I only sketch in FreeCAD when I need complex geometries such as an odd curved shape. It's amazing the complexity that I can achieve using the 3D primitives with the binary operations to create cuts, fusions, intersections, etc., then using fillets and chamfers for the finishing touches. For anyone who would like to use FreeCAD but is intimidated by the "real CAD" learning curve of parametric 3D modeling, I'd advise using it as a glorified version of TinkerCAD, by using cubes, cylinders, spheres, toruses, tubes. You can ignore over 90% of FreeCAD and it's still very powerful. Once comfortable, you can learn the rest as you need it. FreeCAD allows you to create whatever you can imagine. FreeCAD + 3D printer = Star Trek Replicator v0.4 I now have a shop with CNC machining tools that I never use. Unless I need the strength or heat resistance of steel, it's easier to CAD a custom part and 3D print it.
THANK YOU! Your very first example of the rectangle symmetry made me crazy trying to figure out why it wasn't working, as it does effortlessly in other introductory lessons. Redundant constraints!
I think one of the most discouraging things about FreeCAD is that it looks so much like other CAD programs, but it functions very differently. When I tried learning the program "solve space", I was much more open to looking up tutorials since I realized right away that it was unlike other CAD programs.
Good video explaining some behaviours that can cause problems for beginners. Like many others, I keep trying Freecad every few years, but go back to (paid) Fusion 360 because it's just so much more intuitive. The F360 programmers have the resources to tackle hundreds of issues like this and sort them out. Freecad keeps getting better, but it's chasing a moving target. It's pretty impressive for free software.
FreeCAD is more than good enough already, however, so they can chase that usability thing all they want. It runs and lets me take designs straight to build. Happy :)
I've visited a paid 3 Day FreeCAD Course (in Person), and at the End of the Course, the Trainer was teaching us Fusion360. My Decision to pay for a Course was made when I almost threw my Laptop on the Floor, trying to learn FreeCAD myself. I thought the Course would help. During the Course, because I already had "some" Experience, I actually became somewhat of a 2nd Trainer myself. Helping out those who fell behind, so the Class could continue, even helping the Trainer with some Mistakes. So, yeah. FreeCAD is amazing for being Free, but the "Learning Curve" feels more like a rattling Roaler Coaster.
I will create a new document and now a new sketch... clicks on button I don't have a available after creating a new document. The buttons I do see DONT HAVE TOOL TIPS, only icons so I have no clue what they do. Maybe that's why people give up on this piece of ish?
Just out of curiosity, were you using the Mac version? I ask because I ran into the same thing on the Mac version of RC 1.0, however one day I happened to install the same version on Linux and all the tooltips were there! I'm not sure if that's a defect or if it's designed that way. I agree that it's impossible to learn without tooltips.
This is not a good instructor because he is showing you THE INCORRECT WAY TO USE FREECAD. Instead, if you learn the *RIGHT WAY* to create objects in FreeCad, YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO FIND THIS KIND OF MISTAKES IN YOUR LEARNING ! ! !. Freecad is an excellent CAD Program and the best part is IT IS ABSOLUTELY FREE AND CAN USE IT COMMERCIALLY IF YOU WANT !. It is harder to learn than other programms, but once you learn the right way to use it the results will be VERY REWARDING FOR YOU !. Cheers, John.
I disagree with your opinion. He is very good in explaining really fast some problems in FreeCAD, as opposed to others that create long and boring videos. @@jhonny1392
It's possible to have a polar array of objects by creating the object, making multiple copies and rotating them around a point. The FreeCAD method is less convenient for simple common tasks such as a bolt hole pattern but it's very flexible, allowing for more complex geometries such as spiral staircases, increasing radius impeller blades, etc.
What made me give up on FreeCAD after learning how to use it for several hours? You can't do a sketch offset. I'm not about to go through 15 steps to do a simple offset action, back to Fusion I go.
