Tutorials

This page presents a selection of high quality written tutorials. A complete, unsorted list of tutorials can be found in Category:Tutorials.

Visit offsite tutorials and video tutorials for lists of tutorials hosted on external sites. A useful source of video tutorials is YouTube.

If you'd like to contribute with writing wiki documentation and tutorials, see the general wiki guidelines in WikiPages, and read the tutorial guidelines.

Please notice the version of FreeCAD used in the tutorial as some tutorials may use an old version of the program. Although the general modelling process may still work, some tools may have changed.

Architecture and BIM

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  Arch tutorial (v0.14)
  This is the essential introduction to the Arch Workbench. It is extensive and showcases a typical workflow, from importing plans in DXF format to building the 3D model.

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  BIM modeling
  How to model a small house, produce a blueprint with TechDraw, and export to IFC.

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  Open windows and doors (v0.18)
  How to display windows and doors as open, with elevation and plan symbols, and produce a basic floor plan with TechDraw.

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  Design custom windows (v0.18)
  How to draw custom doors and windows using the Sketcher, and adjust their normals to correctly place them in walls.

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  Arch panel tutorial (v0.15)
  Modeling a microhouse roof panel by using the Sketcher, the Window tool, and the Panel tool.

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  WikiHouse modelling
  Re-modeling the WikiHouse project using sketches and panels, starting from importing a mesh model created in SketchUp.

Modeling Parts

FreeCAD provides two main workflows to modeling parts:

• combining objects, a method called Constructive solid geometry (CSG) using the Part workbench, and
• using parametric modelling and feature editing with the PartDesign Workbench.

Please note that the PartDesign Workbench workflow was considerably changed from FreeCAD 0.17 onward; some of the tutorials haven't been updated and may refer to the 0.16 version.

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  Creating a simple part with PartDesign (v0.17)
  An introduction to the PartDesign workflow: tracing a sketch, using pad, pocket, and moving the object.

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  Basic Part Design Tutorial (v0.17)
  Model a simple part using a feature editing methodology: creating a sketch, using pad, external references, pocket, and mirror.

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  Model an electric toothbrush head stand (v0.16)
  Multiple features used: sketch, distance and coincident constraints, pad, external references, fillet, chamfer, linear pattern, and draft.

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  Modeling for product design (v0.16)
  Modeling a Lego block: sketches, vertical and horizontal distance constraints, pad, pocket, external reference, linear pattern, and assembly.

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  Traditional modeling, the CSG way
  Modeling a table by using simple solids like cubes and cylinders, and performing boolean operations (fusions and cuts) with them.

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  Draft ShapeString tutorial (v0.16)
  Create engraved text on a solid: extrude a shapestring to make it solid, then use a boolean cut to carve it from another solid.

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  Create a wiffle ball (v0.16)
  Use solid primitives, like cubes and cylinders, and boolean operations, like union and cut, to create a hollowed ball.

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  Basic modeling tutorial
  Create an iron angle by two methods: using solid primitives, and boolean operations (CSG); and by extruding a planar profile.

The Raspberry Pi project has made simple tutorials that are easy to follow, particularly for those new to CAD systems:

• freecad-dice, model a die with six faces, and optionally 3D print it.
• freecad-headphone-tidy, model a spool to organize and store earphones, and optionally 3D print it.
• freecad-chess-set, model and entire chess set in Bauhaus modernist style.
• raspberrypilearning repository (CC-BY 4.0) with other examples.

Drafting and Sketching

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  Traditional 2D drafting
  Draw a floor plan with lines, wires, rectangles, circular arcs, and add hatch patterns, annotations, and dimensions. Export the result to DXF.

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  Draft tutorial (v0.16)
  This is a basic introduction to the tools of the Draft Workbench: working plane, grid, line, arc, upgrade, rectangle, circle, polygon, arrays, dimensions, annotations, and shapestring.

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  Sketcher reference (v0.18)
  This is a 70-page long PDF document that serves as a detailed manual for the Sketcher Workbench. It explains the basics of Sketcher usage, and goes into a lot of detail about the creation of geometrical shapes, and each of the constraints.

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  Sketcher tutorial (v0.16)
  This is a basic introduction to the tools of the Sketcher Workbench: construction mode, line, circle, arc, constraints (equality, vertical, horizontal, tangential, distance, angle, radius).

