Draft ShapeString tutorial: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 07:23, 20 June 2016

Topic
Tutorial
ShapeString (Draft workbench)
Level
Beginner
Time to complete
30 minutes
Authors
r-frank
FreeCAD version
0.16.6704
Example files

See also
None

Introduction

In this tutorial we will discuss how to

insert a text with the Draft Shapestring tool
extrude it to be a solid
position it in 3D space using placement and Draft Move on sketches
doing an engraving by applying a boolean cut

It is recommended to have completed the sketcher tutorial first.

Creating the basic shape

Start FreeCAD and create a new document
Switch to part workbench
Insert a cube by clicking on XX
Make sure the cube is selected in the tree view
Change width to be 50 mm by using the data-tab in the property view
Choose upper edge on the front face of the cube and apply achamfer of 5 mm
Make sure object "chamfer" is selected in the tree view and press <Space> to toggle visibility

Inserting text with the Draft ShapeString tool

Switch to Draft workbench
Toggle working plane to XY
Insert text "FreeCAD"

Create 3D text

Switch to part workbench
Make sure the Draft Shapestring object in the tree view is selected
Use Part Extrude-Tool with the parameters:
- extude Z=1 mm
- make sure to tick "create solid"
Make sure object "Extrude" is selected in the tree view and press <Space> to toggle visibility

Insert sketch for positioning

Switch to sketcher workbench
Make sure object "chamfer" is selected in the tree view and press <Space> to toggle visibility
Choose sloped face created by chamfer operation
Click on to insert new sketch
Draw a line (may be horizintal or vertical, length is not of importance ...)
Constrain one of the endpoints to be +2,5 mm vertical distance and +2 mm horizontal distance away from the origin
Close sketch

Positioning 3D text in 3D space

Make sure object "Extrude" is selected in the tree view and press <Space> to toggle visibility
Make sure, object "Extrude" is selected in the tree view
Apply incremental placement Z=90°
Apply incremental placement Y=45°
Switch to draft workbench
Switch to wireframe mode
Make sure, only "snap to endpoint" is activated
Select "extrude"-object
Click on move
In 3D view click on the most upper left corner point of "extrude"-object and then click on the constrained point in the sketch

Creating engraved text

Switch to part workbench
Select the 3D text ("extrude") and then the base object ("chamfer")
Apply a boolean cut by clicking on ...
Finished

Notes

for creating curved text you can use the macro FC_CircularText
for importing text from inkscape look at the "Importing text from inkscape"-tutorial

Demonstration of workflows

Since a picture is better for explaining than text here are small screencasts showing
the workflow for the different chapters.
The films were recorded using FreeCAD 0.16.6704 on Windows 7 64-bit.
FreeCAD was set to "english" language.
The screencasts were recorded using screentogif.

Other languages:

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 ==Introduction==<!--T:2-->
 In this tutorial we will discuss how to
-> insert a text with the Draft Shapestring tool
+* insert a text with the Draft Shapestring tool
-> extrude it to be a solid
+* extrude it to be a solid
-> position it in 3D space using placement and Draft Move on sketches
+* position it in 3D space using placement and Draft Move on sketches
-> doing an engraving by applying a boolean cut
+* doing an engraving by applying a boolean cut
 It is recommended to have completed the sketcher tutorial first.
 ==Creating the basic shape==<!--T:3-->
+*Start FreeCAD and create a new document
-* insert cube
+*Switch to part workbench
-* change width to 50 mm
+*Insert a cube by clicking on XX
-* apply chamfer of 5 mm
+*Make sure the cube is selected in the tree view
-* toogle invisible
+*Change width to be 50 mm by using the data-tab in the property view
+*Choose upper edge on the front face of the cube and apply achamfer of 5 mm
+*Make sure object "chamfer" is selected in the tree view and press <Space> to toggle visibility
 ==Inserting text with the Draft ShapeString tool==<!--T:4-->
-* switch to Draft workbench
+*Switch to Draft workbench
-* toggle working plane to XY
+*Toggle working plane to XY
-* insert text "FreeCAD"
+*Insert text "FreeCAD"
 ==Create 3D text==<!--T:5-->
-* switch to part workbench
+*Switch to part workbench
-* make sure the Draft Shapestring object in the tree view is selected
+*Make sure the Draft Shapestring object in the tree view is selected
+*Use Part Extrude-Tool with the parameters:
-* use extude Z=1 mm, make sure to tick "create solid"
+**extude Z=1 mm
+**make sure to tick "create solid"
+*Make sure object "Extrude" is selected in the tree view and press <Space> to toggle visibility
 ==Insert sketch for positioning==<!--T:6-->
-* switch to sketcher workbench
+*Switch to sketcher workbench
+*Make sure object "chamfer" is selected in the tree view and press <Space> to toggle visibility
-* choose sloped face created by chamfer operation
+*Choose sloped face created by chamfer operation
-* click on to insert new sketch
+*Click on to insert new sketch
-* draw horizontal or vertical line
+*Draw a line (may be horizintal or vertical, length is not of importance ...)
-* constrain one of the endpoints to be 2,5 mm vertical distance and 2 mm horizontal distance away from the origin
+*Constrain one of the endpoints to be +2,5 mm vertical distance and +2 mm horizontal distance away from the origin
-* close sketch
+*Close sketch
 ==Positioning 3D text in 3D space==<!--T:7-->
+*Make sure object "Extrude" is selected in the tree view and press <Space> to toggle visibility
-* apply incremental placement Z=90°
+*Make sure, object "Extrude" is selected in the tree view
-* apply incremental placement Y=45°
+*Apply incremental placement Z=90°
-* switch to draft workbench
+*Apply incremental placement Y=45°
-* switch to wireframe mode
+*Switch to draft workbench
-* make sure, only "snap to endpoint" is activated
+*Switch to wireframe mode
-* select "extrude"-object
+*Make sure, only "snap to endpoint" is activated
-* click on move
+*Select "extrude"-object
-* in 3D view click on the most upper left corner point and then click on the constrained point in the sketch
+*Click on move
+*In 3D view click on the most upper left corner point of "extrude"-object and then click on the constrained point in the sketch
 ==Creating engraved text==<!--T:8-->
-* switch to part workbench
+*Switch to part workbench
-* select the 3D text ("extrude") and then the base object ("chamfer")
+*Select the 3D text ("extrude") and then the base object ("chamfer")
-* apply a boolean cut by clicking on ...
+*Apply a boolean cut by clicking on ...
+*Finished
-* you are done
 ==Notes==<!--T:9-->
-* for creating curved text use the macro FC_CircularText
+* for creating curved text you can use the macro FC_CircularText
-* for importing text from inkscape look at the Importing text from inkscape-tutorial
+* for importing text from inkscape look at the "Importing text from inkscape"-tutorial
 ==Demonstration of workflows==<!--T:10-->
@@ Line 68: / Line 77: @@
 The films were recorded using FreeCAD 0.16.6704 on Windows 7 64-bit.<br />
 FreeCAD was set to "english" language.<br />
-The screencasts were recorded using screentogif.<br />
+The screencasts were recorded using [https://screentogif.codeplex.com/ screentogif].<br />
 </translate>