You are right. My experience is that you have to take it one step at a time. Try to use the Sketcher or Draft workbench first, and certainly follow some lessons from this guy. He is better than some others I have watched. @@iokarii
All the restriction you showed only happen when you use BODY. Don't use body and don't use PART. In fact you hardly need the Part or Part-design workbench. You don't encounter these restrictions, if you use the sketcher in BIM workbench. Just set your workplane, model your parts as sketch based extrusions and add them to groups instead. The only time you may need PART is when working with Assembly 4 workbench and this is also simple. Just drag your GROUP into a PART and Assembly works just fine.
I don't know the BIM workbench, but it seems to me that there is a different approach to 3D modeling. Modeling, as I have shown, using Part Design modules, is similar to that found in other 3D CAD systems. Therefore, if anyone has ever used a 3D CAD system, they will most likely create 3D models in the Part Design module.
@@CADCAMLessons I hardly use Part-design WB, because if you i.e need a part with 10 separate extrusions, you need to create 10 separate bodies and wrap them into a Part container, whereas in BIM WB, you can just create a sketch that contains all your 10 extrusions and then extrude it. Much easier and less work.
@@fglatzel I dumped FreeCAD ~1 year ago because of its clunky workflow and it's many bugs. But I'll take a look at the BIM workbench. Thanx for the info! 👍
My biggest issue with trying to learn freecad is I'm too much of a perfectionist, its not that freecad can't do what I want to do with it, its just I spend way too much time trying to get every tiny last detail perfect that I eventually stop practicing from frustration. Worse part is its not even a skill issue some of the times, sometimes I want to know a particular dimension of something and can't find it on the web
But thank you for some tips what to enable which should be enabled by default. I mean, yea constraints are annoying to every one but that issue F360 is dealing way better than FreeCad. F360 at least allows you to make models without fully constrain sketches, while it is a MUST in FreeCad. That is why i always give up on FreeCad. Until that problem persist in FreeCad, you are better of with "free" hobby F360. Let's not talk about FreeCad "workbenches" and confusing naming.
I don't fully understand the purpose of your comment. I'm just showing how FreeCAD works. In FreeCAD, the sketch does not have to be fully constrained. But this is good practice for 3D modeling in 3D CAD systems. And the constraints aren't annoying at all, they're just part of 3D modeling. FreeCAD is free for everyone with no restrictions, while Fusion 360 limits functionality for hobbyists. I use both systems and both have advantages and disadvantages. But Fusion 360 raises its price regularly, and there's no guarantee it won't drop its free hobbyist version in the future. That's why I think FreeCAD is a good alternative.
I don't remember running into any features that required a fully constrained sketch? It's just good practice. Workbenches are one of those things where I think they had good intentions, but tripped up on some implementation details. The biggest problem by far is the topological naming problem, which they really need to fix, but they are working on it. One thing I wish F360 had is Linux support - because they don't support Linux, I basically have to use FreeCAD.
@@logicalfundy As someone who started with Autocad V.10 (DOS) and migrated to Solid Edge in 1999, I've seen a lot. I'm just starting my journey with FreeCAD, now. WHY? Because I have a VERY LARGE problem with the big CAD companies forcing me (and others) into a situation where we really don't OWN our own drawings because we have continually either (a) buy a license outright and then pay yearly fees to keep up-to-date, or (b) rent the software. ALSO, another peeve is the lack of support for Linux-based systems. Given the stranglehold that Microshiite has on the OS world in business, they are doing all they can to own anything created on a Windows system. Sorry, but my long term goal is migrating to a Linux-based system. Therefore, I need a CAD software that supports Linux systems. While the topological naming issue is and issue, the current FreeCAD software development gives me hope for the future. My thumbs-up to all the developers of FreeCAD.
Workbenches are just collections of tools and are fully customisable. They exist to group together tools for particular tasks and not have tools that are irrelevant to those tasks. Wait till the owners of F360 decide that you, the licensed user , should no longer have free access to your designs and request you pay them for it.
