External workbenches

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Introduction

External workbenches are those created by power users which haven't been integrated into the main FreeCAD source code.

Most extensions can be installed from the Addon Manager (menu Tools → Addon manager). If there are specific instructions for using these workbenches, these should be noted in each workbench's home page.

These workbenches aren't supported by the main FreeCAD development team, so they aren't tested to work with every version of FreeCAD. Questions, bug reports, and improvement requests should be made directly to the authors of the particular workbench.

The lists in this page are organized in topics, but not all of them are available in the Addon Manager. See external workbench list for an alphabetic list of those workbenches that really appear in the Addon Manager.

Current extensions

The workbenches marked with are obsolete, or unmaintained or maybe they don't work with Python 3 and Qt5, so they should not be used in recent versions of the software.

General

Add workbenches that don't fit a special category here.

Icon Name Topic Description Author Code Status
MOOC Education It provides an interactive tutorial to learn about FreeCAD directly inside the program. It allows you to evaluate your self-learning. rockn https://framagit.org/freecad-france/mooc-workbench

Architecture and construction

Icon Name Topic Description Author Code Status
ArchTextures Architecture and construction It allows you to add basic, non-photorealistic textures to architectural objects created with the Arch Workbench. furti https://github.com/furti/FreeCAD-ArchTextures
BCFPlugin Architecture and construction It aims to support the BIM Collaboration Format (BCF). podestplatz https://github.com/podestplatz/BCF-Plugin-FreeCAD
BIM Architecture and construction It aims to implement a complete building information modeling (BIM) workflow in FreeCAD. It extends the Arch Workbench, and gathers tools from other workbenches to provide an environment that is convenient to model buildings, and work with IFC files. yorikvanhavre https://github.com/yorikvanhavre/BIM_Workbench
BIMBots Architecture and construction It allows you to upload a FreeCAD model or selected parts of a FreeCAD model to a BIMBots instance (usually a BIMServer with external services enabled), and perform different services and analyses on your model, and read the results in FreeCAD, usually under the form of a text report, or a BCF file. BIMBots https://github.com/opensourceBIM/BIMbots-FreeCAD
Icon Name Topic Description Author Code Status
Dodo Architecture and construction It provides tools to create frames (trusses, beams) and pipelines (tubes, elbows, flanges), and query those objects.

This is the new version of Flamingo, intended for Python 3 and Qt5.

oddtopus https://github.com/oddtopus/dodo
Flamingo Architecture and construction It provides tools to create frames (trusses, beams) and pipelines (tubes, elbows, flanges), and query those objects.

This is the old version of Dodo, intended for Python 2 and Qt4. You should prefer Dodo for new models.

oddtopus https://github.com/oddtopus/flamingo
GeoData Architecture and construction It provides tool to import geographical information from a given point on Earth by its latitude and longitude, of from OpenStreetMap, Google Maps, Bing Map, or Here Map. microelly2 https://github.com/microelly2/geodata
Geomatics Architecture and construction It is partially based on the GeoData. It provides functionality specific to Geomatics or Survey engineering, including importing point files, creating surfaces, creating contours, and creating sections. HakanSeven12 https://github.com/HakanSeven12/FreeCAD-Geomatics-Workbench
Reinforcement Architecture and construction It augments the Arch Workbench with additional Arch Rebar tools, including straight, U-shape, L-shape, bent, stirrup, and helical, to be used inside objects created with the Arch Structure tool. amrit3701 https://github.com/amrit3701/FreeCAD-Reinforcement
Render Architecture and construction It can produce high-quality rendered images, using open-source external rendering engines like Pov-ray, Luxrender, and Appleseed. Render is a replacement for the Raytracing Workbench, and uses the same templates so they are compatible. In the future Render may also support Kerkythea, Blender's EEVEE, and OpenCascade's CadRays engines. yorikvanhavre https://github.com/FreeCAD/FreeCAD-render
Timber Architecture and construction It provides tools to facilitate the design and modeling of wood-frame and structural walls.

This workbench is no longer developed and maintained by its author.

j-wiedemann https://github.com/j-wiedemann/FreeCAD-Timber
  • Civil Engineering is a proposed workbench that intends to combine and develop different tools of interest to civil engineers, including those working with road engineering, terrain topology and geographic data.

Assembly and animation

As of FreeCAD 0.19 there is no official assembly workbench. However, several external tools have been created or are in development to manipulate objects to produce assemblies.

Note: assembly workbenches are generally incompatible with each other. If you create an assembly with one of these workbenches, you should stick to the original workbench, and not use another assembly workbench in the same document.

