Part Module: Difference between revisions

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OpenSCAD Module

PartDesign Workbench

Index

Introduction

The solid modelling capabilities of FreeCAD are based on the OpenCASCADE Technology (OCCT) kernel, a professional-grade CAD system that features advanced 3D geometry creation and manipulation. The Part Workbench is a layer sitting on top of the OCCT libraries, that gives the user access to OCCT geometric primitives and functions. Essentially all 2D and 3D drawing functions in every workbench ( Draft, Sketcher, PartDesign, etc.), are based on these functions exposed by the Part Workbench. Therefore, the Part Workbench is considered the core component of the modelling capabilities of FreeCAD.

The objects created with the Part Workbench are relatively simple; they are intended to be used with boolean operations (unions and cuts) in order to build more complex shapes. This modeling paradigm is known as the constructive solid geometry (CSG) workflow, and it was the traditional methodology used in early CAD systems. On the other hand, the PartDesign Workbench provides a more modern workflow to constructing shapes: it uses a parametrically defined sketch, that is extruded to form a basic solid body, which is then modified by parametric transformations (feature editing), until the final object is obtained.

Part objects are more complex than mesh objects created with the Mesh Workbench, as they permit more advanced operations like coherent boolean operations, modifications history, and parametric behaviour.

The Part Workbench is the basic layer that exposes the OCCT drawing functions to all workbenches in FreeCAD.

Tools

The tools are located in the Part menu or the Measure menu.

Primitives

These are tools for creating primitive objects.

Box: Draws a box by specifying its dimensions
Cylinder: Draws a cylinder by specifying its dimensions
Sphere: Draws a sphere by specifying its dimensions
Cone: Draws a cone by specifying its dimensions
Torus: Draws a torus (ring) by specifying its dimensions
Tube: draws a tube by specifying its internal radius and external radius. introduced in version 0.19
Primitives: A tool to add any of the defined geometric primitives.
Builder: A tool to create more complex shapes from various parametric geometric primitives

Modifying objects

These are tools for modifying existing objects. They will allow you to choose which object to modify.

Extrude: Extrudes planar faces of an object
Revolve: Creates a solid by revolving another object (not solid) around an axis
Mirror: Mirrors the selected object on a given mirror plane
Fillet: Fillets (rounds) edges of an object
Chamfer: Chamfers edges of an object
Ruled Surface:
Loft: Lofts from one profile to another
Sweep: Sweeps one or more profiles along a path

Offset tools:
- 3D Offset: Constructs a parallel shape at a certain distance from original.
- 2D Offset: Constructs a parallel wire at certain distance from original, or enlarges/shrinks a planar face.

Thickness: Hollows out a solid, leaving openings next to select faces.

Projection on surface: Project a logo, text or any face,wire,edge to a surface. With the projection part it is possible to create a solid or wire. introduced in version 0.19

Compound Tools:
- Make compound: Creates a compound from the selected objects.
- Explode Compound: Tool to split up compounds of shapes
- Compound Filter: The CompoundFilter can be used to extract the individual pieces.

Boolean: Performs boolean operations on objects
Cut: Cuts (subtracts) one object from another
Fuse: Fuses (unions) two objects
Common: Extracts the common (intersection) part of two objects

Join features: smart booleans for walled objects (e.g., pipes).
- Connect: Connects interiors of objects.
- Embed: Embeds a walled object into another walled object.
- Cutout: Creates a cutout in a wall of an object for another walled object.

Splitting tools:.
- Boolean fragments: makes all the pieces that can be obtained by Boolean operations between objects.
- Slice a part: tool to split shapes by intersection with other shapes
- Slice: Splits an object into pieces by intersections with another object.
- XOR: removes space shared by even number of objects (symmetric version of Cut).

Defeaturing:
Section: Creates a section by intersecting an object with a section plane
Cross sections...: Creates one or more cross-sections through a selected shape
Attachment: attachment is a utility to attach an object to another one.

Measure

File:Part Measure Menu.png Measure: Allows linear and angular measurement between points, edges, and faces.

Measure Linear allows you to make linear measurements.
Measure Angular allows you to make angular measurements.
Measure Refresh updates the measurements on screen.
Clear All Clears all measurements.
Toggle All shows or hides all measurements.
File:Part Measure Toggle 3d.svg Toggle 3D shows or hides 3D measurements.
Toggle Delta shows or hides delta measurements.

