. It's kind of like math...
I need to take a break from this thread. It's frustrating for me to see you flounder, and not make progress. Perhaps you need a different mentor or tutor. One that will get you over the hump of getting the basic concepts. I'm clearly not able to do that. So I need to take a rest. Wishing you the best in your CAD journey.
It took me time to understand CAD. It wasn't overnight. Actually it was 21 days, at 6 hours a day, to get through about 12 of the videos. Perhaps you are a slow learner like I was. But I put in quality time to learn it, after 35 years of avoiding learning it. Decided I would keep plugging away at it until I was moderately proficient. So, at least for me, it was seriously hard work. So don't give up. It's possible.
If videos are hard for you to learn from, I suggest you check to see if there are any books on FreeCAD 1.0. Maybe they are better suited to your learning style.
Alternatively, there are other easier CADs to try, perhaps TinkerCAD will suit you better. TinkerCAD is more limited, but people do make stuff with it.
Good luck. At least for a while, I'm taking a break from this thread.
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Thanks, Mr. Bruce,
I have watched and tried to emulate the videos over and over.
Especially #2 and 3........
Vid 1 throws a lot at you that is not really explained, IMO
What I need is to have someone's index and middle fingers stick up my nostrils
to the second knuckle and led by the nose in person, so that I can give live feedback
as to what is going on.
I may have to take a break as well, as my transportation has taken a dramatic turn and I need to
get my project truck on the road........
I have been devoting time to this endeavor due to inclimate weather..........
Thanks for your efforts..........
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I THINK I'm on the right track........
I would dimension a keyway pocket on the top of the cylinder, but when I clicked on Pocket and gave a dimension,
the pocket profile would just..............vanish........
So, I tried the "Reverse" setting and................THERE IT WAS !!
Getting closer..........
But i can sketch a circle and pad into a cylinder with the best of them..........
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It dawned on me at 0300 that the sketch for the keyway slot, being sketched in the XY plane was at
the bottom of the cylinder. So, when I specified a dimension for what I believe is the depth of the pocket,
the pocket was being spec'd to be below the XY plane, and there was no solid there.....
So, reversing it dimensioned it above the XY plane where the cylinder resides........
Now, the super tricky part.
I need to pocket a slot in the XZ plane.......thru the diameter of the cylinder..
I guess I will have to sketch it (is is not symmetrical) then do a standard pocket, then a reverse pocket using the same sketched shape
in order to go thru the diameter if the cylinder........
Unless there is a tool that I have not seen in the tutorial yet...
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If I understand what you want to accomplish, you would use a Datumplane to allow you to put a slot through the side of your cylinder.
https://youtu.be/EM0BpApLPzI?si=53vXLvbbG--PxiXQ
He’s using a spreadsheet to hold the dimensions of his object.
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Top right is a fair representation.
I will watch the video, over and over til it sinks in........