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[[Workbenches|Workbenches]] are collections of tools used for specific tasks. These are the base workbenches bundled with every FreeCAD installation:
[[Workbenches|Workbenches]] are collections of tools used for specific tasks. These are the base workbenches bundled with every FreeCAD installation:


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* [[Image:Freecad.svg|32px]] [[Std_Base|Std Base]]. This is not really a workbench, but rather a category of 'standard' commands and tools that can be used in all workbenches.
* [[Image:Freecad.svg|32px]] [[Std_Base|Std Base]]. This is not really a workbench, but rather a category of 'standard' commands and tools that can be used in all workbenches.


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* [[Image:Workbench_Arch.svg|32px]] The [[Arch_Workbench|Arch Workbench]] for working with architectural elements.
* [[Image:Workbench_Arch.svg|32px]] The [[Arch_Workbench|Arch Workbench]] for working with architectural elements.


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* [[Image:Workbench_Draft.svg|32px]] The [[Draft_Workbench|Draft Workbench]] contains 2D tools and basic 2D and 3D CAD operations.
* [[Image:Workbench_Draft.svg|32px]] The [[Draft_Workbench|Draft Workbench]] contains 2D tools and basic 2D and 3D CAD operations.


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* [[Image:Workbench_FEM.svg|32px]] The [[FEM_Workbench|FEM Workbench]] provides Finite Element Analysis (FEA) workflow.
* [[Image:Workbench_FEM.svg|32px]] The [[FEM_Workbench|FEM Workbench]] provides Finite Element Analysis (FEA) workflow.


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* [[Image:Workbench_Image.svg|32px]] The [[Image_Workbench|Image Workbench]] for working with bitmap images.
* [[Image:Workbench_Image.svg|32px]] The [[Image_Workbench|Image Workbench]] for working with bitmap images.


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* [[Image:Workbench_Inspection.svg|32px]] The [[Inspection_Workbench|Inspection Workbench]] is made to give you specific tools for examination of shapes. It is still under development.
* [[Image:Workbench_Inspection.svg|32px]] The [[Inspection_Workbench|Inspection Workbench]] is made to give you specific tools for examination of shapes. It is still under development.


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* [[Image:Workbench_Mesh.svg|32px]] The [[Mesh_Workbench|Mesh Workbench]] for working with triangulated meshes.
* [[Image:Workbench_Mesh.svg|32px]] The [[Mesh_Workbench|Mesh Workbench]] for working with triangulated meshes.


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* [[Image:Workbench_OpenSCAD.svg|32px]] The [[OpenSCAD_Workbench|OpenSCAD Workbench]] for interoperability with OpenSCAD and repairing [[constructive solid geometry|constructive solid geometry]] (CSG) model history.
* [[Image:Workbench_OpenSCAD.svg|32px]] The [[OpenSCAD_Workbench|OpenSCAD Workbench]] for interoperability with OpenSCAD and repairing [[Constructive_solid_geometry|constructive solid geometry]] (CSG) model history.


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* [[Image:Workbench_Part.svg|32px]] The [[Part_Workbench|Part Workbench]] for working with CAD parts.
* [[Image:Workbench_Part.svg|32px]] The [[Part_Workbench|Part Workbench]] for working with CAD parts.


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* [[Image:Workbench_PartDesign.svg|32px]] The [[PartDesign_Workbench|Part Design Workbench]] for building Part shapes from sketches.
* [[Image:Workbench_PartDesign.svg|32px]] The [[PartDesign_Workbench|Part Design Workbench]] for building Part shapes from sketches.


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* [[Image:Workbench_Path.svg|32px]] The [[Path_Workbench|Path Workbench]] is used to produce G-Code instructions. It is still under development.
* [[Image:Workbench_Path.svg|32px]] The [[Path_Workbench|Path Workbench]] is used to produce G-Code instructions. It is still under development.


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* [[Image:Workbench_Points.svg|32px]] The [[Points_Workbench|Points Workbench]] for working with point clouds.
* [[Image:Workbench_Points.svg|32px]] The [[Points_Workbench|Points Workbench]] for working with point clouds.


