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FreeCAD: Tutorial TechDraw workbench (1/3)

FreeCAD 0.19

Summary

In this tutorial, we will create a 2D drawing from a 3D shape and output the drawing as PDF file (You can download the PDF file from "Drawing PDF file").

Fig. Original 3D shpae
Original 3D shpae
Fig. Displaying the PDF file with Adobe Acrobat Reader DC
Displaying the PDF file

Creating new drawing page

  1. Run FreeCAD and create a 3D shape, or load a shape from a STEP file or other source (You can download the shpae that is used in this example from "FreeCAD file of a sample shape").

    Fig. The shape to be made into 2D drawing
    The shape to be made into 2D drawing

  2. Switch workbench to TecDraw workbench.

  3. Add new drawing page from template'new drawing page from template' icon and select "A4_LandscapeTD.svg". By this operation, new A4 size landscape drawing page will be added.

    The drawing page can be zoomed in/out with the mouse wheel and paned with left-click dragging.

    Fig. Dialog for template selecting
    Dialog for template selecting
    Fig. New page
    New page

Adding views to drawing page

We will add shapes to the drawing page. The shape will be drawn in the page at the viewpoint position of the 3D view when it is added.

  1. Select a tab at bottom of the window to show 3D view and change viewpoint to axonometric view'axonometric view' icon.

    Fig. Tab at bottom of the window
    Tab at bottom of the window

  2. Slect the shape (for example the "Fillet") to be added to the drawing in model tree and add it to the page'Add view' icon. The added view can be moved in the page by dragging the border around it. If you want to delete the view, select it with mouse and push Delete key.

    Fig. Model tree when adding a view
    Model tree when adding a view
    Fig. Adding viwe to the page
    Adding viwe to the page

  3. Return to the 3D View screen again, change viewpoint to the top view'top view' icon.

    Fig. Changing viewpoint to the top view in 3D view
    Changing viewpoint to the top view in 3D view

  4. In similar way of the first view, select the shape you want to add to the drawing in the model tree and add the view to the page'Adding view' icon.

    Adjust the position of each view on the drawing page by dragging the border that appears around the view.

    Fig. Model tree when adding the second view
    Model tree when adding the second view
    Fig. Page with two views
    Page with two views

Adjusting the drawing

Hide seam lines

In default, the seam lines has been visible as in 3D view. So we will set them to be hidden. Click the adding view on drawing page to select and set "Seam Visible" property to "false" at Data tab of Combo view. When you push F5 key on keyboard to refresh the entire page, the seam lines will be hidden. Hide seam lines in both views.

Fig. Setting 'Seam Visible' property to 'false'
Setting "Seam Visible" property to "false"
Fig. Hiding seam lines in both views
Hiding seam lines in both views

Showing center mark of a circle

Show the center marks of the circles and arcs, because we will need them later when we add dimensions. On the drawing page, click top view (View001) to select, and on the View tab of the Combo view, set "Arc Center Marks" property to "true" and "Center Scale" property to "1". Press the F5 key on keyboard to refresh the entire page and show the center marks of the circle.

Fig. Setting 'Arc Center Marks' property to 'true'
Setting "Arc Center Marks" property to "true"
Fig. Showing center marks of the circle
Showing center marks of the circle

Scaling the views

On the drawing page, click top view (View001) to select, and on the View tab of the Combo view, set "Scale" property to "1.25". Press the F5 key on keyboard to refresh the entire page. The top view will be enlarged 1.25 times.

Fig. Setting 'Scale' property to '1.25'
Setting "Scale" property to "1.25"
Fig. Scaling the view
Scaling the view

If you want to rotate the view on the page, enter rotational angle to "Rotation" on Data tab.

Adding cross-section view

On the drawing page, click top view (View001) to select, and add cross-section'Adding section view' icon. Click the leftmost button in the center of the dialog, enter "A" in the "Identifer" field, and click OK to create the cross-section.

Fig. Dialog for adding cross-section view
Dialog for adding cross-section view
Fig. Adding cross-section view
Adding cross-section view

Now we have the basic elements in the drawing. The next step is to add dimensions to the drawing.

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