Getting started/de

Neuigkeiten

 * Version 0.11 Release notes: Wichtiges zur Version 0.11 von FreeCAD
 * Version 0.12 Release notes: Wichtiges zur Version 0.12 von FreeCAD
 * Version 0.13 Release notes: Wichtiges zur Version 0.13 von FreeCAD
 * Version 0.14 Release notes: Wichtiges zur Version 0.14 von FreeCAD

Vorwort
FreeCAD ist ein 3D CAD/CAE-Programm für parametrisches Modellieren. Es dient primär zum Entwerfen von technischen Objekten, kann aber auch zum Modellieren von anderen 3D Objekten genutzt werden, wo Präzision und Kontrolle über die Modellhistorie gefragt sind.

FreeCAD befindet sich in einem frühen Entwicklungsstadium und obwohl es Ihnen bereits eine lange (und stetig wachsende) Liste an Funktionen bereit stellt, fehlen verglichen mit kommerziellen Anwendungen noch viele Dinge. Es könnte also sein, dass FreeCAD nicht unbedingt den Entwicklungsstand für Herstellungsanwendungen erfüllt. Trotzdem gibt es eine schnell wachsende Gemeinschaft von enthusiastischen Anwendern, die sich im FreeCAD Forum austauschen. Wenn Sie neugierig sind, können sie einige hochwertige Beispiele erkunden, die mit Hilfe von FreeCAD erstellt wurden.

Wie alle Open-Source Projekte ist FreeCAD kein stringent entwickeltes Werk, das Ihnen auf dem Silbertablett serviert wird. Es hängt stark von der Gemeinschaft ab, ob es wächst, welche neue Funktionen implementiert werden und dass es auf allen (weit verbreiteten) Plattformen stabil läuft - neben dem gewöhnlichen Bugfixing. Also vergessen Sie bei der Benutzung von FreeCAD nicht: Es ist ein Gemeinschaftsprojekt, das durch alle weiter entwickelt wird und auch Sie können direkt dazu beitragen das Projekt FreeCAD voran zu treiben!

Installation
Laden Sie zuerst (falls noch nicht geschehen) FreeCAD bitte herunter und installieren Sie es. Auf der Download Seite finden Sie Informationen über aktuelle Versionen und Updates, auf der Installationsseite Informationen wie Sie FreeCAD installieren. Es gibt bereits Installationspakete für Windows (.msi), Ubuntu & Debian (.deb) openSUSE (.rpm) and Mac OSX. Da FreeCAD ein Open-Source Projekt ist, können ganz abenteuerliche Anwender den Quellcode betrachten und zusehen, wie brandneue Funktionen entwickelt werden.

FreeCAD erkunden



 * 1) Die 3D Ansicht zeigt den Inhalt der Datei
 * 2) Die Baumansicht zeigt die Hierarchie und Konstruktionshistorie aller Objekte in Ihrer Datei
 * 3) Die Objekteigenschaften zeigen die Eigenschaften aller selektierten Objekte an
 * 4) Das Ausgabefenster, in das FreeCAD Nachrichten, Warnungen und Fehlermeldungen ausgibt
 * 5) Die Python-Konsole, in der alle von FreeCAD ausgeführten Kommandos ausgegeben werden und wo Sie Python-Code direkt eingeben können
 * 6) Die Arbeitsbereichauswahl, mit der Sie den Arbeitsbereich wechseln können

The main concept behind the FreeCAD interface is that it is separated into workbenches. A workbench is a collection of tools suited for a specific task, such as working with meshes, or drawing 2D objects, or constrained sketches. You can switch the current workbench with the workbench selector (6). You can customize the tools included in each workbench, add tools from other workbenches or even self-created tools, that we call macros. There is also a generic workbench which gathers the most commonly used tools from other workbenches, called the complete workbench.

When you start FreeCAD for the first time, you are presented with the start center:



The Start Center allows you to quickly jump to one of the most common workbenches, open one of the recent files, or see the latest news from the FreeCAD world. You can change the default workbench in the preferences.

Navigating in the 3D space
FreeCAD has four different navigation modes available, that change the way you use your mouse to interact with the objects in the 3D view and the view itself. One of them is specifically made for touchpads, where the middle mouse button is not used. The following table describes the default mode, called CAD Navigation (You can quickly change the current navigation mode by right-clicking on an empty area of the 3D view):

You also have several view presets (top view, front view, etc) available in the View menu and on the View toolbar, and by numeric shortcuts (,, etc...), and by right-clicking on an object or on an empty area of the 3D view, you have quick access to some common operations, such as setting a particular view, or locating an object in the Tree view.

