Hello.
I am new to FreeCAD and recently posted a question about making automatic holes but I guess my overall question is a bit bigger...
I am wanting to make a plate with various gear attached - think similar to an electrical switchboard: a metal plate with fuses, switches, trunking, etc. I have various individual parts available as step files and would like to position them over a metal plate, and at the end be able to produce some 2D drawings from the front and side view. I am having a hard time getting started.
Would I use A2plus or Assembly4 for something like this? I would like to have a grid available during placement of the parts so I can position them appropriately - I can add constraints later if required but I really do need to have a grid while working - like drawing in 2D. Is this possible? I would like to be able to mark up a diagram of the metal plate for someone to be able to drill the right holes, etc. What is the best place to start with this?
TIA. Kel.
Best way to start
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Re: Best way to start
If you have gears, the assembly workbenches may not be sufficient for placing them. I would start with a so called master sketch, which defines the important positions. Then you can use e.g. manipulator addon workbench or Draft ->Move with appropriate snaps to place the imported parts.
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- thomas-neemann
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Re: Best way to start
I do it like this, without assembly wb
they are step files saved as fcstd
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUSehs8Cgro
you can also work with the grid from draft. with this snap function
you can catch it while moving parts
this is how i create 2D drawings because techdraw is still too slow for me
https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic. ... ab#p538390
Re: Best way to start
I think he means gear not gears. You could although say stuff I guess.
Regarding the drawing to make clear which holes go where, you should be totally fine using TechDraw.
Regarding the drawing to make clear which holes go where, you should be totally fine using TechDraw.
Regards / Viele Grüße
Max
Max
Re: Best way to start
Thank you for the texhdraw info - that is perfect!
@chrisb: You say to start with a master sketch. How do you do this? Ideally I would like to do that - have a master sketch on some grid, on top of which i can build extra parts. It would be great to be able to place on top of that sketch (with snap) as a reference.
@chrisb: You say to start with a master sketch. How do you do this? Ideally I would like to do that - have a master sketch on some grid, on top of which i can build extra parts. It would be great to be able to place on top of that sketch (with snap) as a reference.