What are you talking about? You don't need to fully constrain your sketches to extrude (pad) them. ...and why even mentioning TOY software, such as F360 hobby? Before you start trashing FreeCAD, maybe spend some time learning it, instead of making uninformed and misleading statements.
too many fast clicks to follow, not enough explanation. Takes for granted everyone knows exactly where to go and click. You need to take into account some people know exactly zero about drawing with these programs and want to learn but teachers end up taking everyone for granted and expect them to pick up the information on instructor level. But it just doesn't happen. Not a very good video. Refine your teaching with your knowledge and you'll have many more subscribers.
I thought it was a great video, showing what I've being doing wrong in my less than two days of trying to use it. You should experience the frustration of not paying $70 a month for a professional program for a little longer, then come back in a few days and view again. I had the complete sh1ts with this program yesterday, but after quickly checking out a few other programs, realised none of them are intuitive, unless you are an artist that doesn't care about dimensions.
You are obviously in the wrong forum. Stop ranting and keep searching for FreeCAD beginner lessons. There are plenty out there that are more on your level. Davy
FreeCAD for Complete Beginners Course - cadcamlessons.com/freecad-online-course
I only sketch in FreeCAD when I need complex geometries such as an odd curved shape. It's amazing the complexity that I can achieve using the 3D primitives with the binary operations to create cuts, fusions, intersections, etc., then using fillets and chamfers for the finishing touches. For anyone who would like to use FreeCAD but is intimidated by the "real CAD" learning curve of parametric 3D modeling, I'd advise using it as a glorified version of TinkerCAD, by using cubes, cylinders, spheres, toruses, tubes. You can ignore over 90% of FreeCAD and it's still very powerful. Once comfortable, you can learn the rest as you need it. FreeCAD allows you to create whatever you can imagine.
FreeCAD + 3D printer = Star Trek Replicator v0.4
I now have a shop with CNC machining tools that I never use. Unless I need the strength or heat resistance of steel, it's easier to CAD a custom part and 3D print it.
Hi. I am curious about using freeCAD with CNC. Could you please elaborate more? I am new to all this.
The most discouraging thing about any software is that the tutorials rarely match the current version of the software.
THANK YOU! Your very first example of the rectangle symmetry made me crazy trying to figure out why it wasn't working, as it does effortlessly in other introductory lessons. Redundant constraints!
¡Muchas gracias, amigo! realmente, freecad es un mundo de posibilidades.
I think one of the most discouraging things about FreeCAD is that it looks so much like other CAD programs, but it functions very differently. When I tried learning the program "solve space", I was much more open to looking up tutorials since I realized right away that it was unlike other CAD programs.
Good video explaining some behaviours that can cause problems for beginners. Like many others, I keep trying Freecad every few years, but go back to (paid) Fusion 360 because it's just so much more intuitive. The F360 programmers have the resources to tackle hundreds of issues like this and sort them out. Freecad keeps getting better, but it's chasing a moving target. It's pretty impressive for free software.
FreeCAD is more than good enough already, however, so they can chase that usability thing all they want. It runs and lets me take designs straight to build. Happy :)
I've visited a paid 3 Day FreeCAD Course (in Person), and at the End of the Course, the Trainer was teaching us Fusion360.
My Decision to pay for a Course was made when I almost threw my Laptop on the Floor, trying to learn FreeCAD myself. I thought the Course would help. During the Course, because I already had "some" Experience, I actually became somewhat of a 2nd Trainer myself. Helping out those who fell behind, so the Class could continue, even helping the Trainer with some Mistakes.
So, yeah. FreeCAD is amazing for being Free, but the "Learning Curve" feels more like a rattling Roaler Coaster.
Hello. This was a very interesting video. Do you have more like this "Watch this BEFORE you start learning FreeCAD", like part 2, part 3?
I will create a new document and now a new sketch... clicks on button I don't have a available after creating a new document. The buttons I do see DONT HAVE TOOL TIPS, only icons so I have no clue what they do.
