On a lathe, knurling is achieved using a v-tip following a helical path up the cylinder. This is replicable in FreeCAD and would give a more authentic-looking result. You're correct, however, that the process is computationally very heavy.
Yeh it does take a while to recompute. In my lattice tutorials these are much much more faster but requires a different technique. Personally for output to physical form I would rather finish this with a tool, such as a lathe as you described (if available) or use something like blender to finish off model.
As someone who operates a metal lathe I can say that doing it on the computer is quite a bit easier! Also the options are almost infinite. Like you couldn't actually do this particular pattern on the lathe you'd have to have a raised bit of metal in order to through cut this with the knurling tool. And yeah a square ended tool would be chattering like crazy. With a computer you could knurl it with a pattern of a skull and crossbones! Or ladybugs or long-stemmed roses. Amazing.
I found that instead of typing stuff into Google to calculate, it's much smarter to use the built-in Spreadsheet, and reference its fields. That way if you want to adjust something - say, the diameter of your shaft - you change a number in the spreadsheet and the change propagates throughout all the dependent elements, instead of you having to redo the entire work manually.
That's interesting. I have recently been looking for a way to map a regular texture onto a curved surface, and this would work for small features being repeated in a regular manner across a curvature large in comparison to the feature size. Another variant might be using the "projection onto object" of the part workbench to mitigate some of the problems of the curvature of the surface. I still haven't found a way of projecting a texture onto a irregular surface (like putting a hexagonal pattern onto the mouse design you featured recently) and I'd be interested in your ideas on this possibility. I'm afraid my understanding of FreeCAD is somewhat thin and confined to part design, sketching and a few other random features!
Thanks for the comments. The other possibilities for repeating patterns would be the draft wb array options on the modifications menu. If you used the path array then you can make the pattern tangent to the surface using the properties on the data tab you will find align which you can set to tangent and then change the tangent vector as normally it starts with a 1 in the z when this should be in the x or y. You can then up the count to as many as you want. The path can be either a sketch path or an edge.
Thanks, I followed along and created created a object I am working on, my challenge is can you repeat the pattern across that outer plane, I tried some things, no luck. so if your still following responses for this, maybe a video on that, the great part I have learned a lot from you, thank you again, I have subscribed and been watch all you videos, keep them coming, thanks again
Hi, so glad your finding the channel useful and thanks for the kind comments. So are you looking to place the same knurling on the bottom and sides so if you did both you would cover the whole object with knurling?
@@MangoJellySolutions only on the outer round like your tutorial demonstrated, keeping the same plane in your demonstration and "Z" axis, I am thinking another plane and offset on Z axis by the length of first/second pattern, then duplicate until you have the outer round surface completely knurled, other thought was, a curved first/second pattern at the same circumference of the round, thanks for replying, les
Thank you for this excellent tutorial (and all of your others too)!!! Is it possible to make knurl on other than round objects, for example if I sketch a rectangle, put fillets on the corners, extrude and knurl the whole object. Or even only the left side of the box (the two rounded corners and the straigt wall)? I've tried alot but without success :(
so, the issue im having currently is trying to get the pocket sketch to stay on the pads face, versus being straight on the datum plane. Do you have any suggestions?
Could you not use a helix path, in the same way as wrapping a thread around a cylinder? but cutting it instead of a adding? Its a bit above my paygrade yet, but I thought your brain might stand a better chance than mine LOL
You should be able to, I have done this also with the path array where you can select the edge as a path. Probably be much quicker to recompute as well.
hundreds of hours in freecad, part design workbench still seems like a waste to me, every time I try and work in it, I get frustrated after 45 min, delete everything, then make the part in the part workbench in 20 min. But as ever the software continues to grow and hopefully stuff simplified.
Knurling’s beard! That was magical.
On a lathe, knurling is achieved using a v-tip following a helical path up the cylinder. This is replicable in FreeCAD and would give a more authentic-looking result. You're correct, however, that the process is computationally very heavy.
Yeh it does take a while to recompute. In my lattice tutorials these are much much more faster but requires a different technique. Personally for output to physical form I would rather finish this with a tool, such as a lathe as you described (if available) or use something like blender to finish off model.
