Draft Workbench: Difference between revisions

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FreeCAD is primarily a 3D modelling application, and thus its 2D tools aren't as advanced as in other drawing programs. If your primary goal is the production of complex 2D drawings and [[DXF]] files, and you don't need 3D modelling, you may wish to consider a dedicated software program for technical drafting such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LibreCAD LibreCAD], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QCad QCad], TurboCad, and others.
FreeCAD is primarily a 3D modelling application, and thus its 2D tools aren't as advanced as in other drawing programs. If your primary goal is the production of complex 2D drawings and [[DXF|DXF]] files, and you don't need 3D modelling, you may wish to consider a dedicated software program for technical drafting such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LibreCAD LibreCAD], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QCad QCad], TurboCad, and others.


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[[Image:Draft_Workbench_Example.png|600px|Draft Workbench Example]]
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* [[Image:Draft_Line.svg|32px]] [[Draft_Line|Line]]: draws a line segment between two points.
* [[Image:Draft_Line.svg|32px]] [[Draft_Line|Line]]: draws a line segment between two points.
* [[Image:Draft_Wire.svg|32px]] [[Draft_Wire|Wire]]: draws a line made of multiple line segments (polyline).
* [[Image:Draft_Wire.svg|32px]] [[Draft_Wire|Wire]]: draws a line made of multiple line segments (polyline).
* [[Image:Draft_Fillet.svg|32px]] [[Draft_Fillet|Fillet]]: draws a fillet (rounded corner) or a chamfer (straight line) between two simple [[Draft_Line|Lines]]. {{Version|0.19}}
* [[Image:Draft_Circle.svg|32px]] [[Draft_Circle|Circle]]: draws a circle from center and radius.
* [[Image:Draft_Circle.svg|32px]] [[Draft_Circle|Circle]]: draws a circle from center and radius.
* [[Image:Draft_Arc.svg|32px]] [[Draft_Arc|Arc]]: draws an arc segment from center, radius, start angle and end angle.
* [[Image:Draft_Arc.svg|32px]] [[Draft_Arc|Arc]]: draws an arc segment from center, radius, start angle and end angle.
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* [[Image:Draft_DelPoint.svg|32px]] [[Draft_DelPoint|Delete point]]: deletes a point from a wire or B-Spline.
* [[Image:Draft_DelPoint.svg|32px]] [[Draft_DelPoint|Delete point]]: deletes a point from a wire or B-Spline.
* [[Image:Draft_Shape2DView.svg|32px]] [[Draft_Shape2DView|Shape 2D View]]: creates a 2D object which is a flattened 2D view of a 3D object.
* [[Image:Draft_Shape2DView.svg|32px]] [[Draft_Shape2DView|Shape 2D View]]: creates a 2D object which is a flattened 2D view of a 3D object.
* [[Image:Draft_Draft2Sketch.svg|32px]] [[Draft_Draft2Sketch|Draft to Sketch]]: converts a Draft object to a [[Sketcher Workbench]] Sketch and vice-versa.
* [[Image:Draft_Draft2Sketch.svg|32px]] [[Draft_Draft2Sketch|Draft to Sketch]]: converts a Draft object to a [[Sketcher Workbench|Sketcher Workbench]] Sketch and vice-versa.
* [[Image:Draft_Array.svg|32px]] [[Draft_Array|Array]]: creates a polar or rectangular array from selected objects.
* [[Image:Draft_Array.svg|32px]] [[Draft_Array|Array]]: creates a polar or rectangular array from selected objects.
* [[Image:Draft_LinkArray.svg|32px]] [[Draft_LinkArray|LinkArray]]: creates an array of [[Std_LinkMake|App::Link]] elements. {{Version|0.19}}
* [[Image:Draft_PathArray.svg|32px]] [[Draft_PathArray|Path Array]]: creates an array of objects by placing the copies along a path.
* [[Image:Draft_PathArray.svg|32px]] [[Draft_PathArray|Path Array]]: creates an array of objects by placing the copies along a path.
* [[Image:Draft_PathLinkArray.svg|32px]] [[Draft_PathLinkArray|Path LinkArray]]: creates an array of [[Std_LinkMake|App::Link]] elements by placing the copies along a path. {{Version|0.19}}