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* [[Image:Workbench_Raytracing.svg|32px]] The [[Raytracing_Workbench|Raytracing Workbench]] for working with ray-tracing (rendering).
* [[Image:Workbench_Raytracing.svg|32px]] The [[Raytracing_Workbench|Raytracing Workbench]] for working with ray-tracing (rendering).


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* [[Image:Workbench_Reverse_Engineering.svg|32px]] The [[Reverse_Engineering_Workbench|Reverse Engineering Workbench]] is intended to provide specific tools to convert shapes/solids/meshes into parametric FreeCAD-compatible features. It is still under development.
* [[Image:Workbench_Reverse_Engineering.svg|32px]] The [[Reverse_Engineering_Workbench|Reverse Engineering Workbench]] is intended to provide specific tools to convert shapes/solids/meshes into parametric FreeCAD-compatible features. It is still under development.


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* [[Image:Workbench_Robot.svg|32px]] The [[Robot_Workbench|Robot Workbench]] for studying robot movements.
* [[Image:Workbench_Robot.svg|32px]] The [[Robot_Workbench|Robot Workbench]] for studying robot movements.


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* [[Image:Workbench_Sketcher.svg|32px]] The [[Sketcher_Workbench|Sketcher Workbench]] for working with geometry-constrained sketches.
* [[Image:Workbench_Sketcher.svg|32px]] The [[Sketcher_Workbench|Sketcher Workbench]] for working with geometry-constrained sketches.


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* [[Image:Workbench_Spreadsheet.svg|32px]] The [[Spreadsheet_Workbench|Spreadsheet Workbench]] for creating and manipulating spreadsheet data.
* [[Image:Workbench_Spreadsheet.svg|32px]] The [[Spreadsheet_Workbench|Spreadsheet Workbench]] for creating and manipulating spreadsheet data.


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* [[Image:Workbench_Start.svg|32px]] The [[Start_Workbench|Start Center Workbench]] allows you to quickly jump to one of the most common workbenches.
* [[Image:Workbench_Start.svg|32px]] The [[Start_Workbench|Start Center Workbench]] allows you to quickly jump to one of the most common workbenches.


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* [[Image:Workbench_Surface.svg|32px]] The [[Surface_Workbench|Surface Workbench]] provides tools to create and modify surfaces. It is similar as the Part Shape builder Face from edges.
* [[Image:Workbench_Surface.svg|32px]] The [[Surface_Workbench|Surface Workbench]] provides tools to create and modify surfaces. It is similar to the [[Part_Builder|Part Builder]] Face from edges option.


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* [[Image:Workbench_TechDraw.svg|32px]] The [[TechDraw_Workbench|TechDraw Workbench]] is the more advanced and feature-rich successor of [[Drawing Module|Drawing]].
* [[Image:Workbench_TechDraw.svg|32px]] The [[TechDraw_Workbench|TechDraw Workbench]] for producing technical drawings from 3D models. It is the successor of the [[Drawing_Workbench|Drawing Workbench]].


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* [[Image:Workbench_Test.svg|32px]] The [[Testing|Test Framework Workbench]] is for debugging FreeCAD.
* [[Image:Workbench_Test.svg|32px]] The [[Testing|Test Framework Workbench]] is for debugging FreeCAD.


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* [[Image:Workbench_Web.svg|32px]] The [[Web_Workbench|Web Workbench]] provides you with a browser window instead of the [[3D view|3D view]] within FreeCAD.
* [[Image:Workbench_Web.svg|32px]] The [[Web_Workbench|Web Workbench]] provides you with a browser window instead of the [[3D view|3D view]] within FreeCAD.


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Since FreeCAD 0.17, many macros can be installed using the [[Std AddonMgr|Addon Manager]]. For a list of the macros refer to the [[macros recipes|macros recipes]] page. For manual installation see [[How to install macros|How to install macros]].
Since FreeCAD 0.17, many macros can be installed using the [[Std_AddonMgr|Addon Manager]]. For a list of the macros refer to the [[Macros_recipes|Macros recipes]] page. For manual installation see [[How_to_install_macros|How to install macros]].


