FreeCAD Cheat Sheet for Sketcher Workbench

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Javier Odom
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FreeCAD Cheat Sheet for Sketcher Workbench

Post by Javier Odom »

Unless you need to have a piece of paper on hand, I would recommend keeping the documentation bookmarked and handy.  Maybe use a dual-monitor setup, or just get quick at flipping from one window to another, or both.  (The idea to post this came from one of our Jewelers asking about this for another program.)

https://wiki.freecad.org/Sketcher_Workbench

From the above link:

Tools

The Sketcher Workbench tools are located in the Sketch menu and/or several toolbars. Introduced in version 0.21: Almost all Sketcher toolbars are only displayed while a sketch is in edit mode. The only exception is the Sketcher toolbar which is only displayed if no sketch is in edit mode.

Introduced in version 0.21: If a sketch is in edit mode the Structure toolbar is hidden as none of its tools can then be used.

General

Sketcher toolbar
  • Image Create sketch: Creates‎ a new sketch on a selected face or plane. If no face is selected while this tool is executed the user is prompted to select a plane from a pop-up window.
  • Image Reorient sketch: Allows you to attach the sketch to one of the main planes.
  • Image Validate sketch: Analyze and repair a sketch that is no longer editable, has invalid constraints, or is missing coincident constraints.
  • Image Mirror sketch: Mirror a sketch along the x-axis, the y-axis or the origin.
Sketcher Edit Mode toolbar
  • Image View sketch: Sets the model view perpendicular to the sketch plane.
  • Image View section: Creates a section plane that temporarily hides any matter in front of the sketch plane.
Sketcher edit tools toolbar Other
  • Image Stop operation: When in edit mode, stop the current operation, whether that is drawing, setting constraints, etc.
Sketcher geometries
These are tools for creating objects.
  • Image Line: Draws a line segment between 2 points. Lines are infinite regarding certain constraints.
  • Image Create arc: This is an icon menu in the Sketcher toolbar that holds the following commands:
  • Image Arc: Draws an arc segment from center, radius, start angle and end angle.
  • Image Arc by 3 points: Draws an arc segment from two endpoints and another point on the circumference.
  • Image Create circle: This is an icon menu in the Sketcher toolbar that holds the following commands:
  • Image Circle: Draws a circle from center and radius.
  • Image Ellipse by center: Draws an ellipse by center point, major radius point and minor radius point.
  • Image Arc of ellipse: Draws an arc of ellipse by center point, major radius point, starting point and ending point.
  • Image Create B-spline: This is an icon menu in the Sketcher toolbar that holds the following commands:
  • Image Polyline (multiple-point line): Draws a line made of multiple line segments. Pressing the M key while drawing a Polyline toggles between the different polyline modes.
  • Image Rectangle: Draws a rectangle from 2 opposite points.
  • Image Triangle: Draws a regular triangle inscribed in a construction geometry circle.
  • Image Square: Draws a regular square inscribed in a construction geometry circle.
  • Image Pentagon: Draws a regular pentagon inscribed in a construction geometry circle.
  • Image Hexagon: Draws a regular hexagon inscribed in a construction geometry circle.
  • Image Heptagon: Draws a regular heptagon inscribed in a construction geometry circle.
  • Image Octagon: Draws a regular octagon inscribed in a construction geometry circle.
  • Image Regular polygon : Draws a regular polygon by selecting the number of sides and picking two points: the center and one corner.
  • Image Slot: Draws an oval by selecting the center of one semicircle and an endpoint of the other semicircle.
  • Image Create fillet: This is an icon menu in the Sketcher toolbar that holds the following commands:
  • Image Fillet: Creates a fillet between two non-parallel lines.
  • Image Corner-preserving fillet: Creates a fillet between two non-parallel lines while preserving their (virtual) intersection.
  • Image Trim: Trims a line, circle or arc with respect to the clicked point.
  • Image Extend: Extends a line or an arc to a boundary line, arc, ellipse, arc of ellipse or a point in space.
  • Image Toggle construction geometry: Toggles sketch geometry from/to construction mode. Construction geometry is shown in blue and is discarded outside of Sketch editing mode.
Sketcher constraints
Constraints are used to define lengths, set rules between sketch elements, and to lock the sketch along the vertical and horizontal axes. Some constraints require use of Helper constraints.
Geometric constraints
These constraints are not associated with numeric data.
  • Image Coincident: Affixes a point onto (coincident with) one or more other points. It acts as a concentric constraint if two or more circles, arcs, ellipses or arcs of ellipses are selected.
  • Image Point on object: Affixes a point onto another object such as a line, arc, or axis.
  • Image Vertical: Constrains the selected lines or polyline elements to a true vertical orientation. More than one object can be selected before applying this constraint.
