Path Workbench

Introduction
The Path workbench is used to produce machine instructions for CNC machines from a FreeCAD model. This can be used to produce real-world 3D objects on machines like mills, lathes, lasercutters or alike. Usually these instructions are some kind of GCode dialect.

The FreeCAD process to create these machine instructions is as follows:
 * You create a 3D model of your object, probably using one ore several of Part Design], [[Part Workbench|Part or Draft workbench
 * You create a Job in Path Workbench, the job uses a certain set of tools.
 * You create milling paths using e.g. Contour and Pocket operations. These Path objects use a slightly abstract G-Code represention which is independent from the machine
 * Finally, since each type of machine often speaks a different G-Code dialect, you use a machine dependent post processor to create G-Code which. This translates the FreeCAD G-Code into the particular flavor recognized by your machine. There are several postprocessors included which you can use directly or use as a template for creating your own.

A walkthrough for the impatient
Here we will show how to get from a simple FreeCAD object to the machine's G-Code

The model
Let's start with a simple FreeCAD model: a cube with a rectangular pocket.



It is modeled straightforward in the Part Design Workbench using a Body, a Box and a Pocket based on a Sketch. The sketch is oriented in the XY plane.

The Job
In the Path workbench we create a Job Job

In the job creation dialog we select the Body as the Base Model and confirm with OK.

The bracket for the various path elements is the Job. You can think of it as a job you have to do at a real mill: The mill has a certain set of control codes (usually G-Code), you use a certain set of tools, you have some stock material, and you start to mill by using the different tools. You can use the same tool for different paths, e.g. milling different pockets.

Scripting
The Path workbench offers a broad python scripting API. With it, you can create and modify paths from python scripts, or extend the available functionality of the workbench.