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3DConnexion Space Mouse Diary #2 : Out of the box use with FreeCAD

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As you’ve probably seen from my Twitter posts, I recently started my journey with the SpaceMouse. I began with the initial setup a couple of days ago, and today I’m attempting to get it working with FreeCAD. I’m sharing my thoughts in real time as I go, so you’re getting my reactions as I discover how this new technology works. Each session lasts around 30-45 minutes. Currently, I’m still on Windows, and I noticed that a small 3Dconnexion Home window appears every time I turn on my laptop. I initially missed the “show at system startup” checkbox, so I unchecked it to prevent this pop-up. 3Dconnexion provides a knowledge base article on SpaceMouse settings for FreeCAD, but it only covers versions up to 0.21.2, and there doesn’t seem to be anything specific to FreeCAD v1 (RC) yet. Here’s the link: 3Dconnexion SpaceMouse Settings for FreeCAD . To get started, I powered on the SpaceMouse, opened FreeCAD v1 RC2, and loaded the BIM example found on the start page to explore the settings. Sur
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3DConnexion Space Mouse Diary From A Complete Noob #1

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This diary entry will be followed by a video once I have the device set up and running, but for now, I’d like to share my learning journey with the device for anyone who is new to it. I have been given a 3Dconnexion SpaceMouse Wireless Kit 2 to test out with FreeCAD! 3Dconnexion reached out and asked if I’d like to try it, provide feedback, and incorporate it into my channel. My channel focuses on teaching FreeCAD, and I typically use a standard input device since it’s the norm for most viewers. However, I’ve always wanted to create a dedicated space to explore more professional tools and alternative input methods, like trackballs, graphics tablets, and now the SpaceMouse. When you reach the stage of using FreeCAD regularly for work or complex designs, it’s helpful to have coverage on tools that can enhance the experience. Additionally, with my other channel, MJ3D Solutions, which focuses on other 3D tools (currently Blender and CAD Sketcher), I think this device could be a worthwhile
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Export Multiple Selected to Multiple STEP Files in One Go - FreeCAD Macro

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This macro will take the selected objects i.e. a number of seperate extrudes that you have ctrl selected from screen, and export them out as individual step files into your chosen directory.  A demonstration of this macro can be found on my youtube channel  https://youtu.be/IapVaYQWN2M . To use the macro take a copy of the below text. from PySide import QtGui folder = str(QtGui.QFileDialog.getExistingDirectory(None, "Select Directory")) a = Gui.Selection.getSelection() count = 0 import ImportGui options = None if hasattr(ImportGui, "exportOptions"): options = ImportGui.exportOptions(".step") for b in a: objs = [] objs.append(b) file = folder+"/"+str(count)+".step" ImportGui.export(objs, file, options) count = count + 1 Load freeCAD and from the top menu select macro > macros.  You will see the Execute Macro popup. Click on the create button and give your macro a name in the popup that follows. Click OK.  A new window will ap
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Reference image for the video: FreeCAD: Picture Frame / Tray Tracing, Modelling, Assembly

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Reference image for the video tutorial FreeCAD: Picture Frame / Tray Tracing, Modelling, Assembly . This image is loaded in through file > import (FreeCAD v0.21 and above) or via the image workbench (FreeCAD v0.20 and below and some earlier development versions of 0.21)
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FreeCAD For Beginners: CAD Thinking Part 4:

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Learning how to turn real life objects into CAD Models. Using FreeCAD we explain at a beginner level how to break down a physical object into its primitive shapes to digitise it into a 3D model, with this episode we are looking at a multi-part assembly, modelling each piece individually. The series aims to open your eyes and mind giving you the ground skills to pick the correct profiles, geometry and workflow when it comes to modelling your parts. This is not just for FreeCAD but for all CAD packages out there. Part  1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4  have been released.  Part 5 will be coming soon. Part 4: Click here for video
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FreeCAD For Beginners: CAD Thinking Part 3

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Learning how to turn real life objects into CAD Models. Using FreeCAD we explain at a beginner level how to break down a physical object into its primitive shapes to digitise it into a 3D model, with this episode we are looking at a multi-part assembly, modelling each piece individually. The series aims to open your eyes and mind giving you the ground skills to pick the correct profiles, geometry and workflow when it comes to modelling your parts. This is not just for FreeCAD but for all CAD packages out there. Part  1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4  have been released.  Part 5 will be coming soon. Part 3: Click here for video
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FreeCAD For Beginners: CAD Thinking Part 2

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Learning how to turn real life objects into CAD Models. Using FreeCAD we explain at a beginner level how to break down a physical object into its primitive shapes to digitise it into a 3D model, with this episode we are looking at a multi-part assembly, modelling each piece individually. The series aims to open your eyes and mind giving you the ground skills to pick the correct profiles, geometry and workflow when it comes to modelling your parts. This is not just for FreeCAD but for all CAD packages out there. Part  1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4  have been released.  Part 5 will be coming soon. Part 2: Click here for video
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FreeCAD For Beginners: CAD Thinking Part 1

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Learning how to turn real life objects into CAD Models. Using FreeCAD we explain at a beginner level how to break down a physical object into its primitive shapes to digitise it into a 3D model, with this episode we are looking at a multi-part assembly, modelling each piece individually. The series aims to open your eyes and mind giving you the ground skills to pick the correct profiles, geometry and workflow when it comes to modelling your parts. This is not just for FreeCAD but for all CAD packages out there. Part  1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4  have been released.  Part 5 will be coming soon. Part 1: Click here for video part 1 In this video we are dealing with the first part of our latch assembly. We start to break down the part into its primitives and understand how we can use two different profiles from two different planes together to build the part. We will then look at fillets and chamfers and the problems that may occur when filleting this model Part of the Learning FreeCAD for Beginne
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Using Multiple Configurations in FreeCAD

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This article explains how to setup and run #freeCAD with multiple configuration files. In the past when teaching FreeCAD on my YouTube channel I often got asked where a toolbar is or why mine differ from the viewers. About 12 months ago I stop customising my toolbars and configuration as my channel supporters are my first priority when it comes to my FreeCAD work. I have now only just stumbled across the terminal commands to run FreeCAD with different options using the -u parameter. After a bit of reading I found I could run FreeCAD from different configurations. This allows me to set up a directory to hold the individual configs and then run different bash scripts to load FreeCAD and point it to the configuration of my liking. Below is an example of my Linux bash script I use to load my configuration 1. All you need to do is supply the location of the configuration file with a specific switch, if one cannot be found then the default configuration is loaded. Once you have change
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FreeCAD Lattice 2 Tutorials List

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The lattice2 workbench is one of those freeCAD addons that appears daunting to the beginner. It contains a large array of tools that require the user to perform certain selection combinations on a object or objects and what's known as single or multiple 'placement kites /planes' to produce results. To some its not obvious what the workbench purpose is. When I first investigate a new workbench I take a step back and spend a little time researching its functionality and then find practical examples of what it can be used.  From there the purpose can be interpreted. With lattice2 I first started with its intent. By visiting the authors github page and the FreeCAD wiki the key points of what the workbench is for can be found: Working with and manipulating placements and arrays of placements. An assembly workbench of kinds (don't get fixated on this statement, as you will narrow your vision).  Deals with arrays of objects and placements. These arrays of placements can be gen
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