FreeCAD manual

Patrick-kees Lawn
February 2023

1 Introduction
FreeCAD is a computer modeling software that allows you to design and create parts with high
precision and also combine parts to create a larger model. Tools give you precise information about
all your individual parts and the model, including the exact coordinates at each point on the part
both (x,y,z) as well as the angle around each axis. You can also get this precise information of
the relative distance and angle between two parts or points and by using this information you
can set constraints like aligning two parts along an axis or joining them at a specific point like on
their ends. By default, it will save files to the FreeCAD standard file format (.FCStd) but it also
supports STEP, DXF, SVG, IGES, STL, OBJ, DAE, SCAD, IV, and IFC. [1]
FreeCAD can be downloaded from the FreeCAD website:https://www.freecad.org/

2 Controls
2.1 Documents
”Documents” are where you create your parts and models. Saving each part in its own document
allows you to import the same part as many times as you want into as many models as you want.
It is also helpful since any changes made to the part can instantly be applied to every instance
of that part simply by updating parts. This modularity simplifies building and modifying your
model as you can focus on a single part or assembling the model. Create two folders, one to store
all your downloaded/created parts and a second folder for your project where you’re assembling
the model, this will make it easy to find everything and import parts into the model, it will also
make it easy to keep track of versions and different possible prototypes of the model.

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2.2 view
In the bottom right corner, there is a drop-down menu with CAD selected by default, here you can
change how you view the part you are working on which will make understanding it much easier.
Jumping to certain angles through the box in the top right corner is also possible. The arrows
allow you to jump to adjacent preset angles, the curved arrows rotate your view, and clicking on
the face will move you to that preset angle or that can be achieved by clicking on the blue faces in
the top left. A more comprehensive list and the source of this information is found at: [2]

3 Workbenches
Workbenches can be added through the add-on manager, to add just type the name into the
search bar and then select the specific workbench.
A2Plus
This needs to be added by the manager. It allows you to import downloaded parts into a document
and combine them in specific ways depending on the preferred conditions whether that placing the
center mass of two faces at the same point, making the axis coincident or an axis at an angle or
normal relative to a face. It is also possible to set an offset, lock rotation, or flip the part when
setting the constraints.

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Assembly4
Another external addon needs to be added. Its main use so far is its measurement function which
allows you to measure the radius of any arc or circle by clicking on the edge, it can measure the
distance between two edges given the distance in the three spatial components or it can measure
the angle between two parts.

Draft
Can be used to sketch shapes onto a grid but also it can clone and scale parts along any of the
three-axis, can flip rotate and move parts, extend faces, join and split lines, create projections of
parts in a 2d plane or convert the draft into a sketch or vice versa.

Part Design
Allows you to create 3d bodies from 2d sketches. It also allows you to do various modifications to
existing 3d bodies, create holes and pockets, and create basic shapes.

Part
Can create a union or compound to combine smaller parts into a greater part, it can also be
used to break large models into their components using the explode compound. You can also
create certain basic shapes like a torus, hollow cylinders, spheres, cones, cylinders, and boxes.

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4 Design
If you only require a basic shape it will be easier to use the part workbench as it gives you very
precise control over creating basic primitive shapes, in certain circumstances, it may be preferable
to create multiple primitive shapes and join them together.

When more complex custom shapes are required then using the part design workbench is required.
When designing a part you click on create a body which will prompt you to create a sketch. When
creating a sketch it is best to leave the constraint boxes ticked as well as if you know the scale of
the part to turn on the grid with the relevant size. You can also use the grid snap feature to snap
your shape or line to a specific size specified in the grid size. Your shape will also tell you how big
it is either by giving you the radius in mm or the coordinate relative to the origin in mm. You
can create holes in your part by creating shapes within the shapes, there’s also a specific tool for
creating holes whether is custom or conforms to one of the many screw types.

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Occasionally when creating sketches, especially depending on their complexity errors can arise from
conflicting constraints or lines not being joined or some other issue. One of the easiest ways to fix
this is to go on the sketch menu, click validate sketch then go and click to find all the errors and
have freeCAD automatically fix them.

Once the outline of the part has been created it will be necessary to use the pad function to give
it depth. This will turn your 2d sketch into a 3d part. When padding your sketch you are able to
specify its depth to 0.01mm accuracy, you can also decide to taper it at a certain angle making
the top face smaller than the bottom face. Once the basic body has been constructed further
refinements can be made. This includes holes, pockets, fillets and chamfers.

5 Joining parts
The best practice is to have every piece created and modified in separate documents with each piece
getting its own documents. Not only does assembling and designing become much easier by break-
ing it down this way, but this also avoids creating errors in freeCad like going over constraint limits.

You can assemble your model through the import of external shapes. Connecting specific shapes
together is achieved by creating constraints. Only two parts may be selected at a time and you
must select either an edge or face from separate parts depending on how you want to join them.
You can select multiple parts, edges, and faces by holding down ”ctrl” when clicking. Often it
may be necessary to use multiple constraints, one to join of the circle formed by an arc edge with
another center point from a face connecting cross. This would be done to connect the pieces but
then you may want to align their axis to ensure they’re not overlapping but rather facing the right

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way. There are 14 different constraints each with a description based off a couple of combinations.
Point refers to the vertex or center of a circle, axis refers to the axis running through the part,
plane refers to the face, and center of mass refers to joining them at the center of mass of the two
parts. Conflicting constraints can be fixed by using the conflict finder tool and constraints can
have additional modifications from the offset, rotation lock and flip or aligned.

6 Manipulation
Clicking on a part will highlight it in the menu, double clicking on it in the menu allows you to
move it along the three axis or to rotate your part along the three angles. You can specify the step
in rotation or translation by inserting a value or you can get an exact angle or position by altering
the axis, placement or angle properties under placement when you’ve selected the object.[3] If you
wish to manipulate multiple parts like a section of your model you can select all the relevant parts
and create a compound or union in the part menu and then you can manipulate said part like a
regular part. You can then delete the compound to separate them into their original components.
You can also use the explode compound tool to separate apart into its individual components.

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If you wish to modify a component in a piece it will be necessary to use the explode compound
tool to decompose a copy and then delete all the other components. Then you can use the draft
workbench to modify and scale this component and then afterward rejoin it back up with all the
other components. If multiple components are being modified or scaled in the same way you can
rejoin the relevant parts into a compound before scaling.

Here is an example of what you can produce through all the tools in FreeCAD, this is a model I
built of the Ultra high vacuum from some downloaded and some designed parts over my 2022-2023
summer studentship.

References
[1] Wikipedia Foundation. FreeCAD. url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FreeCAD. (ac-
cessed: 15.02.2023).
[2] FreeCAD. Manual:Navigating in the 3D view. url: https://wiki.freecad.org/Manual:
Navigating_in_the_3D_view. (accessed: 21.02.2023).
[3] FreeCAD. Placement. url: https://wiki.freecad.org/Placement. (accessed: 21.02.2023).