FreeCAD Blog By MangoJelly Solutions

 Th following flowcharts are used in the Basic Beginners FreeCAD v1 course.  They consist of two flows, one for simplifying the model and one for identifying the individual features and how to model them.   The flowcharts can downloaded by clicking on them, they will then open in a new page, from there right click on the image and save as. Flowcharts can be found below.  Current flowchart version is version 1.0.0 Own my courses forever, check out my shop https://ko-fi.com/mang0/shop Own my courses forever,  check out my shop   https://ko-fi.com/mang0/shop

I started building this glossary a few years ago but realized I never posted it until a request from a Patreon asking for some terms. I have added some additional terms but it's far from complete.   This glossary provides a small list of terms used in FreeCAD, a parametric 3D CAD modeler, covering concepts, tools, geometry types, workbenches, methodologies, modeling techniques. 0-9 2D Drafting : The process of creating two-dimensional technical drawings in FreeCAD, primarily using the Draft Workbench. 3D View : The main workspace in FreeCAD’s interface where 3D models are displayed and manipulated, also called the Main View. A A2plus Workbench : An external workbench for creating assemblies in FreeCAD, allowing constraint-based positioning of parts. Additive Geometry : Geometry created by adding material, such as through tools like Pad or Extrude in the PartDesign Workbench. Alignment : The process of positioning objects relative to each other, often using constraints o...

In my 'Lofting Ribs with just two profiles: Part Loft Method' I went into detail how to create multiple profiles from two profiles and a single loft. The trouble is that if we want to lighten the profile we had to do this by creating separate sketches and lofts which were cut away from the loft. We are going to explore a shortcut which allows us to do this all in one go; the curves workbench multi loft tool. Let's take two profiles. Note compared to the previous tutorial all the lighting of the profile has been done in one sketch. We need to create a face from the sketch. Jump over to the part workbench and select one of the sketches and click top menu > part > make face from wires. You will see a face added to the treeview. Repeat for the other sketch. Jump over to the Curves workbench and ctrl select both faces. Click on the top menu > surfaces > multiloft. Our loft is complete and ready for cutting as in my 'Lofting Ribs with just two profiles: Part ...

Introduction to Lattice Workbench: Polar Array - Build a Parametric “Snowflake” One of the more advanced workbenches for manipulating objects into arrays and paths, the Lattice Workbench can be a tricky tool for the beginner. Using the workbench is quite complex due to the sheer amount of tools and features and the way you have to select sometimes three or more objects in a certain sequence before applying an action. Tools that allow you to split an array across a path, create a parametric collection etc the Lattice workbench is a powerful weapon. It even holds tools found on the draft workbench such as upgrade and downgrade but offers a parametric alternative. If you want a good example of how FreeCAD can perform parametric modeling then this tutorial which blends the tool with other workbenches will open your mind to the possibilities. As a side note the Lattice workbench is not just for circular patterns, it's for repeating patterns no matter what the shape. Whether it is ...

Lattice2 : Replicates a Part Design feature at every placement (Basic Pattern Approach) Lattice2 has a tool that is dedicated to creating part design patterns. This tool replicates a part design feature at every placement and creates it as a feature on your part design model. There are two approaches to this and we are going to first look at the basic approach. The other approach requires placement and a second sketch of right angle guides to place the pattern at the desired locations. To use this tool we will take a part design body. And add a feature, let say a latch. Jump over to the Lattice2 workbench and. Now hide the features that created the latch by moving up the treeview until the latch disappears. We need to find the feature that gives us a single edge to repeat the feature across. Select the edge (you can see it highlighted in green). create a Linear array on the top edge by clicking the top edge of the model and clicking on the top menu > lattice2 > linear arra...

FreeCAD stores user settings in configuration files that are often hidden from plain view. If your FreeCAD setup becomes unstable, like toolbars disappearing, settings not saving, or weird startup behavior, resetting these files can help return the program to its default state. This guide will walk you through how to reset your FreeCAD preferences on Windows and other platforms, plus how to move them between installations. 🔧 What Are FreeCAD Configuration Files? FreeCAD saves custom settings like: User interface layout (toolbars, themes) Recently opened files Preferences and tool configurations These are stored in small files called user.cfg and system.cfg . Sometimes, these files can get corrupted after updates or crashes. 💥 When Should You Reset FreeCAD Settings? You might want to reset your settings if: FreeCAD doesn’t open correctly Menus or workbenches are missing Custom UI changes have broken something You're troubleshooting a weird bugs Backup...