The extent of the workarounds that are required to do the most basic stuff in FreeCAD never cease to amaze me. Thanks for the tutorial, I would never have found this by myself.
very good trick, but I think in this case it should be noted you probably want to create different objects in separate files (actually for your box since it is symetrycal, only one object will be enough) then make an assembly out of it, with a constraint on the hinge axis. But it's true that for a given object made of multiple bodies, positioning and rotating can be maddening.... thanks a lot for the tutorial !
Thank you for comment on this, I think you may of also helped me find a example of a use case for a simple sub assembly for a video I want to create. 😁😁👍👍👍
Finally a solution for a problem I have been having for a long time. I wonder if this trick also allows me to assign a permanent rotation axis to an object....
Usualy you need to move he part in exact manner - by known number of degrees. In such case the assembly is one solution,when you need to align the top to the bottom box. But moving the top independently to certain angle, you need to measure first, what the angle between the two boxes is, then enter the calculated number of degrees in the "Rotate" task window, in Rotation of parameter window...(sorry for the lack of correct terminology) So the question is: how could you measure the angle between the top and the bottom box?
Awesome video very informative thank you! I’ve been spending the last couple weeks learning this program and you’re channel has been the best thing on the internet! My goal with CAD is to make 3D models of automotive suspension parts that move as they would in the real world. I need parts to move on multiple axis and at specific pivot points. An example would be a control arm that pivots on the chassis with a ball joint at the other end on which an upright would pivot on an axis between the upper and lower ball joints. I know it’s a fairly complex concept and I don’t honestly know if it’s even possible with free cad. I’ve had success making 2D models that pivot accordingly using constraints. I know it’s a bit of a tall order but any guidance would be very appreciated. Thanks again for the detailed and informative videos!
Thank you for the comment, great to hear you are finding the channel useful. Your project is interesting as it's something I am also looking to get into. There are a number of workbenches that allow for constructions such as the A2Plus workbench where you can attach parts to each other and when you move a part and all act upon each other but I don't know if this will cover what you are looking for. You need something to stimulate multi body dynamic systems. There is a workbench out there made by Jose Gabriel Egas called Free3MBDyn but I have yet to explore it.
@@MangoJellySolutions thanks for the reply! I’ve tried playing with A2 plus and was able to get some basic 3D motions. I’ve also been able to get some 3D motion in the part design workbench, but it’s tricky and I can’t quite get things to move as they would in the real world. I’ll try out the free3mb work bench you suggested for sure. Thanks again and keep up the great work!
@@LifeInHyrule Depends what you're looking to do with the model. If it's for illustrative purposes then freecad is great, if you want to vehicle dynamics and geometry characteristics from the model though, there are specialised suspension simulation softwares that would be more appropriate.
Thank you 😊. When you say programmatically are you looking to set the pivot point in xyz space of the model permanently ? If so I am still in the search for that one.
Extremely helpful, thank you! Is there a way to parameterize rotations? That is, set the rotation angle and also be able to modify it via a spreadsheet variable. That'd also be very helpful.
In essence, it is parametric. The rotation on the draft workbench is just an accesibility tool for the basic placement parameters of a part. To describe the rotational orientation, the placement parameter has a single rotation parameter and a weight for each of the 3 dimensions. If you can figure out a formula to split up/describe your rotation in each dimension, you are there! Or there might be another WB just for this :)
Can't believe I missed this video and just came across it now. Very useful technique. A question - is it possible to close the lid so it's exactly closed and flush with the other half? I.e. not by eyeballing it with the mouse? Starting from an unknown open angle, you can't judge what exact angle to type in.....if you know what I mean. Anyway, as always thanks very much for the video. The draft workbench has been a murky area for me....this brings a little light to the abyss for me.
Sorry didn't see your comment. Thanks for the like. So with the draft rotation the first selection is the center of rotation. After you have clicked you will see a line appear. This line will be the second selection which is 0 degrees. If you are using the snapping tools you can snap this to an edge. Once this has been done start typing and you can supply an exact degree. Hit enter to apply. It's not the most obvious of workflows, tol me a while to figure this out. Sorry again for the late reply.
Indeed, for anyone coming to Freecad, ‘why all the workbenches?’ is one of the first questions. Still baffling. The unspecified compatability between them, and general advice not to mix them, does not help.
I found that the whole mixing workbench is mainly down to the part and part design as though they are both parametric the part workbench uses the boolean operations to build models in the same way as older CAD programs used to from the 70's. We're as part design uses feature based. Trouble is there are a number of manipulation tools in other workbenches that can be used in the majority of others which results in the whole swapping back and forward which is a complete pain. What you can do is move some of these tools to your desired workbench by creating a button and assigning it a macro to this tool which will activate it in the same way. I have a video on my channel to do this for the draft move tool but the same process can be used for a number of tools in the draft workbench. But I totally agree, it really can put new users off.
All but a few workbenches are 'add ons' to improve upon the accessibility of the basic workbenches. They are prepared workarounds, so to speak. For example, the rotation on the draft WB is an accesibility tool for the basic placement parameters of a part. To describe the rotational orientation, the placement parameter was given a single rotation parameter and a weight for each of the 3 dimensions. This made it unintuitive to use. Rather than fixing the issue itself, someone added a workaround on the workbench. And then someone else made a video on how to use this workaround. Baffling, indeed.
The extent of the workarounds that are required to do the most basic stuff in FreeCAD never cease to amaze me. Thanks for the tutorial, I would never have found this by myself.
No problems, glad to help
Thanks!
