Draft ShapeString tutorial: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 21:30, 26 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 with sketches as helper elements
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
Make sure the cube is selected in the tree view
Change width to be 31 mm by using the data-tab in the property view
Click on to change to axometric view
Click on File:View-zoom-all.svg to zoom to fit all
Select upper edge on the front face of the cube in 3D view
Apply a chamfer (to Edge6) of 5 mm by clicking on
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
make sure nothing is selected in the tree view
Toggle working plane to XY (Top) by clicking on Auto and choosing XY
Insert text "FreeCAD" by
- Click on
- Highlight the text in the "Global X"-field and type "0" on the keyboard and press Return
- The text in the "Global Y" field is highlighted
- Type "0" on the keyboard and press Return
- The text in the "Global Z" field is highlighted
- Type "0" on the keyboard and press Return
- Enter "FreeCAD" in the string field (without brackets) and press Return
- Choose a height of 5mm
- Choose a tracking of 0 mm
- now point FreeCAD to a "TTF"-Text-Font to use (for example the ARIAL-TTF)
- After pressing Return one last time, the Draft-Shapestring object is created in the tree view

Create 3D text

Switch to part workbench
Make sure the Draft Shapestring object view is selected in the tree
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, axis of rotation Z=90°
Apply incremental placement, axis of rotation Y=45°
Switch to draft workbench
Switch to wireframe mode
Make sure, only "snap to endpoint" is activated
Select "extrude"-object
Click on
In 3D view click on the most upper left corner point of "extrude"-object (1) and then click on the constrained point in the sketch (2)

Creating engraved text

Switch to part workbench
Switch to "As is"-view mode
Select the 3D text ("extrude") and then the base object ("chamfer") in the tree view
Apply a boolean cut by clicking on
Make sure object "Sketch" is selected in the tree view
Press <Space> to toggle visibilty
Click on to change to axometric view
Click on File:View-zoom-all.svg to zoom to fit all
Finished

Notes

for creating curved text you can use the macro Macro_FCCircularText
for importing text from inkscape look at the "Importing text from inkscape"-tutorial
Extrusion of the Shapestring-Text can also be done with the PartDesign-Pad-Tool
Remember that the DraftShapestring-Object cannot be attached to a face (so no pocket-command possible)

Other languages:

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 *Insert a cube by clicking on [[Image:Part_Box.png|32px]]
 *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
+*Change width to be 31 mm by using the data-tab in the property view
 *Click on [[Image:View-axometric.svg|32px]] to change to axometric view
 *Click on [[Image:View-zoom-all.svg|32px]] to zoom to fit all
@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 *Toggle working plane to XY (Top) by clicking on {{KEY| [[Image:Draft_SelectPlane.png|32px]] Auto}} and choosing {{KEY| XY}}
 *Insert text "FreeCAD" by
-**Click on [[Image:Draft_Shapestring.png|32px]]
+**Click on [[Image:Draft_ShapeString.png|32px]]
+**Highlight the text in the "Global X"-field and type "0" on the keyboard and press {{KEY| Return}}
-**Click in
+**The text in the "Global Y" field is highlighted
+**Type "0" on the keyboard and press {{KEY| Return}}
+**The text in the "Global Z" field is highlighted
+**Type "0" on the keyboard and press {{KEY| Return}}
+**Enter "FreeCAD" in the string field (without brackets) and press {{KEY| Return}}
+**Choose a height of 5mm
+**Choose a tracking of 0 mm
+**now point FreeCAD to a "TTF"-Text-Font to use (for example the ARIAL-TTF)
+**After pressing {{KEY| Return}} one last time, the Draft-Shapestring object is created in the tree view
 ==Create 3D text==<!--T:5-->
 *Switch to part workbench
-*Make sure the Draft Shapestring object in the tree view is selected
+*Make sure the Draft Shapestring object view is selected in the tree
-*Use Part Extrude-Tool with the parameters:
+*Use Part Extrude-Tool [[Image:Part_Extrude.png|32px]] 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
+[[Image:TutorialDraftShapeString_DraftShapestring.jpg|300px]]
 ==Insert sketch for positioning==<!--T:6-->
@@ Line 52: / Line 62: @@
 *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
+*Click on [[Image: Sketcher_NewSketch.png|32px]] 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
+[[Image:TutorialDraftShapeString_Sketch.jpg|600px]]
 ==Positioning 3D text in 3D space==<!--T:7-->
 *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, axis of rotation Z=90°
-*Apply incremental placement Y=45°
+*Apply incremental placement, axis of rotation Y=45°
 *Switch to draft workbench
 *Switch to wireframe mode
 *Make sure, only "snap to endpoint" is activated
 *Select "extrude"-object
-*Click on move
+*Click on [[Image: Draft_Move.png|32px]]
-*In 3D view click on the most upper left corner point of "extrude"-object and then click on the constrained point in the sketch
+*In 3D view click on the most upper left corner point of "extrude"-object (1) and then click on the constrained point in the sketch (2)
+[[Image:TutorialDraftShapeString_Position.jpg|600px]]
 ==Creating engraved text==<!--T:8-->
 *Switch to part workbench
+*Switch to "As is"-view mode
-*Select the 3D text ("extrude") and then the base object ("chamfer")
+*Select the 3D text ("extrude") and then the base object ("chamfer") in the tree view
-*Apply a boolean cut by clicking on ...
+*Apply a boolean cut by clicking on [[Image:Part_Cut.png|32px]]
+*Make sure object "Sketch" is selected in the tree view
+*Press <Space> to toggle visibilty
+*Click on [[Image:View-axometric.svg|32px]] to change to axometric view
+*Click on [[Image:View-zoom-all.svg|32px]] to zoom to fit all
 *Finished
+[[Image:TutorialDraftShapeString_Complete.jpg|300px]]
 ==Notes==<!--T:9-->
-*for creating curved text you can use the macro FC_CircularText
+*for creating curved text you can use the macro [[Macro_FCCircularText]]
 *for importing text from inkscape look at the "Importing text from inkscape"-tutorial
 *Extrusion of the Shapestring-Text can also be done with the PartDesign-Pad-Tool