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 or the Draft Workbench’s alignment tools.
Angular Constraint: A Sketcher constraint that fixes the angle between two lines or relative to an axis.
Angular Defect: The difference between the sum of face angles at a vertex and 360°, used in mesh analysis within the Mesh Workbench.
Annotation: Text or symbols added to a model or drawing, often in the TechDraw or Draft Workbench, to provide additional information.
App::Document: The core FreeCAD class representing a project file, containing all objects and their properties.
App::DocumentObject: The base class in FreeCAD for objects stored in a document, such as sketches, bodies, or parts.
Arc: A segment of a circle used in the Sketcher or Draft Workbench to define curved geometry.
Arc of Ellipse: A partial ellipse curve used in the Sketcher Workbench for complex 2D shapes.
Array: A tool in the Draft or PartDesign Workbench that creates multiple copies of an object in a linear or polar pattern.
Assembly: A collection of parts combined to form a complete object. FreeCAD 1.0 includes the Assembly Workbench with the Ondsel Solver; external workbenches like A2plus also exist.
Assembly Constraint: A rule in the Assembly Workbench defining the relationship between parts, such as coincidence or parallelism.
Axis: An imaginary line through the workspace origin, defined as X (horizontal), Y (vertical), or Z (depth) in FreeCAD’s coordinate system.
B
Base Feature: The initial feature in a PartDesign Body, typically created from a sketch, serving as the foundation for subsequent operations.
Bezier Curve: A parametric curve used in FreeCAD to create smooth, customizable shapes, often in the Sketcher or Draft Workbench.
BIM: Building Information Modelling, supported by FreeCAD’s BIM Workbench (introduced in version 1.0) for architectural and construction modeling.
BIM Clone: A tool in the BIM Workbench to create linked copies of architectural objects, maintaining parametric relationships.
BIM Workbench: A workbench for architectural design, integrating tools for walls, doors, windows, and other building elements.
Block: A Draft Workbench command for grouping objects, useful for managing complex drawings or repeating elements.
Body: A container in the PartDesign Workbench that holds a sequence of operations (sketches, constraints, features) to create a single contiguous solid. Introduced in version 0.17.
Bottom Up Design: A design methodology in FreeCAD where individual parts are created independently and then combined into an assembly, often using the Assembly or A2plus Workbench.
Boolean Operations: Logical operations (Union, Difference, Intersection, Section) used in the Part Workbench to combine or modify shapes.
BOPcheck: A setting in the Part and OpenSCAD Workbenches to enable geometry checking with Boolean logic. Default is "false" for faster processing.
BREP: Boundary Representation, the data structure used by FreeCAD’s CAD kernel (Open CASCADE) to represent 3D shapes with faces, edges, and vertices.
BSpline: A B-spline curve or surface, a flexible parametric shape used in the Sketcher and other Workbenches for complex geometry.
C
CAD Kernel: The underlying software (Open CASCADE Technology) that handles 3D shape creation and manipulation in FreeCAD.
Camera: The virtual viewpoint in the 3D View, controlling perspective, zoom, and orientation.
Centerline: A line, imaginary or physical, used as a reference for symmetry or alignment, not part of the final geometry.
Chamfer: A tool in the Part or PartDesign Workbench that creates a beveled edge between two faces.
Circular Pattern: A PartDesign tool that creates multiple copies of a feature arranged in a circular array.
Clone: A copy of an object that retains a link to the original, allowing synchronized updates. Used in the Draft and other Workbenches.
Coincident Constraint: A Sketcher constraint that forces two points to share the same location.
Coin3D: The 3D graphics library used by FreeCAD to render models in the 3D View.
Combo View: A FreeCAD interface panel combining the Tree View and Property View for managing objects and their properties.
Common: A Boolean operation (Intersection) in the Part Workbench that creates a shape from the overlapping volume of two or more objects.
Compound: A geometry type in FreeCAD that groups multiple shapes (solids, faces, edges) into a single object without merging their geometry, used in the Part Workbench.
Compsolid: A composite solid in FreeCAD, consisting of multiple solids sharing common faces, treated as a single entity by the CAD kernel (Open CASCADE).
Constraint: A rule in the Sketcher Workbench defining geometric relationships (e.g., parallel lines) or dimensions (e.g., length). A fully constrained sketch has no degrees of freedom.
Construction Geometry: Non-physical geometry in a sketch (e.g., centerlines) used as a reference for constraints, not included in the final model.