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  Sketcher micro tutorial (v0.16)
  Learn to efficiently constrain a sketch. Prefer geometric constraints over dimensional constraints.

Technical Drawings

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  Basic TechDraw Tutorial (v0.17)
  This is the essential introduction to the tools of the TechDraw Workbench: page, view, scale, vertical and horizontal dimensions, annotations, projection groups, linking dimensions to the 3D view.

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  Creating a new background template (v0.17)
  Instructions to create a page template in Inkscape for using it with the TechDraw Workbench. Determine the size of the sheet, draw a frame for the page, define fixed text, and editable text fields.

FEM

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  CalculiX cantilever FEM analysis (v0.17)
  This in an example included in every installation of FreeCAD; it demonstrates a basic analysis with the CalculiX FE solver. Purge the current result, re-run the solver, and view the displacements and stresses in the deformed mesh in the viewport.

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  Simple FEM introduction (v0.17)
  This is a short introduction to the steps required to perform an analysis in the FEM Workbench: model your object, create a mesh, add constraints and forces, add a material, run the solver, and visualize the results.

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  FEM shear analysis of a composite block (v0.17)
  Study the deformation of a block made of a hard nucleus surrounded by a softer material: create mesh regions, add materials, set up sliding constraints, add shear loads, run the solver, and visualize the results with a clip plane.

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  Analysis of reinforced concrete with FEM (v0.19)
  Estimate the level of reinforcement required in a concrete structure to prevent brittle failure under tension or shear.

CNC & 3D Printing

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  Path Workbench for the impatient
  This is a quick presentation of the workflow for the Path Workbench: create a job, define the output, define the milling tool, define the path operations, start the simulation, and generate a G-code output file.

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  Preparing models for 3D printing (v0.16)
  Convert a solid object to a mesh object using the Mesh Workbench, export the mesh to STL format, and use Slic3r to prepare the G-code. Alternatively use the Cura Workbench or the Path Workbench to generate the G-code.

Import and Export

• DXF importer installation Install the DXF importer program in you system, so that you can open DXF and DWG files with FreeCAD.

  DXF importer installation
  Install the DXF importer program in you system, so that you can open DXF and DWG files with FreeCAD.

Rendering

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  Creating renderings
  Quickly produce a rendered image of your bodies with POV-Ray and LuxRender, if they are installed in your system.

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  Raytracing tutorial (v0.16)
  Describes the basic workflow of the Raytracing Workbench using POV-Ray or LuxRender: set the path to the renderers, create a project, set the camera position, select the model, run the renderer.

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  Intermediate FreeCAD and POV-ray tutorial (v0.18)
  Workflow to produce a better render with POV-Ray: create a project, add objects, set the camera, save the .pov file, manually edit the file to improve the textures, planes, lights, and then run the renderer.

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  Rendering a FreeCAD assembly with Blender (v0.18)
  Export bodies from FreeCAD to Wavefront .obj, import the file into Blender, set up a simple Sun light, assign basic materials with the Principled BSDF shader, and produce a rendered image with EEVEE and Cycles.

Robot workbench

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  Robot tutorial (v0.17)
  Simulate the movement of an industrial robot: set up a trajectory, set up home position, change the robot position, insert various waypoints, and simulate the robot movement.

Plotting

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  Basic plot
  Draw simple mathematical functions in the Plot Workbench using the underlying Python plotting libraries: define the input list (X), two output lists (Y1, Y2), plot the functions (Y1 and Y2 against X), set the grid, line styles, legends, axes labels, plot title, and save the plot.

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  Multiaxes plot
  Draw a more complicated plot in the Plot Workbench with two different input lists (X, T), and three output lists (Y1, Y2, Y3), then create two sets of axes in the same plot, and plot the pairs of lists (Y1 against X, and Y2 and Y3 against T); set the axes labels and grid, and move the legends and title.

Drawings

Development of the Drawing Workbench stopped in FreeCAD 0.16. Consider using the TechDraw Workbench instead.

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  Drawing tutorial (v0.16)
  This is the essential introduction to the tools of the Drawing Workbench to create blueprints.

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  Generating 2D drawings (v0.16)
  Generate 2D projections of your 3D models, and add dimensions.

List of Commands

Interface Customization

Index

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

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• 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

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• Addons: Addon Manager, External workbenches, Scripting and macros

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• Hubs: User hub, Power users hub, Developer hub