Icon Name Topic Description Author Code Status
A2plus Assembly It provides tools to create multi-part assemblies. It is a fork and extension of the older Assembly2 Workbench, but it is not compatible with it. kbwbe https://github.com/kbwbe/A2plus
Assembly3 Assembly It is used to perform assembly of different bodies contained in a single file or in multiple documents. It was a testbed for the App Link object that was eventually included in the master code. It is the most complex solution and supports things like interactive kinematics. realthunder https://github.com/realthunder/FreeCAD_assembly3
Assembly4 Assembly It is a solution based on the enhanced expression engine and the App Link object developed in the branch of Assembly3. Assembly4 does not work with a proper constraint solver, instead it uses the expression engine to position bodies with respect to Local Coordinate Systems (LCS). Zolko https://github.com/Zolko-123/FreeCAD_Assembly4

Pseudo-assembly

These workbenches don't use constraints to keep relationships between parts, but simply re-position the parts in space.

Icon Name Topic Description Author Code Status
Animation Pseudo-assembly It contains many tools to simulate movement of parts, create sequences of pictures, and thus produce an animation. The position and rotation of objects can be changed at different times, but also other properties like visibility, transparency, shape color, and camera position. microelly2 https://github.com/microelly2/Animation
ExplodedAssembly Pseudo-assembly It allows creating exploded views and animations of assemblies. It was previously known as "ExplodedAnimation". JMG1 https://github.com/JMG1/ExplodedAssembly
Lattice2 Pseudo-assembly It provides tools for working with placements and arrays of placements. It is a sort of assembly workbench but there are no constraints nor relationships. Instead, the workbench focuses in arrays of placements that can be generated, combined, transformed, superimposed, and populated with shapes. It can also create exploded assemblies. DeepSOIC https://github.com/DeepSOIC/Lattice2
Manipulator Pseudo-assembly It is aimed at helping users in aligning, moving, rotating, and measuring 3D objects through a friendly graphical interface. easyw https://github.com/easyw/Manipulator
Part-o-magic Pseudo-assembly It is an experimental workbench that provides some improvements to Std Part and PartDesign Body containers (automatic grouping, visibility automation, etc.), in order to work with documents that have multiple parts with deep feature hierarchies. It provides a Body-like container for the Part Workbench, and for other workbenches that produce solid shapes. Part-o-magic does not provide assembly constraints, but the tools included may be useful in conjunction with a true assembly workbench. DeepSOIC https://github.com/DeepSOIC/Part-o-magic
Workfeature Pseudo-assembly It provides tools to produce different points, axes, and planes, in order to facilitate the creation of assemblies. This workbench is based on the older Workfeatures macro, which was hosted in the macros recipes page. Currently, the macro has a bit more functionality than the workbench, but eventually the workbench will integrate all existing tools of the macro. They also differ in the graphical user interface; the macro creates a panel next to the tree view and the task panel, while the workbench provides its tools in toolbars, just like other workbenches. Rentlau https://github.com/Rentlau/WorkFeature-WB

Customization

Icon Name Topic Description Author Code Status
Autoload Customization It is a small extension that allows you to select the workbenches that should be loaded when you start FreeCAD. It can be used in combination with other extensions from the same author such as CommandPanel, PieMenu, and ShortCuts. triplus https://github.com/triplus/Autoload
CommandPanel Customization It is an extension that provides a panel that can be used store tools from different workbenches. triplus https://github.com/triplus/CommandPanel
Glass Customization It is an extension that shows the combo view (tree view and property editor) as a transparent overlay over the 3D view. triplus https://github.com/triplus/Glass
IconThemes Customization It is an extension that provides the ability of changing the icons of the default program. Icon sets aren't provided with this extension; these need to be provided separately. triplus https://github.com/triplus/IconThemes
Launcher Customization It is a small extension that provides a dedicated dialog box to search and launch commands. Instead of clicking on a toolbar button or menu entry, this method of executing commands may be faster for some users. triplus https://github.com/triplus/Launcher
PieMenu Customization It is a small extension that shows a pie menu to select tools or commands when the Tab key is pressed. A pie menu is an interface that appears in Blender and other systems like Android mobile phones to launch commands. triplus https://github.com/triplus/PieMenu
SelectorToolbar Customization It is a small extension that provides a point and click experience for switching workbenches. triplus https://github.com/triplus/SelectorToolbar
ShortCuts Customization It is a small extension that provides a manager and overlay for shortcuts. triplus https://github.com/triplus/ShortCuts
TabBar Customization It is a small extension that adds a window with tabs in order to select workbenches. triplus https://github.com/triplus/TabBar
ToolbarStyle Customization It is a small extension that allows the configuration of toolbars, with icons, text, or both. triplus https://github.com/triplus/ToolbarStyle