Coordinate System: The X, Y, Z axes defining the spatial orientation of FreeCAD’s workspace.
Copy: A non-linked duplicate of an object, created in various workbenches like Draft or Part.
Curve: A one-dimensional shape, such as a line, arc, or spline, used in sketches or 3D models.
Cut: A Boolean operation in the Part Workbench that subtracts one shape from another.
D
Datum: A reference object (plane, line, point) in the PartDesign Workbench used to position or orient geometry.
Datum Line: A reference line in the PartDesign Workbench used for alignment or as an axis for operations like revolution.
Datum Plane: A reference plane in the PartDesign Workbench used to anchor sketches or features.
Datum Point: A reference point in the PartDesign Workbench used for positioning or as a constraint reference.
Degrees of Freedom (DOF): The number of undefined parameters in a sketch. A fully constrained sketch has zero DOF.
Dependency Graph: A visual representation in FreeCAD showing relationships between objects in a document, accessible via the View menu.
Dimension Constraint: A Sketcher constraint that sets a specific measurement, such as length, distance, or angle.
Direct Modeling: A design methodology in CAD which t allows designers to create and edit 3D models by directly manipulating their geometric surfaces without a "history tree" or relying on parameters and constraints. It's like a sculptor working with clay, where designers can push, pull, and twist the model's geometry to quickly achieve the desired form, making it ideal for conceptual design, rapid prototyping, and working with imported or legacy CAD data.
Draft Workbench: A workbench for creating 2D geometry and performing basic CAD drafting, closely integrated with the BIM Workbench.
Draft Array: A Draft Workbench tool that creates linear or polar arrays of objects.
Draft Clone: A Draft Workbench tool that creates a linked copy of an object, maintaining parametric relationships.
DXF: A file format (Drawing Exchange Format) supported by FreeCAD for importing/exporting 2D drawings, commonly used in the Draft Workbench.
E
Edge: A one-dimensional shape (line or curve) bounded by vertices, often the boundary between two faces.
Element: A component of FreeCAD’s interface combining widgets for navigation and feature execution.
Ellipse: A closed curve used in the Sketcher Workbench, defined by major and minor axes.
Export: The process of saving FreeCAD objects to external file formats like STEP, STL, or DXF.
Expression: A mathematical or logical formula used in FreeCAD to define parametric relationships, such as linking dimensions in a spreadsheet.
Extrusion: The process of extending a 2D shape into 3D along a direction, used in the Part and PartDesign Workbenches (see Pad).
F
Face: A 2D topological surface (flat or curved) bounded by a closed wire, such as one side of a cube.
FCStd: FreeCAD’s native file format (*.fcstd or *.FCStd) for saving projects.
Feature: An object derived from App::DocumentObject or a single step in a PartDesign Body (e.g., a pad or pocket).
Feature-Based Modeling: A modeling technique in FreeCAD where a part is created by sequentially adding features (e.g., pads, pockets) to a base shape, primarily in the PartDesign Workbench.
FEM Workbench: A workbench for performing Finite Element Analysis to simulate physical behaviors like stress or heat transfer.
Fillet: A tool in the Part or PartDesign Workbench that creates a rounded edge between two faces.
Finite Element Analysis (FEA): A simulation method supported by FreeCAD’s FEM Workbench to analyze stress, deformation, and other physical properties.
FreeCAD Macro: A user-defined script written in Python to automate tasks or extend functionality.
Fuse: A Boolean operation (Union) in the Part Workbench that combines multiple shapes into a single shape.
G
Geometry: The mathematical representation of shapes (points, lines, surfaces) in FreeCAD, managed by the CAD kernel.
Global Coordinate System: The default X, Y, Z coordinate system of the entire FreeCAD workspace.
Grid: A visual aid in the Draft Workbench, displayed as a pattern of lines or dots to assist with precise object placement.
Grid Snap: A Draft Workbench feature that aligns cursor movements to the grid for precise object placement.
Group: A way to organize objects in the Tree View without affecting their geometry, unlike a Compound.
H
Helix: A 3D curve shaped like a spiral, created in the Part Workbench for features like threads or springs.
Hidden Line: A line not directly visible in the 3D View, often used in technical drawings (TechDraw Workbench).
Hole: A feature in the PartDesign Workbench for creating cylindrical or threaded holes in a solid.
Horizontal Constraint: A Sketcher constraint that forces a line to align with the X-axis.