Thank you so much 👍👍😊😊
very good trick, but I think in this case it should be noted you probably want to create different objects in separate files (actually for your box since it is symetrycal, only one object will be enough) then make an assembly out of it, with a constraint on the hinge axis.
But it's true that for a given object made of multiple bodies, positioning and rotating can be maddening....
thanks a lot for the tutorial !
Thank you for comment on this, I think you may of also helped me find a example of a use case for a simple sub assembly for a video I want to create. 😁😁👍👍👍
Finally a solution for a problem I have been having for a long time. I wonder if this trick also allows me to assign a permanent rotation axis to an object....
This one was a bit long winded, but it's good. Didn't know about this at all!
Usualy you need to move he part in exact manner - by known number of degrees. In such case the assembly is one solution,when you need to align the top to the bottom box. But moving the top independently to certain angle, you need to measure first, what the angle between the two boxes is, then enter the calculated number of degrees in the "Rotate" task window, in Rotation of parameter window...(sorry for the lack of correct terminology) So the question is: how could you measure the angle between the top and the bottom box?
You're a very talented individual
great but if I select both body for an export the stl is not the sam, somebody know how to fix that?
Awesome video very informative thank you! I’ve been spending the last couple weeks learning this program and you’re channel has been the best thing on the internet! My goal with CAD is to make 3D models of automotive suspension parts that move as they would in the real world. I need parts to move on multiple axis and at specific pivot points. An example would be a control arm that pivots on the chassis with a ball joint at the other end on which an upright would pivot on an axis between the upper and lower ball joints. I know it’s a fairly complex concept and I don’t honestly know if it’s even possible with free cad. I’ve had success making 2D models that pivot accordingly using constraints. I know it’s a bit of a tall order but any guidance would be very appreciated. Thanks again for the detailed and informative videos!
Thank you for the comment, great to hear you are finding the channel useful. Your project is interesting as it's something I am also looking to get into. There are a number of workbenches that allow for constructions such as the A2Plus workbench where you can attach parts to each other and when you move a part and all act upon each other but I don't know if this will cover what you are looking for. You need something to stimulate multi body dynamic systems. There is a workbench out there made by Jose Gabriel Egas called Free3MBDyn but I have yet to explore it.
@@MangoJellySolutions thanks for the reply! I’ve tried playing with A2 plus and was able to get some basic 3D motions. I’ve also been able to get some 3D motion in the part design workbench, but it’s tricky and I can’t quite get things to move as they would in the real world. I’ll try out the free3mb work bench you suggested for sure. Thanks again and keep up the great work!
@@LifeInHyrule Depends what you're looking to do with the model. If it's for illustrative purposes then freecad is great, if you want to vehicle dynamics and geometry characteristics from the model though, there are specialised suspension simulation softwares that would be more appropriate.
this is very clever! thank you
This was great! Very helpful as always. Is it possible to do this programmatically?
Thank you 😊. When you say programmatically are you looking to set the pivot point in xyz space of the model permanently ? If so I am still in the search for that one.
@@MangoJellySolutions Yes, that is what I was thinking.
Extremely helpful, thank you! Is there a way to parameterize rotations? That is, set the rotation angle and also be able to modify it via a spreadsheet variable. That'd also be very helpful.
In essence, it is parametric. The rotation on the draft workbench is just an accesibility tool for the basic placement parameters of a part. To describe the rotational orientation, the placement parameter has a single rotation parameter and a weight for each of the 3 dimensions. If you can figure out a formula to split up/describe your rotation in each dimension, you are there!
Or there might be another WB just for this :)
Thanks a lot!
Thank you!
You're welcome!
Can't believe I missed this video and just came across it now. Very useful technique. A question - is it possible to close the lid so it's exactly closed and flush with the other half? I.e. not by eyeballing it with the mouse? Starting from an unknown open angle, you can't judge what exact angle to type in.....if you know what I mean. Anyway, as always thanks very much for the video. The draft workbench has been a murky area for me....this brings a little light to the abyss for me.
Sorry didn't see your comment. Thanks for the like. So with the draft rotation the first selection is the center of rotation. After you have clicked you will see a line appear. This line will be the second selection which is 0 degrees. If you are using the snapping tools you can snap this to an edge. Once this has been done start typing and you can supply an exact degree. Hit enter to apply. It's not the most obvious of workflows, tol me a while to figure this out. Sorry again for the late reply.
Indeed, for anyone coming to Freecad, ‘why all the workbenches?’ is one of the first questions. Still baffling.
The unspecified compatability between them, and general advice not to mix them, does not help.
I found that the whole mixing workbench is mainly down to the part and part design as though they are both parametric the part workbench uses the boolean operations to build models in the same way as older CAD programs used to from the 70's. We're as part design uses feature based. Trouble is there are a number of manipulation tools in other workbenches that can be used in the majority of others which results in the whole swapping back and forward which is a complete pain. What you can do is move some of these tools to your desired workbench by creating a button and assigning it a macro to this tool which will activate it in the same way. I have a video on my channel to do this for the draft move tool but the same process can be used for a number of tools in the draft workbench. But I totally agree, it really can put new users off.
All but a few workbenches are 'add ons' to improve upon the accessibility of the basic workbenches. They are prepared workarounds, so to speak. For example, the rotation on the draft WB is an accesibility tool for the basic placement parameters of a part. To describe the rotational orientation, the placement parameter was given a single rotation parameter and a weight for each of the 3 dimensions. This made it unintuitive to use. Rather than fixing the issue itself, someone added a workaround on the workbench. And then someone else made a video on how to use this workaround. Baffling, indeed.
Great video
Thanks for sharing :-)
Thanks!
Thank you, much appreciated.