FreeCAD Blog By MangoJelly Solutions

FreeCAD is a powerful open-source CAD tool used by engineers and designers worldwide. If you need to export multiple selected objects to separate files, this handy macro can save you time and effort.  This macro will take the selected objects i.e. a number of separate 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. Macro Code 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 ...

This tutorial helps support the original video which guides you through creating a tray in FreeCAD (version 0.21) using reference images for accurate geometry. You'll learn to import images, sketch parts with symmetry, create bevels with subtractive pipes, mirror components, and assemble the final model using the A2Plus workbench. This tutorial is designed for intermediate FreeCAD users familiar with basic sketching and navigation. Prerequisites include FreeCAD 0.21 and the A2Plus workbench installed. 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) Step 1: Set Up a New Document and Import Reference Image Description : Create a new FreeCAD document and import a reference image to guide your design. Instructions : Open FreeCAD 0.21 and select File > New...

Step-by-Step FreeCAD CAD Thinking Tutorial Part 4: Modeling a Bent Clip Introduction This tutorial guides you through modeling a bent clip in FreeCAD (version 0.21) using multiple sketches and a sweep workflow to create a complex curved shape. You’ll learn to break down the clip into simpler parts, create sketches on different planes, ensure tangency, and add features like pads and mirrors. This tutorial is designed for intermediate FreeCAD users familiar with sketching and part design. Prerequisites include FreeCAD 0.21 and basic knowledge of the Part Design workbench. Click here for video Part  1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4  have been released.   Step 1: Set Up a New Document and Analyze the Clip Description : Create a new FreeCAD document and understand the clip’s geometry for modeling. Instructions : Open FreeCAD 0.21 and select File > New to create a new document. Save the document as “Clip.fcstd” ( File > Save As ). Go to View > Toggl...

Step-by-Step FreeCAD CAD Thinking Tutorial Part 3: Modeling a Base Part for a Latch Assembly Introduction This tutorial supports the video that guides you through modeling a base part for a latch assembly in FreeCAD (version 0.21) using the Part Design workbench. You’ll learn to select an optimal profile (top view) to minimize operations, leverage symmetry, create a reverse pocket, add holes, and apply finishing touches like chamfers and mirrors. The tutorial compares modeling from the top versus the front to highlight efficiency. It’s designed for intermediate FreeCAD users familiar with sketching and part design. Prerequisites include FreeCAD 0.21 and basic knowledge of the Part Design workbench. Click here for video Part  1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4  have been released.   Step 1: Set Up a New Document and Analyze the Part Description : Create a new FreeCAD document and analyze the base part’s geometry to choose the best modeling approach. Inst...

Step-by-Step FreeCAD CAD Thinking Tutorial Part 2: Modeling a Latch Part Introduction This tutorial supports the video that guides you through modeling a latch part in FreeCAD (version 0.21) using the Part Design workbench. You’ll learn to select an optimal side profile to minimize operations, create a sketch with additive geometry, remove negative space with a pocket, and add fillets for finishing. The tutorial compares the side profile approach (fewer operations) with the front profile approach (more operations) to emphasize model stability. It’s designed for intermediate FreeCAD users familiar with sketching and part design. Prerequisites include FreeCAD 0.21 and a previously modeled reference part (e.g., Part 1) for alignment. Click here for video Part  1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4  have been released.  Part 5 will be coming soon. Step 1: Set Up a New Document and Link Reference Part Description : Create a new FreeCAD document and link a refere...

Step-by-Step CAD Thinking FreeCAD Tutorial: Modeling a Latch Part (Part 1) 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. Introduction This tutorial is the first in a series guiding you through modeling a latch assembly in FreeCAD (version 0.21) using the Part Design and A2Plus workbenches. It focuses on modeling the first part (a slotted component) by selecting the top profile to create a slot and adding side arcs, emphasizing CAD thinking to break down complex shapes into primitives. The tutorial highlights model stability...

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...