Freecad 0.21.2

[WobblyHand]

@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.

[Ronno6]

Tasks panel on the right hand side
Under where it sez   tasks....

[WobblyHand]

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.

[Ronno6]

Howz zis??

[WobblyHand]

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.

[Ronno6]

I will have to review my steps....
Perhaps I will need to re-take the tutorial and take notes for nomenclature........

[Ronno6]

OK.
Let's try this:
I left click on the pad then hit delete.....this is  the result.

[WobblyHand]

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.

[Ronno6]

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

[WobblyHand]

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.

[Ronno6]

Thanks.
I'll give it a go once I get my frozen outdoor faucets un-frozen and SWMBO lets me
back on the computer.........

[WobblyHand]

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...

[Ronno6]

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!

[Ronno6]

I can't even see a way to delete files.

[WobblyHand]

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.

[WobblyHand]

I can't even see a way to delete files.

Delete the old model file from windows.  Or simply just create a new one.

[Ronno6]

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..............

[WobblyHand]

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.

[Ronno6]

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.....

[Ronno6]

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?