===External workbenches=== <!--T:23-->
===External workbenches=== <!--T:23-->
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Since FreeCAD 0.17, many workbenches can be installed using the [[Std AddonMgr|Addon Manager]]. For manual installation see [[How to install additional workbenches|How to install additional workbenches]].
Since FreeCAD 0.17, many workbenches can be installed using the [[Std_AddonMgr|Addon Manager]]. For manual installation see [[How_to_install_additional_workbenches|How to install additional workbenches]].


==Reference== <!--T:12-->
==Reference== <!--T:12-->


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* [[List of Commands|Commands Reference]]: A complete list of the available FreeCAD commands.
* [[List_of_Commands|Commands Reference]]: A complete list of the available FreeCAD commands.


== Online Help == <!--T:14-->
== Online Help == <!--T:14-->
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* The [[Power users hub|Power users hub]] is the place to go if you would like to see more advanced use of FreeCAD
* The [[Power_users_hub|Power users hub]] is the place to go if you would like to see more advanced use of FreeCAD
* The [[FreeCAD Community Portal|FreeCAD Community Portal]] lists projects made by community members around FreeCAD.
* The [[FreeCAD_Community_Portal|FreeCAD Community Portal]] lists projects made by community members around FreeCAD.
* Don't understand a term or phrase as used in FreeCAD? Try the [[Glossary|Glossary]] page.
* Don't understand a term or phrase as used in FreeCAD? Try the [[Glossary|Glossary]] page.



Revision as of 19:05, 13 September 2021



This is the main help area for newcomers to FreeCAD.

These pages are in continuous development, so there may be missing or outdated information. If you cannot find the information that you need, don't hesitate to ask in the FreeCAD forum.

If you'd like to contribute to FreeCAD, please donate, and see the Help FreeCAD page for other ways to contribute. If you'd like to edit this wiki, request a wiki account with editor permissions in the forum, and read the WikiPages for the general guidelines that you should follow.

If you would like to know how FreeCAD started years ago visit the History page.

Using FreeCAD

Introduction

See also:

Basic application

Workbenches

Workbenches are collections of tools used for specific tasks. These are the base workbenches bundled with every FreeCAD installation:

  • Std Base. This is not really a workbench, but rather a category of 'standard' commands and tools that can be used in all workbenches.
  • The FEM Workbench provides Finite Element Analysis (FEA) workflow.
  • The Inspection Workbench is made to give you specific tools for examination of shapes. It is still under development.
  • The Path Workbench is used to produce G-Code instructions. It is still under development.
  • The Reverse Engineering Workbench is intended to provide specific tools to convert shapes/solids/meshes into parametric FreeCAD-compatible features. It is still under development.

Macros

Macros are relatively small snippets of Python code that perform a simple or a complex task that is not available in the base FreeCAD system.

Power users have written various macros to enhance FreeCAD with more capabilities.

Since FreeCAD 0.17, many macros can be installed using the Addon Manager. For a list of the macros refer to the Macros recipes page. For manual installation see How to install macros.

External workbenches

When many macros or functions are developed together, and are organized in toolbars and menus, they can become a new workbench.

External workbenches are collections of functions that are not part of the base FreeCAD system, usually developed by experienced users, and targeting a particular need.

Since FreeCAD 0.17, many workbenches can be installed using the Addon Manager. For manual installation see How to install additional workbenches.

Reference

Online Help

This is the official FreeCAD online help. Please note that the whole online help system is currently being reworked. It will be used to generate a .CHM file, that will be distributed with the binary packages of FreeCAD. At the moment the online help summarizes some of the most complete sections of this wiki.

More

  • The Power users hub is the place to go if you would like to see more advanced use of FreeCAD
  • The FreeCAD Community Portal lists projects made by community members around FreeCAD.
  • Don't understand a term or phrase as used in FreeCAD? Try the Glossary page.