Arch Workbench

From FreeCAD Documentation
Revision as of 09:55, 9 March 2022 by Roy 043 (talk | contribs) (Removed Ifc Explorer. It is not available in the GUI.)
Other languages:
Arch workbench icon

Introduction

The Arch Workbench provides a modern building information modelling (BIM) workflow to FreeCAD, with support for features like fully parametric architectural entities such as walls, beams, roofs, windows, stairs, pipes, and furniture. It supports industry foundation classes (IFC) files, and production of 2D floor plans in combination with the TechDraw Workbench.

The Arch Workbench imports all tools from the Draft Workbench, as it uses its 2D objects to build 3D parametric architectural objects. Nevertheless, Arch can also use solid shapes created with other workbenches like Part and PartDesign.

The BIM functionality of FreeCAD is now progressively split into this Arch Workbench, which holds basic architectural tools, and the BIM Workbench, which is available from the Addon Manager. This BIM Workbench adds a new interface layer on top of the Arch tools, with the aim of making the BIM workflow more intuitive and user-friendly. See FreeCAD BIM migration guide.

The developers of Draft, Arch, and BIM also collaborate with the greater OSArch community, with the ultimate goal of improving building design by using entirely free software.

Tools

These are tools for creating architectural objects.

  • Wall: creates a wall from scratch or using a selected object as a base.
  • Structural element: creates a structural element from scratch or using a selected object as a base.
  • Rebar tools: the Reinforcement Addon augments the Arch Workbench Structures.
  • Straight Rebar: Creates a Straight reinforcement bar in a selected structural element
  • UShape Rebar: Creates a UShape reinforcement bar in a selected structural element
  • LShape Rebar: Creates a LShape reinforcement bar in a selected structural element
  • Stirrup Rebar: Creates a Stirrup reinforcement bar in a selected structural element
  • Bent Shape Rebar: Creates a Bent Shape reinforcement bar in a selected structural element
  • Helical Rebar: Creates a Helical reinforcement bar in a selected structural element
  • ColumnReinforcement: Creates reinforcing bars in a selected rectangular column structural element
  • Rebar: Creates a custom reinforcement bar in a selected structural element using a sketch
  • Building Part: Creates a building part including selected objects
  • Project: Creates a project including selected objects
  • Site: Creates a site including selected objects
  • Building: Creates a building including selected objects
  • Level: Creates a floor including selected objects
  • Reference: Links objects from another FreeCAD file into this document
  • Window: Creates a window using a selected object as a base
  • Roof: Creates a sloped roof from a selected face
  • Axis tools: The Axis tool allows you to places a series of axes in the current document.
  • Axis: Adds a 1-direction array of axes to the document
  • Axis System: Adds an axis system composed of several axes to the document
  • Grid: Adds a grid-like object to the document
  • Space: Creates a space object in the document
  • Stairs: Creates a stairs object in the document
  • Panel tools: Allows you to build all kinds of panel-like elements.
  • Panel: Creates a panel object from a selected 2D object
  • Panel Cut: Creates a 2D cut view from a panel
  • Panel Sheet: Creates a 2D cut sheet including panel cuts or other 2D objects
  • Nest: Allow to nest several flat objects inside a container shape
  • Equipment: Creates an equipment or furniture object
  • Frame: Creates a frame object from a selected layout
  • Material tools: The Material tools allows to add materials to the active document.
  • Material: Creates a material and attributes it to selected objects, if any
  • Multi-Material: Creates a multi-material and attributes it to selected objects, if any
  • Schedule: Creates different types of schedules
  • Pipe: Creates a pipe
  • Pipe Connector: Creates a corner or tee connection between 2 or 3 selected pipes

Modification tools

These are tools for modifying architectural objects.

  • Survey: Enters or leaves surveying mode

Utilities

These are additional tools to help you in specific tasks.

  • Component: Creates a non-parametric Arch component
  • Split Mesh: Splits a selected mesh into separate components
  • Mesh To Shape: Converts a mesh into a shape, unifying coplanar faces
  • Remove Shape: Turns cubic shape-based arch object fully parametric
  • Close Holes: Closes holes in a selected shape-based object
  • Check: Check if the selected objects are solids and don't contain defects

Preferences

  • Preferences: preferences for the default appearance of walls, structures, rebars, windows, stairs, panels, pipes, grids and axes.

File formats

  • IFC: industry foundation classes
  • DAE: Collada mesh format
  • OBJ: Obj mesh format (export only)
  • JSON: JavaScript Object Notation format (export only)
  • 3DS: 3DS format (import only)
  • SHP: GIS Shapefiles (import only)

API

The Arch module can be used in Python scripts and macros using the Arch Python API functions.

Tutorials

Arch
User documentation
Retrieved from "http://wiki.freecad.org/index.php?title=Arch_Workbench&oldid=1111628"