* [[Image:Draft_PointArray.svg|32px]] [[Draft_PointArray|Point Array]]: creates an array of objects by placing the copies at certain points. {{version|0.18}}
* [[Image:Draft_PointArray.svg|32px]] [[Draft_PointArray|Point Array]]: creates an array of objects by placing the copies at certain points. {{version|0.18}}
* [[Image:Draft_Clone.svg|32px]] [[Draft_Clone|Clone]]: clones the selected objects.
* [[Image:Draft_Clone.svg|32px]] [[Draft_Clone|Clone]]: clones the selected objects.
* [[Image:Draft_PutOnSheet.svg|32px]] [[Draft_Drawing|Drawing]]: writes selected objects to a [[Drawing Workbench]] page.
* [[Image:Draft_PutOnSheet.svg|32px]] [[Draft_Drawing|Drawing]]: writes selected objects to a [[Drawing Workbench|Drawing Workbench]] page. {{obsolete|0.17}}
* [[Image:Draft_Mirror.svg|32px]] [[Draft_Mirror|Mirror]]: mirrors the selected objects.
* [[Image:Draft_Mirror.svg|32px]] [[Draft_Mirror|Mirror]]: mirrors the selected objects.
* [[Image:Draft_Stretch.svg|32px]] [[Draft_Stretch|Stretch]]: stretches the selected objects. {{Version|0.17}}
* [[Image:Draft_Stretch.svg|32px]] [[Draft_Stretch|Stretch]]: stretches the selected objects. {{Version|0.17}}
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* [[Image:Draft_SelectPlane.svg|32px]] [[Image:Draft_SelectPlane.png|32px]] [[Draft_SelectPlane|Set working plane]]: sets a working plane from a standard view or a selected face.
* [[Image:Draft_SelectPlane.svg|32px]] [[Draft_SelectPlane|Set working plane]]: sets a working plane from a standard view or a selected face.
* [[Image:Draft_Finish.svg|32px]] [[Image:Draft_FinishLine.png|32px]] [[Draft_FinishLine|Finish line]]: ends the drawing of the current [[Draft Wire]] or [[Draft BSpline]], without closing it.
* [[Image:Draft_FinishLine.svg|32px]] [[Draft_FinishLine|Finish line]]: ends the drawing of the current [[Draft Wire|Draft Wire]] or [[Draft BSpline|Draft BSpline]], without closing it.
* [[Image:Draft_Lock.svg|32px]] [[Image:Draft_CloseLine.png|32px]] [[Draft_CloseLine|Close line]]: ends the drawing of the current [[Draft Wire]] or [[Draft BSpline]], and closes it.
* [[Image:Draft_CloseLine.svg|32px]] [[Draft_CloseLine|Close line]]: ends the drawing of the current [[Draft Wire|Draft Wire]] or [[Draft BSpline|Draft BSpline]], and closes it.
* [[Image:Draft_Rotate.svg|32px]] [[Image:Draft_UndoLine.png|32px]] [[Draft_UndoLine|Undo line]]: undoes the last segment of a [[Draft Wire]].
* [[Image:Draft_UndoLine.svg|32px]] [[Draft_UndoLine|Undo line]]: undoes the last segment of a [[Draft Wire|Draft Wire]].
* [[Image:Draft_Construction.svg|32px]] [[Image:Draft_ToggleConstructionMode.png|32px]] [[Draft_ToggleConstructionMode|Toggle construction mode]]: toggles the Draft construction mode on or off.
* [[Image:Draft_ToggleConstructionMode.svg|32px]] [[Draft_ToggleConstructionMode|Toggle construction mode]]: toggles the Draft construction mode on or off.
* [[Image:Draft_Rotate.svg|32px]] [[Image:Draft_ToggleContinueMode.png|32px]] [[Draft_ToggleContinueMode|Toggle continue mode]]: toggles the Draft continue mode on or off.
* [[Image:Draft_ToggleContinueMode.svg|32px]] [[Draft_ToggleContinueMode|Toggle continue mode]]: toggles the Draft continue mode on or off.
* [[Image:Draft_Apply.svg|32px]] [[Image:Draft_ApplyStyle.png|32px]] [[Draft_Apply|Apply style]]: applies the current style and color to selected objects.
* [[Image:Draft_ApplyStyle.svg|32px]] [[Draft_Apply|Apply style]]: applies the current style and color to selected objects.
* [[Image:Draft_ToggleDisplayMode.png|32px]] [[Draft_ToggleDisplayMode|Toggle display mode]]: switches the display mode of selected objects between "Flat Lines" and "Wireframe".
* [[Image:Draft_ToggleDisplayMode.svg|32px]] [[Draft_ToggleDisplayMode|Toggle display mode]]: switches the display mode of selected objects between "Flat Lines" and "Wireframe".
