Arch Workbench

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Revision as of 09:19, 14 January 2019 by Mario52 (talk | contribs) (Marked this version for translation)

Introduction

The Arch Workbench provides a modern building information modelling (BIM) workflow to FreeCAD, with support for features like fully parametric architectural entities such as walls, structural elements, roofs, windows, stairs, pipes, and furniture. It supports industry foundation classes (IFC) data, and production of 2D floor plans in combination with the TechDraw Workbench.

The Arch Workbench includes all tools from the Draft Workbench as it uses 2D shapes as the base geometry to create architectural objects in 3D space. Sketches can also be used to define the base geometry of certain elements like doors and windows. The Arch Workbench can also use solid objects created with other workbenches like Part and PartDesign. In this case, the Arch tools set up an information layer on top of the existing solids, so that the solids can be correctly exported to IFC files.

The architectural capabilities of FreeCAD are augmented with the BIM Workbench, which includes this Arch Workbench as well as other tools to make building modelling more intuitive and user-friendly. The BIM Workbench is currently experimental and can be installed from the Addon Manager via the menu Tools → Addon manager → BIM.

Tools

These are tools for creating architectural objects.

  • Wall: Creates a wall from scratch or using a selected object as a base
  • Structural element: Creates a structural element from scratch or using a selected object as a base
  • Rebar tools
    • Straight Rebar: Creates a Straight reinforcement bar in a selected structural element
    • UShape Rebar: Creates a UShape reinforcement bar in a selected structural element
    • LShape Rebar: Creates a LShape reinforcement bar in a selected structural element
    • Bent Shape Rebar: Creates a Bent Shape reinforcement bar in a selected structural element
    • Stirrup Rebar: Creates a Stirrup reinforcement bar in a selected structural element
    • Helical Rebar: Creates a Helical reinforcement bar in a selected structural element
    • Rebar: Creates a custom reinforcement bar in a selected structural element using a sketch
  • Floor: Creates a floor including selected objects
  • Building Part: Creates a building part including selected objects
  • Building: Creates a building including selected objects
  • Site: Creates a site including selected objects
  • Window: Creates a window using a selected object as a base
  • Section Plane: Adds a section plane object to the document
  • Axis tools
    • Axis: Adds a 1-direction array of axes to the document
    • Axes system: Adds an axes system composed of several axes to the document
    • Grid: Adds a grid-like object to the document
  • Roof: Creates a sloped roof from a selected face
  • Space: Creates a space object in the document
  • Stairs: Creates a stairs object in the document
  • Frame: Creates a frame object from a selected layout
  • Equipment: Creates an equipment or furniture object

Modification tools

These are tools for modifying architectural objects.

Utilities

These are additional tools to help you in specific tasks.

Preferences

  • Preferences: preferences for the default appearance of walls, structures, rebars, windows, stairs, panels, pipes, grids and axes.

File formats

  • IFC : Industry foundation Classes
  • DAE : Collada mesh format
  • OBJ : Obj mesh format (export only)
  • JSON : JavaScript Object Notation format (export only)
  • 3DS : 3DS format (import only)

API

The Arch tools can be used in macros and from the Python console by using the Arch API.

Tutorials


Draft Module
FEM Module