How good is FreeCAD at making precise mechanical gears?

[Dogbert]

I am thinking of getting and learning this program so I can make and print mechanical gears on my 3D printer. The only thing is I want some feedback on how good it is for making gears. I've checked youtube tutorials and google, but the results seem sparse and not easy to follow for beginners.

Thanks

[DeepSOIC]

I bet the precision is better than most 3d printers can reproduce.

EDIT: making gear mechanisms in FreeCAD isn't easy. All we have is an involute gear generator. Placing them so that they mate is a bit of a challenge.

[jmaustpc]

Here is a link to the wiki page for the PartDesign involute gear
PartDesign_InvoluteGear


looooo was working on a gear workbench at one time, I don't personally know anything much about it but here is a link to a topic in this forum that mentions it...

viewtopic.php?t=11792

here is a now very old and dated topic on gears from 2013 so will be out of date but may still help...

viewtopic.php?t=4829&start=20

[looo]

I think for 3D printing the part-design involute gear should be absolutely good enough.
If you want more options you can have a look at the gears I have scripted some time ago:

looooo was working on a gear workbench at one time, I don't personally know anything much about it but here is a link to a topic in this forum that mentions it...

I have changed the ui of the gear-workbench some time ago. Now it should be accessible via pip:

Code: Select all

pip install freecad_gear

And in freecad python console type:

Code: Select all

import freecad_gear

Now a gear-icon should be added to part-workbench.

The supported gears are:
-involute gear + shifting of cutting tool
-cycloid gear
-spherical involute bevel gear
-involute rack