* [[Image:Draft_AddToGroup.png|32px]] [[Draft_AddToGroup|Add to group]]: quickly adds selected objects to an existing [[Std Group]] or [[Draft VisGroup]].
* [[Image:Draft_AddToGroup.svg|32px]] [[Draft_AddToGroup|Add to group]]: quickly adds selected objects to an existing [[Std Group|Std Group]] or [[Draft VisGroup|Draft VisGroup]].
* [[Image:Draft_SelectGroup.png|32px]] [[Draft_SelectGroup|Select group contents]]: selects the contents of a selected [[Std Group]] or [[Draft VisGroup]].
* [[Image:Draft_SelectGroup.svg|32px]] [[Draft_SelectGroup|Select group contents]]: selects the contents of a selected [[Std Group|Std Group]] or [[Draft VisGroup|Draft VisGroup]].
* [[Image:Draft_ToggleSnap.png|32px]] [[Draft_ToggleSnap|Toggle snap]]: toggles [[Draft Snap|object snapping]] on or off.
* [[Image:Draft_ToggleSnap.svg|32px]] [[Draft_ToggleSnap|Toggle snap]]: toggles [[Draft Snap|object snapping]] on or off.
* [[Image:Draft_ToggleGrid.png|32px]] [[Draft_ToggleGrid|Toggle grid]]: toggles the visibility of the grid on or off.
* [[Image:Draft_ToggleGrid.svg|32px]] [[Draft_ToggleGrid|Toggle grid]]: toggles the visibility of the grid on or off.
* [[Image:Draft_ShowSnapBar.png|32px]] [[Draft_ShowSnapBar|Show snap bar]]: shows or hides the [[Draft Snap]] toolbar.
* [[Image:Draft_ShowSnapBar.svg|32px]] [[Draft_ShowSnapBar|Show snap bar]]: shows or hides the [[Draft Snap|Draft Snap]] toolbar.
* [[Image:Draft_Heal.png|32px]] [[Draft_Heal|Heal]]: heals problematic Draft objects found in very old files.
* [[Image:Draft_Heal.svg|32px]] [[Draft_Heal|Heal]]: heals problematic Draft objects found in very old files.
* [[Image:Draft_FlipDimension.png|32px]] [[Draft_FlipDimension|Flip Dimension]]: flips the orientation of the text of a [[Draft Dimension]].
* [[Image:Draft_FlipDimension.svg|32px]] [[Draft_FlipDimension|Flip Dimension]]: flips the orientation of the text of a [[Draft Dimension|Draft Dimension]].
* [[Image:Draft_VisGroup.png|32px]] [[Draft_VisGroup|VisGroup]]: creates a VisGroup in the current document.
* [[Image:Draft_VisGroup.svg|32px]] [[Draft_VisGroup|VisGroup]]: creates a VisGroup in the current document. {{Obsolete|0.19}}
* [[Image:Draft_Slope.png|32px]] [[Draft Slope|Slope]]: changes the elevation slope of the currently selected [[Draft Line]] or [[Draft Wire]]. {{Version|0.17}}
* [[Image:Draft_Layer.svg|32px]] [[Draft_Layer|Layer]]: creates a Layer in the current document, to which objects can be added to control object visibility and color. It replaces [[Draft_VisGroup|VisGroup]]. {{Version|0.19}}
* [[Image:Draft_AutoGroup.png|32px]] [[Draft AutoGroup|AutoGroup]]: automatically place new objects in a given [[Std Group]] or [[Draft VisGroup]]. {{Version|0.17}}
* [[Image:Draft_Slope.svg|32px]] [[Draft Slope|Slope]]: changes the elevation slope of the currently selected [[Draft Line|Draft Line]] or [[Draft Wire|Draft Wire]]. {{Version|0.17}}
* [[Image:Draft_SetWorkingPlaneProxy.png|32px]] [[Draft SetWorkingPlaneProxy|Set Working Plane Proxy]]: create a proxy object to store the current [[Draft_SelectPlane|Working Plane]] position. {{Version|0.17}}
* [[Image:Draft_AutoGroup.svg|32px]] [[Draft AutoGroup|AutoGroup]]: automatically place new objects in a given [[Std Group|Std Group]] or [[Draft VisGroup|Draft VisGroup]]. {{Version|0.17}}
* [[Image:Draft_ToggleConstructionMode.png|32px]] [[Draft_AddConstruction|Add to Construction group]]: add selected objects to the Construction group. {{Version|0.17}}
* [[Image:Draft_SetWorkingPlaneProxy.svg|32px]] [[Draft SetWorkingPlaneProxy|Set Working Plane Proxy]]: create a proxy object to store the current [[Draft_SelectPlane|Working Plane]] position. {{Version|0.17}}
* [[Image:Draft_AddConstruction.svg|32px]] [[Draft_AddConstruction|Add to Construction group]]: add selected objects to the Construction group. {{Version|0.17}}