Other tools

Import: This tool allows you to add a file *.IGES, *.STEP, *.BREP to the current document.
Export: This tool allows you to export a part object in a *.IGES, *.STEP, *.BREP file.
BoxSelection: add to the selection the faces of the shapes that are touches by the rectangular selection.
Shape from Mesh: Creates a shape object from a mesh object.
Points from mesh: creates a shape object made of points from the mesh. introduced in version 0.19
Convert to solid: Converts a shape object to a solid object.
File:Part ReverseShapes.svg Reverse shapes: Flips the normals of all faces of the selected object.

Create a copy:
- Create simple copy: Creates a simple copy of the selected object.
- Create transformed copy: creates a transformed copy of the selected object. introduced in version 0.19
- Create shape element copy: creates a copy from an element (vertex, edge, face) of the selected object. introduced in version 0.19
- Refine shape: Cleans faces by removing unnecessary lines.

Check geometry: Checks the geometry of selected objects for errors.
Make face from wires: Makes a face from a set of wires. introduced in version 0.19

Context menu items

Appearance: determines appearance of the whole part (color transparency etc.).
Set colors: assigns colors to part faces.

Preferences

Preferences: preferences available for Part Tools (the Part workbench also uses the PartDesign Preferences).
Import Export Preferences: preferences available for importing from and exporting to different file formats.
Fine-tuning: some extra parameters to fine-tune Part behavior.

Scripting

See Part scripting.

Tutorials

Import from STL or OBJ : How to import STL/OBJ files in FreeCAD
Export to STL or OBJ : How to export STL/OBJ files from FreeCAD
Whiffle Ball tutorial : How to use the Part Module

OpenSCAD Module

PartDesign Workbench

Index

Part

Primitives: Box, Cylinder, Sphere, Cone, Torus, Tube, Create primitives, Shape builder

Creation and modification: Extrude, Revolve, Mirror, Fillet, Chamfer, Make face from wires, Ruled Surface, Loft, Sweep, Section, Cross sections, 3D Offset, 2D Offset, Thickness, Projection on surface, Attachment

Boolean: Make compound, Explode Compound, Compound Filter, Boolean, Cut, Fuse, Common, Connect, Embed, Cutout, Boolean fragments, Slice apart, Slice, XOR

Measure: Measure Linear, Measure Angular, Measure Refresh, Clear All, Toggle All, Toggle 3D, Toggle Delta

Other tools: Import, Export, Box selection, Shape from Mesh, Points from mesh, Convert to solid, Reverse shapes, Create simple copy, Create transformed copy, Create shape element copy, Refine shape, Check geometry, Defeaturing, Appearance, Color per face

User documentation

Getting started
Installation: Download, Windows, Linux, Mac, Additional components, Docker, AppImage, Ubuntu Snap
Basics: About FreeCAD, Interface, Mouse navigation, Selection methods, Object name, Preferences, Workbenches, Document structure, Properties, Help FreeCAD, Donate

Help: Tutorials, Video tutorials
Workbenches: Std Base, Arch, Assembly, CAM, Draft, FEM, Inspection, Mesh, OpenSCAD, Part, PartDesign, Points, Reverse Engineering, Robot, Sketcher, Spreadsheet, Start, Surface, TechDraw, Test Framework, Web

