Wanted to share this since this was a long Project. Since Autodesk started changing Fusions functionality, from limiting active projects, to changing their terms of service. Since I need a CAD tool for my 3D Printable designs, I started migrating to a new cross platform CAD tool. That happened to be FreeCAD.
Learning FreeCAD wasn't easy, but was well worth my time. And after slowly pecking at it for 11 months, I was able to re-build every design I made (that I cared about).
I've made my 3D Printable designs available on my GitHub if you are interested: https://github.com/the16bitgamer/16BitVirtualStudiosDesigns
I'm just contemplating the exact same move myself. Any tips or traps for new players? Any particular tutorials you found better than others?
Sketches need to be whole, as in if you have. 2 boxes intercepting the sketch will be invalid.
Learn how their parametric references. On the one hand it's a bit annoying when you can't click something to use as a reference.
On the other hand being able to use any length as a reference is really nice.
Named dimensions can be referenced for example by: Constraints.MainStrutLength*1.25+20mm Or a pad dimension with Pad017.Length2 (from memory) Or a dimension in a sketch in a pad:
Pad018.Sketch018.Constraints.SecondaryStrutLength4
You mean, that? https://youtu.be/x7_KgeLOcKY?feature=shared
No, I meant even easier, In a single (more complex) sketch, I can't just reference another dimension by clicking on it (as far as I know at least)
Oh, I think I understand. I generally select a bunch of things and use https://wiki.freecad.org/Sketcher_ConstrainEqual and never thought of selecting the dimensions directly. That sounds like a good idea/convenience indeed :)
yeah that works, but if you want a+20mm or a*1.5 etc, doesn't work so well.
Yup, absolutely, it's a good idea. Did you think of creating a feature request on their bug tracker? https://github.com/FreeCAD/FreeCAD/issues
No, I'm not even sure that this feature doesn't currently exist
I've found MangoJellys YouTube videos to be fantastic whenever I get stuck in FreeCAD. Worth following for random things that's over learned from his videos as well, such as some of the tutorials.