Maybe that's why people give up on this piece of ish?
Just out of curiosity, were you using the Mac version? I ask because I ran into the same thing on the Mac version of RC 1.0, however one day I happened to install the same version on Linux and all the tooltips were there! I'm not sure if that's a defect or if it's designed that way. I agree that it's impossible to learn without tooltips.
Thank you, I'm new to Cad, new to FreeCAD and your going to be my new instructor.🙌🙏
This is not a good instructor because he is showing you THE INCORRECT WAY TO USE FREECAD.
Instead, if you learn the *RIGHT WAY* to create objects in FreeCad, YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO FIND THIS KIND OF MISTAKES IN YOUR LEARNING ! ! !.
Freecad is an excellent CAD Program and the best part is IT IS ABSOLUTELY FREE AND CAN USE IT COMMERCIALLY IF YOU WANT !.
It is harder to learn than other programms, but once you learn the right way to use it the results will be VERY REWARDING FOR YOU !. Cheers, John.
Samples of good sources of FreeCAD tutorials would be nice :)
I disagree with your opinion. He is very good in explaining really fast some problems in FreeCAD, as opposed to others that create long and boring videos. @@jhonny1392
Another big problem is that sketch not have the basics cad tools like for example polar array.
th-cam.com/video/-CXhGaZCDVY/w-d-xo.html
It's possible to have a polar array of objects by creating the object, making multiple copies and rotating them around a point. The FreeCAD method is less convenient for simple common tasks such as a bolt hole pattern but it's very flexible, allowing for more complex geometries such as spiral staircases, increasing radius impeller blades, etc.
What made me give up on FreeCAD after learning how to use it for several hours? You can't do a sketch offset. I'm not about to go through 15 steps to do a simple offset action, back to Fusion I go.
Offset was recently added to the Draft Workbench.
Oh yes you can! Both 2D and 3D offsets are available in the Part workbench.
I have tried several times, and can not do quite easy things, so now I will try Solvespace..
You are right. My experience is that you have to take it one step at a time. Try to use the Sketcher or Draft workbench first, and certainly follow some lessons from this guy. He is better than some others I have watched. @@iokarii
Try the 0.22dev version of FreeCAD. Sketch offset is working perfectly. Stop using limited stuff such as Fusion.
Fusion is not even an option.
Big thanks to you!!!
Does it save your data on the cloud?
No, but if you want you can use Ondsel Lens.
Just starting to play with Freecad. How do you change the selection diameter to that huge yellow circle?
pretty sure that's a separate program for highlighting the cursor for the video
What do you recommend that’s better than freecad? Is it worth sticking with it or better to get something else?
It's hard to recommend anything. I use FreeCAD and Fusion 360. Both systems have pros and cons.
Thank you
Great video thanks, some options should be turned on by default, then Freecad might have larger following by default! It's sad.
All the restriction you showed only happen when you use BODY.
Don't use body and don't use PART.
In fact you hardly need the Part or Part-design workbench.
You don't encounter these restrictions, if you use the sketcher in BIM workbench.
Just set your workplane, model your parts as sketch based extrusions and add them to groups instead.
The only time you may need PART is when working with Assembly 4 workbench and this is also simple.
Just drag your GROUP into a PART and Assembly works just fine.
I don't know the BIM workbench, but it seems to me that there is a different approach to 3D modeling.
Modeling, as I have shown, using Part Design modules, is similar to that found in other 3D CAD systems.
Therefore, if anyone has ever used a 3D CAD system, they will most likely create 3D models in the Part Design module.
@@CADCAMLessons
I hardly use Part-design WB, because if you i.e need a part with 10 separate extrusions, you need to create 10 separate bodies and wrap them into a Part container, whereas in BIM WB, you can just create a sketch that contains all your 10 extrusions and then extrude it. Much easier and less work.