Addons: Addon Manager, External workbenches, Scripting and macros

Hubs: User hub, Power users hub, Developer hub

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 <!--T:52-->
 {{Docnav
-|[[OpenSCAD Module|OpenSCAD Module]]
+|[[OpenSCAD_Module|OpenSCAD Module]]
-|[[PartDesign Workbench|PartDesign Workbench]]
+|[[PartDesign_Workbench|PartDesign Workbench]]
 |IconL=Workbench_OpenSCAD.svg
 |IconR=Workbench_PartDesign.svg
@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 <translate>
 == Introduction == <!--T:1-->
-The solid modelling capabilities of FreeCAD are based on the [[OpenCASCADE|OpenCASCADE Technology]] (OCCT) kernel, a professional-grade CAD system that features advanced 3D geometry creation and manipulation. The [[Image:Workbench_Part.svg|24px]] [[Part Workbench|Part Workbench]] is a layer sitting on top of the OCCT libraries, that gives the user access to OCCT geometric primitives and functions. Essentially all 2D and 3D drawing functions in every workbench ([[Image:Workbench_Draft.svg|24px]] [[Draft Workbench|Draft]], [[Image:Workbench_Sketcher.svg|24px]] [[Sketcher Workbench|Sketcher]], [[Image:Workbench_PartDesign.svg|24px]] [[PartDesign Workbench|PartDesign]], etc.), are based on these functions exposed by the Part Workbench. Therefore, the Part Workbench is considered the core component of the modelling capabilities of FreeCAD.
+The solid modelling capabilities of FreeCAD are based on the [[OpenCASCADE|OpenCASCADE Technology]] (OCCT) kernel, a professional-grade CAD system that features advanced 3D geometry creation and manipulation. The [[Image:Workbench_Part.svg|24px]] [[Part_Workbench|Part Workbench]] is a layer sitting on top of the OCCT libraries, that gives the user access to OCCT geometric primitives and functions. Essentially all 2D and 3D drawing functions in every workbench ([[Image:Workbench_Draft.svg|24px]] [[Draft_Workbench|Draft]], [[Image:Workbench_Sketcher.svg|24px]] [[Sketcher_Workbench|Sketcher]], [[Image:Workbench_PartDesign.svg|24px]] [[PartDesign_Workbench|PartDesign]], etc.), are based on these functions exposed by the Part Workbench. Therefore, the Part Workbench is considered the core component of the modelling capabilities of FreeCAD.
 <!--T:35-->
-The objects created with the Part Workbench are relatively simple; they are intended to be used with boolean operations (unions and cuts) in order to build more complex shapes. '''This modeling paradigm is known as the [[constructive solid geometry]] (CSG) workflow, and it was the traditional methodology used in early CAD systems.''' On the other hand, the [[PartDesign Workbench|PartDesign Workbench]] provides a more modern workflow to constructing shapes: it uses a parametrically defined sketch, that is extruded to form a basic solid body, which is then modified by parametric transformations ([[feature editing|feature editing]]), until the final object is obtained.
+The objects created with the Part Workbench are relatively simple; they are intended to be used with boolean operations (unions and cuts) in order to build more complex shapes. '''This modeling paradigm is known as the [[Constructive_solid_geometry|constructive solid geometry]] (CSG) workflow, and it was the traditional methodology used in early CAD systems.''' On the other hand, the [[PartDesign_Workbench|PartDesign Workbench]] provides a more modern workflow to constructing shapes: it uses a parametrically defined sketch, that is extruded to form a basic solid body, which is then modified by parametric transformations ([[feature_editing|feature editing]]), until the final object is obtained.
 <!--T:54-->
-Part objects are more complex than mesh objects created with the [[Mesh Workbench|Mesh Workbench]], as they permit more advanced operations like coherent boolean operations, modifications history, and parametric behaviour.
+Part objects are more complex than mesh objects created with the [[Mesh_Workbench|Mesh Workbench]], as they permit more advanced operations like coherent boolean operations, modifications history, and parametric behaviour.
 </translate>
@@ Line 48: / Line 48: @@
 * [[File:Part_Tube.svg|32px]] [[Part_Tube|Tube]]: draws a tube by specifying its internal radius and external radius. {{Version|0.19}}