I
IGES: A file format (Initial Graphics Exchange Specification) supported by FreeCAD for exchanging 3D models between CAD systems.
Import: The process of bringing external files (e.g., STEP, DXF, STL) into a FreeCAD document.
Intersection: A Boolean operation in the Part Workbench that creates a shape from the common volume of two or more objects.
L
Label: A user-defined name for an object in the Tree View, distinct from the internal name used by FreeCAD.
Linear Pattern: A PartDesign tool that creates multiple copies of a feature arranged in a linear array.
Local Coordinate System: A user-defined coordinate system attached to an object, used for precise positioning in the PartDesign Workbench.
Loft: A tool in the Part or PartDesign Workbench that creates a shape by transitioning between multiple profiles.
M
Macro: A Python script in FreeCAD to automate repetitive tasks or add custom functionality.
Master Sketch: A methodology in FreeCAD where a single sketch defines key geometry, used as a reference for multiple features or bodies to maintain design consistency.
Mesh: A collection of vertices, edges, and faces representing a 3D shape, used in the Mesh Workbench for 3D printing or rendering.
Mesh Modeling: A modeling technique in FreeCAD where objects are created as meshes (collections of vertices, edges, and faces), typically in the Mesh Workbench, often for 3D printing or rendering.
Mesh Workbench: A workbench for creating and manipulating mesh-based models, often used for 3D printing.
Mirror: A tool in the PartDesign or Draft Workbench that creates a symmetric copy of an object across a plane or axis.
Model: The complete set of objects (parts, sketches, etc.) in a FreeCAD document, representing a design.
MultiTransform: A PartDesign tool that applies multiple transformations (e.g., scaling, rotation) to a feature in one operation.
creating smooth curves and surfaces.
N
Navigation Cube: An interactive widget in the 3D View that allows users to rotate, pan, or zoom the view and align it with standard orientations.
Node: A point in a mesh or a control point in a NURBS curve/surface, used in the Mesh or Surface Workbench.
Non-Manifold Geometry: Geometry in FreeCAD that does not form a valid solid, such as edges shared by more than two faces, often causing issues in modeling or 3D printing.
Normal: A vector perpendicular to a surface or face, used in FreeCAD for defining orientations in operations like extrusion or alignment.
O
Object: Any element in a FreeCAD document, such as a sketch, body, or mesh, derived from App::DocumentObject.
Open CASCADE Technology (OCCT): The CAD kernel used by FreeCAD for geometric modeling and calculations.
OpenSCAD Workbench: A workbench for creating 3D models using the OpenSCAD scripting language, integrated with FreeCAD.
Origin: The point (0,0,0) in FreeCAD’s coordinate system where the X, Y, and Z axes intersect.
Orthographic View: A projection in the TechDraw Workbench that displays a model without perspective distortion, used in technical drawings.
P
Pad: A PartDesign tool that extrudes a 2D sketch into a 3D solid along a specified direction.
Panel: A dockable window in FreeCAD’s interface, such as the Property View or Combo View.
Parallel Constraint: A Sketcher constraint that forces two lines to remain parallel.
Parametric Modeling: A design approach in FreeCAD where objects are defined by parameters and relationships, allowing easy modification.
Part Workbench: A workbench for creating and manipulating 3D shapes using tools like extrude, revolve, and Boolean operations.
PartDesign Workbench: A workbench for parametric solid modeling using sketches, constraints, and features like pads and pockets.
Path Workbench: A workbench for generating toolpaths for CNC machining, used in manufacturing workflows.
Placement: A property defining an object’s position and orientation in 3D space, adjustable via the Property View.
Pocket: A PartDesign tool that removes material from a solid by extruding a sketch inward.
Point: A zero-dimensional geometric entity, used as a vertex or reference in sketches and models.
Polar Array: A Draft or PartDesign tool that creates multiple copies of an object arranged in a circular pattern.
Polygon: A closed 2D shape with straight edges, created in the Draft or Sketcher Workbench.
Preference: A setting stored in the user.cfg file, also called a parameter, for customizing FreeCAD behavior.
Primitive: A basic geometric shape (e.g., cube, sphere, cylinder) created in the Part Workbench.
Profile: A 2D shape (often a sketch) used as the basis for 3D operations like extrusion or lofting.
Property: An attribute of an object (e.g., length, position) editable in the Property View.
Property View: A FreeCAD interface panel displaying an object’s properties, such as dimensions or placement.
