Arch Panel

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Revision as of 11:48, 3 September 2014 by Renatorivo (talk | contribs)

Arch Panel

Menu location
Arch → Panel
Workbenches
Arch
Default shortcut
P,A
Introduced in version
-
See also
Arch Structure

Description

This tool allows you to build all kinds of panel-like elements, typically for panel constructions like the WikiHouse project, but also for all kinds of objects that are based on a flat profile.

The above image shows a series of panel objects, simply made from imported 2D contours from a DXF file. They can then be rotated and assembled to create structures.

How to use

  1. Select a 2D shape (draft object, face or sketch)
  2. Press the Arch Panel button, or press P then A keys
  3. Adjust the desired properties

Options

  • The thickness of a panel can be adjusted after creation
  • Press ESC or the Cancel button to abort the current command.
  • Double-clicking on the panel in the tree view after it is created allows you to enter edit mode and access and modify its additions and subtractions
  • It is possible to automatically make panels composed of more than one sheet of a material, by raising its Sheets property.

Properties

  • DataThickness: The thickness of the panel
  • DataSheets: The number of sheets of material the panel is made of

Scripting

The Panel tool can by used in macros and from the python console by using the following function:

 makePanel ([obj],[thickness],[name])

Example:

 import Arch,Draft
 base = Draft.makeRectangle(500,200)
 Arch.makePanel(base,36)

Limitations

  • There is currently no automatic system to produce 2D cutting sheets from panel objects, but such feature is in the plans and will be added in the future.
  • This tool is not available in FreeCAD versions prior to 0.15