Part vs Body

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Vagulus
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Part vs Body

Post by Vagulus »

Please clear up my confusion.

What is the difference between a New Part
Create New Part.png
Create New Part.png (2.99 KiB) Viewed 1218 times
and a New Body
Create New Body.png
Create New Body.png (2.91 KiB) Viewed 1218 times
? Is a new Part something like a Project in some other 3D Modelling Software (We Do Not Speak Their Names?) while a new Body like a Part within that Project?

Thanks
"It is much harder to simplify than to complicate."
Joseph Kimble
vocx
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Re: Part vs Body

Post by vocx »

Vagulus wrote: Sat Sep 05, 2020 5:45 am Please clear up my confusion.
...
Std_Part

PartDesign Body
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Vagulus
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Re: Part vs Body

Post by Vagulus »

Hi vocx
Vagulus wrote: Sat Sep 05, 2020 5:45 am Please clear up my confusion.
I had read those pages you referenced and what I wrote in the original post was my interpretation of them. I am just trying to find out if I have this right. It's a terminological thing and FreeCAD seems to have its own terminology. My problem is translating terms I understand into FreeCAD-ese. It's like Extrude becoming Pad and Cut becoming Pocket.

So, I'd really like someone who has been familiar with We do not speak their names to confirm (or refute) my question, "Is a new Part something like a Project in some other 3D Modelling Software while a new Body is like a Part within that Project?"

Thanks
"It is much harder to simplify than to complicate."
Joseph Kimble
chrisb
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Re: Part vs Body

Post by chrisb »

Please be aware that this is the FreeCAD forum, and that people here may not have much knowledge about another program without even knowing its name.
If you re-read the page about the Part containter you see that it is rather like an assembly which can contain solids or other subassemblies. Bodies are indeed just single solids. Which usually live on top level (small model) or inside of a Part container (big model).

So to answer your question: If a project in some other program is a collection of objects and sub assemblies with its own placement, then the answer is yes.
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Brutha
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Re: Part vs Body

Post by Brutha »

My simple understanding, and the way I use them, is that each have their own co-ordinate system and:

- A body is a single solid object
- A part is a collection of bodies or other parts (or indeed other types of object)

So, basically I use parts to create hierarchical groups of objects.

But I'm not familiar with other CAD systems, so I don't know how that compares!
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Vagulus
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Re: Part vs Body

Post by Vagulus »

chrisb wrote: Sat Sep 05, 2020 7:56 am Please be aware that this is the FreeCAD forum, and that people here may not have much knowledge about another program without even knowing its name.
Yes, chrisb, I am aware of that but in this case I was appealing for a response from someone who does have experience with other CAD programs.
chrisb wrote: Sat Sep 05, 2020 7:56 am If you re-read the page about the Part containter you see that it is rather like an assembly which can contain solids or other subassemblies. Bodies are indeed just single solids. Which usually live on top level (small model) or inside of a Part container (big model).
It seems my interpretation was correct.
Thanks
"It is much harder to simplify than to complicate."
Joseph Kimble
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Vagulus
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Re: Part vs Body

Post by Vagulus »

Brutha wrote: Sat Sep 05, 2020 7:58 am My simple understanding, and the way I use them, is ...
Much appreciated.
"It is much harder to simplify than to complicate."
Joseph Kimble
cadcam
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Re: Part vs Body

Post by cadcam »

Would it be useful to ask forum members.to.help.by.generating.a.table.to.assist.
understand terminology.from.other.packages.e.g.

Program_______|..Operations___|..Components..|.Single.body.models___|.Combined.items__|'Component' |'Assembly'___|
______________|e.g..hole______|.nuts/bolts____|.e.g..block/bracket___|.e.g..engine______|__Drawing__|Drawing____|
______________|.chamfer______|_____________|____________________|________________|___________|___________|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FreeCAD_______|Feature______|______________|____________________|________________|___________|___________|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Solidworks____|_____________|______________|____________________|________________|___________|___________|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Creo__________|_____________|______________|____________________|________________|___________|___________|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fusion.360____|_____________|______________|____________________|________________|___________|___________|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catia_________|_____________|______________|____________________|________________|___________|___________|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SolidEdge_____|_____________|______________|____________________|________________|___________|___________|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NX____________|_____________|______________|____________________|________________|___________|___________|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Onshape_______|_____________|______________|____________________|________________|___________|___________|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spaceclaim____|_____________|______________|____________________|________________|___________|___________|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BRL-CAD_______|_____________|______________|____________________|________________|___________|___________|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salome________|_____________|______________|____________________|________________|___________|___________|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AC.Inventor___|_____________|______________|____________________|________________|___________|___________|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Creo.Elements_|_____________|______________|____________________|________________|___________|___________|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZW3D__________|_____________|______________|____________________|________________|___________|___________|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
drmacro
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Re: Part vs Body

Post by drmacro »

Vagulus wrote: Sat Sep 05, 2020 8:02 am
Brutha wrote: Sat Sep 05, 2020 7:58 am My simple understanding, and the way I use them, is ...
Much appreciated.
My advice to new users is ignore the yellow icon.

It creates a container object and is not of interest until the user has a specific reason to use them. I have hundreds of models and no Part objects.

Note, there are reasons to use them in assemblies and the assembly workbenches use them a lot. There are also workflows in a basic file where they can be used to compartmentalize the feature tree.
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan: Spock: "...His pattern indicates two-dimensional thinking."
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Vagulus
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Re: Part vs Body

Post by Vagulus »

drmacro wrote: Sat Sep 05, 2020 10:23 am Note, there are reasons to use them in assemblies and the assembly workbenches use them a lot. There are also workflows in a basic file where they can be used to compartmentalize the feature tree.
I think that is why I am interested in them. ;)
Thanks
"It is much harder to simplify than to complicate."
Joseph Kimble
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