@@fglatzel I dumped FreeCAD ~1 year ago because of its clunky workflow and it's many bugs. But I'll take a look at the BIM workbench. Thanx for the info! 👍
My biggest issue with trying to learn freecad is I'm too much of a perfectionist, its not that freecad can't do what I want to do with it, its just I spend way too much time trying to get every tiny last detail perfect that I eventually stop practicing from frustration. Worse part is its not even a skill issue some of the times, sometimes I want to know a particular dimension of something and can't find it on the web
But thank you for some tips what to enable which should be enabled by default.
I mean, yea constraints are annoying to every one but that issue F360 is dealing way better than FreeCad. F360 at least allows you to make models without fully constrain sketches, while it is a MUST in FreeCad. That is why i always give up on FreeCad. Until that problem persist in FreeCad, you are better of with "free" hobby F360. Let's not talk about FreeCad "workbenches" and confusing naming.
I don't fully understand the purpose of your comment. I'm just showing how FreeCAD works.
In FreeCAD, the sketch does not have to be fully constrained. But this is good practice for 3D modeling in 3D CAD systems. And the constraints aren't annoying at all, they're just part of 3D modeling.
FreeCAD is free for everyone with no restrictions, while Fusion 360 limits functionality for hobbyists.
I use both systems and both have advantages and disadvantages.
But Fusion 360 raises its price regularly, and there's no guarantee it won't drop its free hobbyist version in the future.
That's why I think FreeCAD is a good alternative.
I don't remember running into any features that required a fully constrained sketch? It's just good practice. Workbenches are one of those things where I think they had good intentions, but tripped up on some implementation details. The biggest problem by far is the topological naming problem, which they really need to fix, but they are working on it. One thing I wish F360 had is Linux support - because they don't support Linux, I basically have to use FreeCAD.
@@logicalfundy As someone who started with Autocad V.10 (DOS) and migrated to Solid Edge in 1999, I've seen a lot. I'm just starting my journey with FreeCAD, now. WHY? Because I have a VERY LARGE problem with the big CAD companies forcing me (and others) into a situation where we really don't OWN our own drawings because we have continually either (a) buy a license outright and then pay yearly fees to keep up-to-date, or (b) rent the software. ALSO, another peeve is the lack of support for Linux-based systems. Given the stranglehold that Microshiite has on the OS world in business, they are doing all they can to own anything created on a Windows system. Sorry, but my long term goal is migrating to a Linux-based system. Therefore, I need a CAD software that supports Linux systems. While the topological naming issue is and issue, the current FreeCAD software development gives me hope for the future.
My thumbs-up to all the developers of FreeCAD.
Workbenches are just collections of tools and are fully customisable. They exist to group together tools for particular tasks and not have tools that are irrelevant to those tasks.
Wait till the owners of F360 decide that you, the licensed user , should no longer have free access to your designs and request you pay them for it.
What are you talking about? You don't need to fully constrain your sketches to extrude (pad) them.
...and why even mentioning TOY software, such as F360 hobby?
Before you start trashing FreeCAD, maybe spend some time learning it, instead of making uninformed and misleading statements.
too many fast clicks to follow, not enough explanation. Takes for granted everyone knows exactly where to go and click. You need to take into account some people know exactly zero about drawing with these programs and want to learn but teachers end up taking everyone for granted and expect them to pick up the information on instructor level. But it just doesn't happen. Not a very good video. Refine your teaching with your knowledge and you'll have many more subscribers.
I thought it was a great video, showing what I've being doing wrong in my less than two days of trying to use it. You should experience the frustration of not paying $70 a month for a professional program for a little longer, then come back in a few days and view again. I had the complete sh1ts with this program yesterday, but after quickly checking out a few other programs, realised none of them are intuitive, unless you are an artist that doesn't care about dimensions.
You are obviously in the wrong forum. Stop ranting and keep searching for FreeCAD beginner lessons.
There are plenty out there that are more on your level. Davy
Too many ok 😂