Create Part Library and import it into your project

[Gra79]

Good morning,
I would like to create a library of a tubular profile and import it into the project and resize it freely.

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OS: Debian GNU/Linux 11 (bullseye) (GNOME/gnome-xorg)
Word size of OS: 64-bit
Word size of FreeCAD: 64-bit
Version: 0.19.24291 (Git) AppImage
Build type: Release
Branch: (HEAD detached at 0.19.2)
Hash: 7b5e18a0759de778b74d3a5c17eba9cb815035ac
Python version: 3.8.8
Qt version: 5.12.9
Coin version: 4.0.0
OCC version: 7.4.0
Locale: Italian/Italy (it_IT)

1) I create a .FCStd file
2) I draw a sketch with dimensions relative to the spreadsheet.
3) I use the prism function to create the solid and connect the depth of the part with the spreadsheet.
4) I create a new .FCStd file
at this point how can I import the tubular object and change the size. the import operation has to be done many times and the spreadsheet has different sizes.
For now the solution I have adopted is to open the library file and copy it into the new file in order to recreate the structure and use them as separate elements. Is there a better way? Sorry for the trivial question !!
Thanks

[Roy_043]

Try Std_MergeProjects.

[Gra79]

I merged the projects but if I change a measure in the colcolo sheet, all the objects change.
And I need that they are all separate but with the same processing.

Freecad_4.png (68.61 KiB) Viewed 1479 times

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Preferences
The last used file location is stored: Tools → Edit parameters... → BaseApp → Preferences → General → FileOpenSavePath.
Duplicate labels are allowed if Tools → Edit parameters... → BaseApp → Preferences → Document → DuplicateLabels is set to true. This setting can also be changed in the Preferences Editor.

If set to true, the property allows duplication of the label. It does not duplicate the names but goes into error because they are all called the same.

Freecad_5.png (25.85 KiB) Viewed 1479 times

[Roy_043]

I merged the projects but if I change a measure in the colcolo sheet, all the objects change.

I cannot reproduce that behavior.

There are several cases that I have tried:

DuplicateLabels=False + Labels in expressions + Merge => OK
DuplicateLabels=False + Labels in expressions + Paste => OK
DuplicateLabels=True + Labels in expressions + Merge => Error as indicated in your post (but understandable)
DuplicateLabels=True + Labels in expressions + Paste => OK (the DuplicateLabels preference is not respected which is perhaps a bug?)

DuplicateLabels=False + Names in expressions + Merge => OK
DuplicateLabels=False + Names in expressions + Paste => OK
DuplicateLabels=True + Names in expressions + Merge => OK
DuplicateLabels=True + Names in expressions + Paste => OK

But in no case do I get a situation where a single spreadsheet controls the model.

But maybe my model is too simple. Can you post your file?

[Gra79]

This file is very simple. It should be used to create a square frame made of tubulars.
I am not attaching the assembler file because it is not working and the tests I described previously have been made.
There are only three bodies imported from this file.
The only solution that works at the moment is to copy and paste the body from one project to another.
But in my opinion it is important to know the right procedure to use more complex bodies.

[drmacro]

The concept of "family of parts" has been discussed around FreeCAD many times. I'm not sure there has been a good solution.

There have been similar things grown around fasteners. But, this isn't quite the same.

This topic arises with extruded T-slot profile regularly. Being able to add randomly specified lengths to an assembly is the desire. At first glance this appears to be a perfect fit for parametric CAD. But, it can quickly grow into a complicated process if taken to extremes. For example, how does an update to the profile get propagated to everywhere it has been used (yes, obviously, the answer here situationally dependant...).

Simple implementations have been done where, for a given entry in a table (spreadsheet)

• a new Part WB object or Part Design Body object is created
• a new model file is created for each entry in the table

These can then be imported, linked into other files, or even used as components in one of the assembly workbenches.

This doesn't address random lengths since the "family" depends on the values specified in the table (i.e. a row or column has to be specified per family member) and not an on the fly user specified value.
In the past I've seen, in other systems, the ability to simply select faces in a model (or assembly) and a profile to be extruded between, creating a truly ad-hoc length of profile, angle, tube, etc.

[Roy_043]

I just remembered a recent discussion about the same issue. It is indeed a bug.
https://www.forum.freecadweb.org/viewto ... 10#p539783