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== Preferences == <!--T:25-->
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The Draft tools can be used in [[macros]] and from the [[Python]] console by using the [[Draft API]].
The Draft tools can be used in [[macros|macros]] and from the [[Python|Python]] console by using the [[Draft API|Draft API]].


== Tutorials == <!--T:14-->
== Tutorials == <!--T:14-->

Revision as of 10:31, 14 September 2019

Introduction

The Draft Workbench allows you to draw simple 2D objects, and offers several tools to modify them afterwards. It also provides tools to define a working plane, a grid, and a snapping system to precisely control the position of your geometry.

The created 2D objects can be used for general drafting in a way similar to Inkscape or Autocad. These 2D shapes can also be used as the base components of 3D objects created with other workbenches, for example, the Part and Arch Workbenches. Conversion of Draft objects to Sketches is also possible, which means that the shapes can also be used with the PartDesign Workbench for the creation of solid bodies.

FreeCAD is primarily a 3D modelling application, and thus its 2D tools aren't as advanced as in other drawing programs. If your primary goal is the production of complex 2D drawings and DXF files, and you don't need 3D modelling, you may wish to consider a dedicated software program for technical drafting such as LibreCAD, QCad, TurboCad, and others.

Draft Workbench Example

Drawing objects

These are tools for creating objects.

  • Line: draws a line segment between two points.
  • Wire: draws a line made of multiple line segments (polyline).
  • Fillet: draws a fillet (rounded corner) or a chamfer (straight line) between two simple Lines. introduced in version 0.19
  • Circle: draws a circle from center and radius.
  • Arc: draws an arc segment from center, radius, start angle and end angle.
  • Arc 3Points: draws a circular arc segment from three points that are located in the circumference. introduced in version 0.19
  • Ellipse: draws an ellipse from two corner points.
  • Polygon: draws a regular polygon from center, radius, and number of sides.
  • Rectangle: draws a rectangle from two corner points.
  • Text: draws a multi-line text annotation.
  • Dimension: draws a dimension annotation.
  • BSpline: draws a B-Spline from a series of points.
  • Point: inserts a point object.
  • ShapeString: inserts a compound shape representing a text string at a given point.
  • Facebinder: creates a new object from selected faces on existing objects.
  • Bezier Curve: draws a Bezier curve from a series of points.
  • Cubic Bezier Curve: draws a Bezier curve of third degree by dragging two points. introduced in version 0.19
  • Label: places a label with an arrow pointing to a selected element. introduced in version 0.17

Modifying objects

These are tools for modifying existing objects. They work on selected objects, but if no object is selected, you will be invited to select one.

Many operation tools (move, rotate, array, etc.) also work on solid objects (Part, PartDesign, Arch, etc.).

Utility tools

Additional tools available from the menu Draft → Utilities, or via the right-click context menu, depending on the selected object.

Preferences

  • Preferences: general preferences for the working plane and the drawing tools.
  • Import-Export Preferences: preferences available for importing from and exporting to different file formats.

File formats

The Draft module provides FreeCAD with importers and exporters for the following file formats:

Additional features

  • Coordinates: enter coordinates instead of clicking on the 3D view to define a new point.
  • Constraining: limit the pointer to horizontal or vertical movements relative to a previous point.
  • Snapping: place new points on special places on existing objects or on the grid.

Scripting

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

Tutorials