Python: The programming language used for scripting, macros, and extending FreeCAD’s functionality.
Q
Qt: The cross-platform framework used for FreeCAD’s graphical user interface.
Quarter: A FreeCAD widget using Qt’s QGraphicsView to display Coin3D scenegraphs in the 3D View.
R
Refine Shape: A tool in the Part Workbench that cleans up a shape by removing unnecessary edges or faces.
Render Workbench: An external workbench for creating high-quality renderings of FreeCAD models.
Revolve: A tool in the Part or PartDesign Workbench that creates a 3D shape by rotating a 2D profile around an axis.
Rotation: A transformation that rotates an object around an axis, adjustable via the Placement property.
S
Scale: A transformation that resizes an object, available in the Draft or PartDesign Workbench.
Section: A Boolean operation in the Part Workbench that creates a cross-sectional shape from intersecting objects.
Shape: A generic term for a geometric object (solid, face, edge, etc.) managed by FreeCAD’s CAD kernel.
Shell: A geometry type in FreeCAD representing a hollow object defined by a set of connected faces forming a closed boundary.
A mesh is an approximation of the outer surface or surfaces of your model.
A shell is a model of the outer surfaces with infinitely thin walls, it will be totally.
A solid is the outer shell with volume applied. Note: Shelling is often used in 3D in the term to "shell out a solid", making it hollow, this is known in freeCAD as applying a 'thickness' to the solid.
Sketch: A 2D drawing in the Sketcher Workbench, constrained to a plane or face, used for parametric modeling.
Sketcher Workbench: A workbench for creating geometry-constrained 2D sketches, the foundation for PartDesign modeling.
Snap: A feature in the Draft Workbench that aligns cursor movements to specific points, such as endpoints or intersections.
Solid: A geometry type in FreeCAD representing a 3D object with volume, fully enclosed by faces, created in the Part or PartDesign Workbench (e.g., a cube or sphere).
Solid Modeling: A modeling technique in FreeCAD where 3D objects with volume are created using solids, typically in the PartDesign or Part Workbench, ensuring fully enclosed geometry.
Spreadsheet Workbench: A workbench for creating spreadsheets to manage parametric data and drive model dimensions.
STEP: A file format (Standard for the Exchange of Product Data) supported by FreeCAD for 3D model exchange.
STL: A file format (Stereolithography) used in FreeCAD’s Mesh Workbench for 3D printing and mesh-based models.
Subtractive Geometry: Geometry created by removing material, such as through tools like Pocket or Cut.
Surface: A geometry type in FreeCAD representing a single 2D topological entity without thickness, used in the Part or Surface Workbench for non-solid modeling.
Surface Modeling: A modeling technique in FreeCAD where objects are created as surfaces without volume, typically in the Surface Workbench, for complex, non-solid shapes like car bodies.
Surface Workbench: A workbench for creating and manipulating surface geometry, such as NURBS surfaces, for advanced modeling.
Sweep: A tool in the Part Workbench that creates a shape by moving a profile along a path.
T
TechDraw Workbench: A workbench for creating technical drawings, including dimensions, annotations, and views.
Top Down Design: A design methodology in FreeCAD where the overall assembly structure is defined first, and individual parts are created within the context of the assembly, often using a master sketch or skeleton model.
Topological Naming Problem: An issue where changes in geometry break references in a model, mitigated in FreeCAD 1.0 by Realthunder’s algorithm.
Topology: The structure of a shape, defined by its vertices, edges, and faces, managed by the CAD kernel.
Transformation: An operation that modifies an object’s position, orientation, or size (e.g., translation, rotation, scaling).
Tree View: A panel in FreeCAD’s interface listing all objects in a document, used for navigation and organization.
V
Vertex: A zero-dimensional point where edges meet, used in sketches and 3D models.
Vertical Constraint: A Sketcher constraint that forces a line to align with the Y-axis.
ViewProvider: An object that manages the visual representation of a Feature, updating the 3D View when properties change.
Viewport: The area of the 3D View where the model is displayed, controlled by the camera and navigation tools.
W
Wire: A sequence of connected edges forming a single entity, used in the Draft Workbench or as a shape boundary.
Workbench: A FreeCAD module grouping tools for specific tasks, such as PartDesign, Draft, or FEM. Users can create custom workbenches.
X, Y, Z
X, Y, Z: The coordinate axes in FreeCAD’s workspace. X is horizontal, Y is vertical, Z is depth.
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