First steps with FreeCAD
FreeCAD's focus is to allow you to make high-precision 3D models, to keep tight control over those models (being able to go back into modelling history and change parameters), and eventually to build those models (via 3D printing, CNC machining or even construction worksite). It is therefore very different from some other 3D applications made for other purposes, such as animation film or gaming. Its learning curve can be steep, specially if this is your first contact with 3D modeling. If you are struck at some point, don't forget that the friendly community of users on the FreeCAD forum might be able to get you out in no time.

The workbench you will start using in FreeCAD depends on the type of job you need to do: If you are going to work on mechanical models, or more generally any small-scale objects, you'll probably want to try the PartDesign Workbench. If you will work in 2D, then switch to the Draft Workbench, or the Sketcher Workbench if you need constraints. If you want to do BIM, launch the Arch Workbench. If you are working with ship design, there is a special Ship Workbench for you. And if you come from the OpenSCAD world, try the OpenSCAD Workbench.

You can switch workbenches at any time, and also customize your favorite workbench to add tools from other workbenches.

Working with the PartDesign and Sketcher workbenches
The PartDesign Workbench is specially made to build complex objects, starting from simple shapes, and adding or removing pieces (that we call "features"), until you get to your final object. All the features you applied during the modelling process are stored in a separate view called the tree view, which also contains the other objects in your document. You can think of a PartDesign object as a succession of operations, each one applied to the result of the preceding one, forming one big chain. In the tree view, you see your final object, but you can expand it and retrieve all preceding states, and change any of their parameter, which automatically updates the final object.

The PartDesign workbench makes heavy use of another workbench, the Sketcher Workbench. The sketcher allows you to draw 2D shapes, which are defined by applying Constraints to the 2D shape. For example, you might draw a rectangle and set the size of a side by applying a length constraint to one of the sides. That side then cannot be resized anymore (unless the constraint is changed).

Those 2D shapes made with the sketcher are used a lot in the PartDesign workbench, for example to create 3D volumes, or to draw areas on the faces of your object that will then be hollowed from its main volume. This is a typical PartDesign workflow:


 * 1) Create a new sketch
 * 2) Draw a closed shape (make sure all points are joined)
 * 3) Close the sketch
 * 4) Expand the sketch into a 3D solid by using the pad tool
 * 5) Select one face of the solid
 * 6) Create a second sketch (this time it will be drawn on the selected face)
 * 7) Draw a closed shape
 * 8) Close the sketch
 * 9) Create a pocket from the second sketch, on the first object

Which gives you an object like this:



At any moment, you can select the original sketches and modify them, or change the extrusion parameters of the pad or pocket operations, which will update the final object.

Working with the Draft and Arch workbenches
The Draft Workbench and Arch Workbench behave a bit differently than the other workbenches above, although they follow the same rules, which are common to all of FreeCAD. In short, while the Sketcher and PartDesign are made primarily to design single pieces, Draft and Arch are made to ease your work when working with several, simpler objects.

The Draft Workbench offers you 2D tools a bit similar to what you can find in traditional 2D CAD applications such as AutoCAD. However, 2D drafting being far away from the scope of FreeCAD, don't expect to find there the full array of tools that these dedicated applications offer. Most of the Draft tools work not only in a 2D plane but also in the full 3D space, and benefit from special helper systems such as Work planes and object snapping.

The Arch Workbench adds BIM tools to FreeCAD, allowing you to build architectural models with parametric objects. The Arch workbench relies much on other modules such as Draft and Sketcher. All the Draft tools are also present in the Arch workbench, and most Arch tools make use of the Draft helper systems.

A typical workflow with Arch and Draft workbenches might be:


 * 1) Draw a couple of lines with the Draft Line tool
 * 2) Select each line and press the Wall tool to build a wall on each of them
 * 3) Join the walls by selecting them and pressing the Arch Add tool
 * 4) Create a floor object, and move your walls in it from the Tree view
 * 5) Create a building object, and move your floor in it from the Tree view
 * 6) Create a window by clicking the Window tool, select a preset in its panel, then click on a face of a wall
 * 7) Add dimensions by first setting the working plane if necessary, then using the Draft Dimension tool

Which will give you this:



More on the Tutorials page.

Scripting
Und zu guter Letzt, eine der mächtigsten Funktionen in FreeCAD ist die Scripting -Umgebung. Aus der integrierten Python-konsole (oder durch jedes andere externe Python-script), können Sie auf nahezu jeden Teil von FreeCAD zugreifen, Geometrien erzeugen oder verändern, die Darstellung dieser Objekte in der 3D-Scene verändern oder auf die FreeCAD-Oberfläche zugreifen, bzw. diese auch verändern. Python-scripting kann auch in macros eingesetzt werden, was eine einfache Methode anbietet, eigene Kommandos zu erstellen.