 * [[Image:Part_Primitives.svg|32px]] [[Part_Primitives|Primitives]]: A tool to add any of the defined geometric primitives.
-* [[Image:Part_Shapebuilder.svg|32px]] [[Part_Builder|Shapebuilder]]: A tool to create more complex shapes from various parametric geometric primitives
+* [[Image:Part_Builder.svg|32px]] [[Part_Builder|Builder]]: A tool to create more complex shapes from various parametric geometric primitives
 ===Modifying objects=== <!--T:38-->
@@ Line 68: / Line 68: @@
 * [[Image:Part_CompOffsetTools.png|48px]] [[Part_CompOffsetTools|Offset tools]]:
 ** [[Image:Part_Offset.svg|32px]] [[Part_Offset|3D Offset]]: Constructs a parallel shape at a certain distance from original.
-** [[Image:Part_Offset2D.svg|32px]] [[Part_Offset2D|2D Offset]]: Constructs a parallel wire at certain distance from original, or enlarges/shrinks a planar face. {{Version|0.17}}
+** [[Image:Part_Offset2D.svg|32px]] [[Part_Offset2D|2D Offset]]: Constructs a parallel wire at certain distance from original, or enlarges/shrinks a planar face.
 <!--T:46-->
@@ Line 77: / Line 77: @@
 <!--T:47-->
-* [[Image:Part_Compound.svg|48px]] [[Part_CompCompoundTools|Compound Tools]]:
+* [[Image:Part_CompCompoundTools.png|48px]] [[Part_CompCompoundTools|Compound Tools]]:
 ** [[Image:Part_Compound.svg|32px]] [[Part_Compound|Make compound]]: Creates a compound from the selected objects.
 ** [[Image:Part_ExplodeCompound.svg|32px]] [[Part_ExplodeCompound|Explode Compound]]: Tool to split up compounds of shapes
-** [[Image:Part Compound‏‎Filter.svg|32px]] [[Part Compound‏‎Filter|Compound Filter]]: The CompoundFilter can be used to extract the individual pieces.
+** [[Image:Part Compound‏‎Filter.svg|32px]] [[Part_Compound‏‎Filter|Compound Filter]]: The CompoundFilter can be used to extract the individual pieces.
 <!--T:48-->
-* [[Image:Part_Booleans.svg|32px]] [[Part_Boolean|Boolean]]: Performs boolean operations on objects
+* [[Image:Part_Boolean.svg|32px]] [[Part_Boolean|Boolean]]: Performs boolean operations on objects
-* [[Image:Part_Fuse.svg|32px]] [[Part_Union|Union]]: Fuses (unions) two objects
-* [[Image:Part_Common.svg|32px]] [[Part_Common|Common]]: Extracts the common (intersection) part of two objects
 * [[Image:Part_Cut.svg|32px]] [[Part_Cut|Cut]]: Cuts (subtracts) one object from another
+* [[Image:Part_Fuse.svg|32px]] [[Part_Fuse|Fuse]]: Fuses (unions) two objects
+* [[Image:Part_Common.svg|32px]] [[Part_Common|Common]]: Extracts the common (intersection) part of two objects
 <!--T:49-->
-* [[Image:Part_CompJoinFeatures.png|48px]] [[Part CompJoinFeatures|Join features]]: smart booleans for walled objects (e.g., pipes) {{Version|0.16}}
+* [[Image:Part_CompJoinFeatures.png|48px]] [[Part CompJoinFeatures|Join features]]: smart booleans for walled objects (e.g., pipes).
-** [[Image:Part_JoinConnect.svg|32px]] [[Part_JoinConnect|Connect]]: Connects interiors of objects {{Version|0.16}}
+** [[Image:Part_JoinConnect.svg|32px]] [[Part_JoinConnect|Connect]]: Connects interiors of objects.
-** [[Image:Part_JoinEmbed.svg|32px]] [[Part_JoinEmbed|Embed]]: Embeds a walled object into another walled object {{Version|0.16}}
+** [[Image:Part_JoinEmbed.svg|32px]] [[Part_JoinEmbed|Embed]]: Embeds a walled object into another walled object.
-** [[Image:Part_JoinCutout.svg|32px]] [[Part_JoinCutout|Cutout]]: Creates a cutout in a wall of an object for another walled object {{Version|0.16}}
+** [[Image:Part_JoinCutout.svg|32px]] [[Part_JoinCutout|Cutout]]: Creates a cutout in a wall of an object for another walled object.
 <!--T:50-->
-* [[Image:Part_CompSplittingTools.png|48px]] [[Part CompSplittingTools|Splitting tools]]: {{Version|0.17}}
+* [[Image:Part_CompSplittingTools.png|48px]] [[Part CompSplittingTools|Splitting tools]]:.
-** [[Image:Part_BooleanFragments.svg|32px]] [[Part_BooleanFragments|Boolean fragments]]: makes all the pieces that can be obtained by Boolean operations between objects {{Version|0.17}}
+** [[Image:Part_BooleanFragments.svg|32px]] [[Part_BooleanFragments|Boolean fragments]]: makes all the pieces that can be obtained by Boolean operations between objects.