  • Image Horizontal: Constrains the selected lines or polyline elements to a true horizontal orientation. More than one object can be selected before applying this constraint.
  • Image Parallel: Constrains two or more lines parallel to one another.
  • Image Perpendicular: Constrains two lines perpendicular to one another, or constrains a line perpendicular to an arc endpoint.
  • Image Tangent: Creates a tangent constraint between two selected entities, or a co-linear constraint between two line segments. A line segment does not have to lie directly on an arc or circle to be constrained tangent to that arc or circle.
  • Image Equal: Constrains two selected entities equal to one another. If used on circles or arcs their radii will be set equal.
  • Image Symmetric: Constrains two points symmetrically about a line, or constrains the first two selected points symmetrically about a third selected point.
  • Image Block: it blocks an edge from moving, that is, it prevents its vertices from changing their current positions. It should be particularly useful to fix the position of B-Splines. See the Block Constraint forum topic.
Dimensional constraints
These are constraints associated with numeric data, for which you can use the expressions. The data may be taken from a spreadsheet.
  • Image Lock: Constrains the selected item by setting vertical and horizontal distances relative to the origin, thereby locking the location of that item. These constraint distances can be edited later.
  • Image Horizontal distance: Fixes the horizontal distance between two points or line endpoints. If only one item is selected, the distance is set to the origin.
  • Image Vertical distance: Fixes the vertical distance between 2 points or line endpoints. If only one item is selected, the distance is set to the origin.
  • Image Distance: Defines the length of a line, the perpendicular distance between a point and a line, the distance between two points, or, introduced in version 0.21[/size], the distance between the edges of two circles.
  • Image Radius or weight: Defines the radius of an arc or circle or the weight of a B-spline pole.
  • Image Diameter: Defines the diameter of an arc or circle.
  • Image Angle: Defines the internal angle between two selected lines.
Special constraints
  • Image Refraction (Snell's law): Constrains two lines to obey a refraction law to simulate the light going through an interface.
Constraint tools
The following tools can be used the change the effect of constraints: Sketcher tools
  • Image Show/hide internal geometry: Recreates missing/deletes unneeded internal geometry of a selected ellipse, arc of ellipse/hyperbola/parabola or B-spline.
  • Image Symmetry: Copies a sketcher element symmetrical to a chosen line.
  • Image Clone: Clones a sketcher element.
  • Image Copy: Copies a sketcher element.
  • Image Move: Moves the selected geometry taking as reference the last selected point.
Sketcher B-spline tools Sketcher virtual space Obsolete tools
  • Image Close shape: Creates a closed shape by applying coincident constraints to endpoints. Not available in version 0.21 and above[/size].
  • Image Connect edges: Connect sketcher elements by applying coincident constraints to endpoints. Not available in version 0.21 and above[/size].
Preferences Best Practices
Every CAD user develops his own way of working over time, but there are some useful general principles to follow.
  • A series of simple sketches is easier to manage than a single complex one. For example, a first sketch can be created for the base 3D feature (either a pad or a revolve), while a second one can contain holes or cutouts (pockets). Some details can be left out, to be realized later on as 3D features. You can choose to avoid fillets in your sketch if there are too many, and add them as a 3D feature.
  • Always create a closed profile, or your sketch won't produce a solid, but rather a set of open faces. If you don't want some of the objects to be included in the solid creation, turn them to construction elements with the Construction Mode tool.
  • Use the auto constraints feature to limit the number of constraints you'll have to add manually.
  • As a general rule, apply geometric constraints first, then dimensional constraints, and lock your sketch last. But remember: rules are made to be broken. If you're having trouble manipulating your sketch, it may be useful to constrain a few objects first before completing your profile.
  • If possible, center your sketch to the origin (0,0) with the lock constraint. If your sketch is not symmetric, locate one of its points to the origin, or choose nice round numbers for the lock distances.
  • If you have the possibility to choose between the Length constraint and the Horizontal or Vertical Distance constraints, prefer the latter. Horizontal and Vertical Distance constraints are computationally cheaper.
  • In general, the best constraints to use are: Horizontal and Vertical Constraints; Horizontal and Vertical Length Constraints; Point-to-Point Tangency. If possible, limit the use of these: the general Length Constraint; Edge-to-Edge Tangency; Fix Point Onto a Line Constraint; Symmetry Constraint.
  • If in doubt about the validity of a sketch once it is complete (features turn green), close the Sketcher dialog, switch to the Image Part Workbench and run Image Check geometry.
Take care, and God bless.
Javier Odom - Walt's Jewelers
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