As someone who operates a metal lathe I can say that doing it on the computer is quite a bit easier! Also the options are almost infinite. Like you couldn't actually do this particular pattern on the lathe you'd have to have a raised bit of metal in order to through cut this with the knurling tool. And yeah a square ended tool would be chattering like crazy. With a computer you could knurl it with a pattern of a skull and crossbones! Or ladybugs or long-stemmed roses. Amazing.
I found that instead of typing stuff into Google to calculate, it's much smarter to use the built-in Spreadsheet, and reference its fields. That way if you want to adjust something - say, the diameter of your shaft - you change a number in the spreadsheet and the change propagates throughout all the dependent elements, instead of you having to redo the entire work manually.
Excellent tutorial to do a complicated task! Thank you!
Another wonderful demo!!!!
Thanks again! :)
I’ve learned so much from this video. Thank you
Glad you enjoyed.
Another banger! Thanks again for the great information!
That's interesting. I have recently been looking for a way to map a regular texture onto a curved surface, and this would work for small features being repeated in a regular manner across a curvature large in comparison to the feature size. Another variant might be using the "projection onto object" of the part workbench to mitigate some of the problems of the curvature of the surface. I still haven't found a way of projecting a texture onto a irregular surface (like putting a hexagonal pattern onto the mouse design you featured recently) and I'd be interested in your ideas on this possibility. I'm afraid my understanding of FreeCAD is somewhat thin and confined to part design, sketching and a few other random features!
Thanks for the comments. The other possibilities for repeating patterns would be the draft wb array options on the modifications menu. If you used the path array then you can make the pattern tangent to the surface using the properties on the data tab you will find align which you can set to tangent and then change the tangent vector as normally it starts with a 1 in the z when this should be in the x or y. You can then up the count to as many as you want. The path can be either a sketch path or an edge.
Thanks, I followed along and created created a object I am working on, my challenge is can you repeat the pattern across that outer plane, I tried some things, no luck. so if your still following responses for this, maybe a video on that, the great part I have learned a lot from you, thank you again, I have subscribed and been watch all you videos, keep them coming, thanks again
Hi, so glad your finding the channel useful and thanks for the kind comments. So are you looking to place the same knurling on the bottom and sides so if you did both you would cover the whole object with knurling?
@@MangoJellySolutions only on the outer round like your tutorial demonstrated, keeping the same plane in your demonstration and "Z" axis, I am thinking another plane and offset on Z axis by the length of first/second pattern, then duplicate until you have the outer round surface completely knurled, other thought was, a curved first/second pattern at the same circumference of the round, thanks for replying, les
Thank you so much 😀
Hi, ive follwed the tutorial thanks, is there a way to transfer the pattern all the way up the cylinder? Thanks
Brilliant. Thank you
Thank you for this excellent tutorial (and all of your others too)!!! Is it possible to make knurl on other than round objects, for example if I sketch a rectangle, put fillets on the corners, extrude and knurl the whole object. Or even only the left side of the box (the two rounded corners and the straigt wall)? I've tried alot but without success :(
Glad your enjoying the videos. That's an interesting challenge, never tried it myself. I see if I can figure it out.
Wondering the same thing...I have to knurl a stadium shape which is a mix of both. Two round ends but two flat sides that all need knurling.
Cool!
so, the issue im having currently is trying to get the pocket sketch to stay on the pads face, versus being straight on the datum plane. Do you have any suggestions?
aswell, how would I make the entirety of the pads side face with the same knurled pattern? Thanks in advance for your help.
What if the surface to be textured is defined by an additive loft?
Could you not use a helix path, in the same way as wrapping a thread around a cylinder? but cutting it instead of a adding?
Its a bit above my paygrade yet, but I thought your brain might stand a better chance than mine LOL
You should be able to, I have done this also with the path array where you can select the edge as a path. Probably be much quicker to recompute as well.
hundreds of hours in freecad, part design workbench still seems like a waste to me, every time I try and work in it, I get frustrated after 45 min, delete everything, then make the part in the part workbench in 20 min. But as ever the software continues to grow and hopefully stuff simplified.