 ** [[Image:Part SliceApart.svg|32px]] [[Part_SliceApart|Slice a part]]: tool to split shapes by intersection with other shapes
-** [[Image:Part_Slice.svg|32px]] [[Part_Slice|Slice]]: Splits an object into pieces by intersections with another object {{Version|0.17}}
+** [[Image:Part_Slice.svg|32px]] [[Part_Slice|Slice]]: Splits an object into pieces by intersections with another object.
-** [[Image:Part_XOR.svg|32px]] [[Part_XOR|XOR]]: removes space shared by even number of objects (symmetric version of [[Part_Cut|Cut]]) {{Version|0.17}}
+** [[Image:Part_XOR.svg|32px]] [[Part_XOR|XOR]]: removes space shared by even number of objects (symmetric version of [[Part_Cut|Cut]]).
 <!--T:51-->
-* [[Image:Part Defeaturing.svg|32px]] [[Part_Defeaturing|Defeaturing]]: {{Version|0.18}}
+* [[Image:Part Defeaturing.svg|32px]] [[Part_Defeaturing|Defeaturing]]:
 * [[Image:Part_Section.svg|32px]] [[Part_Section|Section]]: Creates a section by intersecting an object with a section plane
 * [[Image:Part_CrossSections.svg|32px]] [[Part_SectionCross|Cross sections...]]: Creates one or more cross-sections through a selected shape
-* [[Image:Part Attachment.svg|32px]] [[Part Attachment|Attachment]]: attachment is a utility to attach an object to another one.
+* [[Image:Part Attachment.svg|32px]] [[Part_Attachment|Attachment]]: attachment is a utility to attach an object to another one.
 === Measure === <!--T:58-->
@@ Line 124: / Line 124: @@
 <!--T:42-->
-* [[Image:Part_Import.svg|32px]] [[Part Import|Import]]: This tool allows you to add a file *.IGES, *.STEP, *.BREP to the current document.
+* [[Image:Part_Import.svg|32px]] [[Part_Import|Import]]: This tool allows you to add a file *.IGES, *.STEP, *.BREP to the current document.
-* [[Image:Part_Export.svg|32px]] [[Part Export|Export]]: This tool allows you to export a part object in a *.IGES, *.STEP, *.BREP file.
+* [[Image:Part_Export.svg|32px]] [[Part_Export|Export]]: This tool allows you to export a part object in a *.IGES, *.STEP, *.BREP file.
-* [[File:Part_BoxSelection.svg|32px]] [[Part_BoxSelection|BoxSelection]]: add to the selection the faces of the shapes that are touches by the rectangular selection. {{Version|0.18}}
+* [[File:Part_BoxSelection.svg|32px]] [[Part_BoxSelection|BoxSelection]]: add to the selection the faces of the shapes that are touches by the rectangular selection.
-* [[Image:Part_ShapeFromMesh.svg|32px]] [[Part ShapeFromMesh|Shape from Mesh]]: Creates a shape object from a mesh object.
+* [[Image:Part_ShapeFromMesh.svg|32px]] [[Part_ShapeFromMesh|Shape from Mesh]]: Creates a shape object from a mesh object.
-* [[File:Part_PointsFromMesh.svg|32px]] [[Part PointsFromMesh|Points from mesh]]: creates a shape object made of points from the mesh. {{Version|0.19}}
+* [[File:Part_PointsFromMesh.svg|32px]] [[Part_PointsFromMesh|Points from mesh]]: creates a shape object made of points from the mesh. {{Version|0.19}}
 * [[Part_MakeSolid|Convert to solid]]: Converts a shape object to a solid object.
 * [[File:Part_ReverseShapes.svg|32px]] [[Part_ReverseShapes|Reverse shapes]]: Flips the normals of all faces of the selected object.
@@ Line 140: / Line 140: @@
 <!--T:62-->
-* [[Image:Part_CheckGeometry.svg|32px]] [[Part CheckGeometry|Check geometry]]: Checks the geometry of selected objects for errors.
+* [[Image:Part_CheckGeometry.svg|32px]] [[Part_CheckGeometry|Check geometry]]: Checks the geometry of selected objects for errors.
-* [[Part_MakeFace|Make face from wires]]: Makes a face from a set of wires.
+* [[Part_MakeFace|Make face from wires]]: Makes a face from a set of wires. {{Version|0.19}}
 === Context menu items === <!--T:80-->
@@ Line 147: / Line 147: @@
 <!--T:81-->
 *[[Std_SetAppearance|Appearance]]: determines appearance of the whole part (color transparency etc.).
-* [[File:Part_ColorFace.svg|32px]] [[Part_FaceColors|Set colors]]: assigns colors to part faces.
+* [[File:Part_FaceColors.svg|32px]] [[Part_FaceColors|Set colors]]: assigns colors to part faces.
 == Preferences == <!--T:43-->
@@ Line 172: / Line 172: @@
 <!--T:32-->
 {{Docnav
-|[[OpenSCAD Module|OpenSCAD Module]]
+|[[OpenSCAD_Module|OpenSCAD Module]]
-|[[PartDesign Workbench|PartDesign Workbench]]
+|[[PartDesign_Workbench|PartDesign Workbench]]
 |IconL=Workbench_OpenSCAD.svg
 |IconR=Workbench_PartDesign.svg