Simulation

Icon Name Topic Description Author Code Status
Cfd Simulation It provides a graphical interface to the OpenFOAM solver to perform computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. qingfengxia https://github.com/qingfengxia/Cfd
CfdOF Simulation It is a fork of the Cfd workbench that focuses on ease of use; it is intended for people who are just starting in the world of CFD and OpenFOAM. jaheyns https://github.com/jaheyns/CfdOF
DesignSPHysics Simulation It provides a graphical user interface to DualSPHysics, a fluid dynamics solver using the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) model. ndrs92 https://github.com/DualSPHysics/DesignSPHysics
EM Workbench Simulation It provides a graphical interface for different solvers by FastFieldSolvers. At present it supports the 3D magneto-quasistatic impedance solver FastHenry. Support for the 3D electrostatic capacitance solver FasterCap is ongoing. FastFieldSolvers S.R.L. https://github.com/ediloren/EM-Workbench-for-FreeCAD

Engineering

Icon Name Topic Description Author Code Status
AirPlaneDesign Engineering It is an experimental workbench to design wings and airplane objects. FredsFactory (a179308) https://github.com/FredsFactory/FreeCAD_AirPlaneDesign
FreeCADTools Engineering It contains tools to create metal profiles, square tubing, z profile, palette, rotation, drawing, and more. Siardeni https://github.com/Siardeni/FreeCADTools
Glider Engineering It contains tools to design paragliders and kites using the OpenGlider library. booya https://github.com/booya-at/OpenGlider
GDML Engineering It contains tools to handle the Geometry Definition Markup Language (GDML). KeithSloan https://github.com/KeithSloan/GDML
GDT Engineering It is a collection of tools to add geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GDT) labels in 2D and 3D technical drawings. It implements the standard ISO 16792. juanvanyo https://github.com/juanvanyo/FreeCAD-GDT
Icon Name Topic Description Author Code Status
KicadStepUp Engineering It is aimed at helping both KiCad and FreeCAD users in collaborating with electrical (ECAD) and mechanical (MCAD) design. With FreeCAD it's possible to design a printed circuit board, and push it to KiCad; alternatively, the board can be designed in KiCad, it can be imported by FreeCAD, it can be edited with the Sketcher Workbench, and pushed back into KiCad. The 3D model, boards and enclosure, can be exported to VRML with materials properties for use in KiCad or Blender. easyw https://github.com/easyw/kicadStepUpMod
LCInterlocking Engineering It contains tools to create interlocking parts that can be cut with laser-cutters. Tabs and hinges can be added, and the sketch can be exported to SVG. execuc https://github.com/execuc/LCInterlocking
Pyrate Engineering It is used to design optical lenses. The project aims to provide an optical raytracer for isotropic, homogeneous anisotropic and inhomogeneous isotropic GRIN media. mess42, joha2 https://github.com/mess42/pyrate
SheetMetal Engineering It provides tools to design an object made of a folded sheet, such as a metal case or enclosure. The user starts with a flat sheet, then uses tools to extrude and bend the faces of the object until the desired shape is obtained. The body may then be unfolded to obtain the required flat material, and to use as input for mills or laser cutting machines. Shai Seger and Ulrich Brammer https://github.com/shaise/FreeCAD_SheetMetal
Ship Engineering It is used to create structures that are common to ships. It currently is seeking a maintainer. Jose Luis Cercós Pita https://github.com/FreeCAD/freecad.ship

Information and data

Icon Name Topic Description Author Code Status
CADExchanger Information and data It is an extension that allows FreeCAD to import and export file formats supported by the commercial "CAD Exchanger" application, such as Rhino 3dm or ACIS sat, and mesh formats like OBJ and STL. yorikvanhavre https://github.com/yorikvanhavre/CADExchanger
dxf_library Information and data It installs the DXF Python importer and exporter. This was required in FreeCAD versions v0.15 and below. This is not needed anymore when using the built-in DXF importer in v0.16 and above. This library is still needed if you wish to explicitly use the Python importer, or if you wish to export directly from the 3D model. Please notice that the built-in importer is faster than the Python importer, but in many cases the Python importer produces better results. yorikvanhavre https://github.com/yorikvanhavre/Draft-dxf-importer
DynamicData Information and data It is an extension that allows creating container objects to hold custom properties of any type that FreeCAD supports, for example, length or placement. These custom properties can then be used in mathematical expressions just like other properties in the Sketcher Workbench or Spreadsheet Workbench. mwganson https://github.com/mwganson/DynamicData
InventorLoader Information and data It is an extension designed to import Autodesk Inventor files. Currently only Parts (IPT) can be displayed, not assemblies (IAM) nor drawings (IDW). As Inventor files contain a complete ACIS model representation, SAT and SAB files can also be imported. Export will not be supported, neither to IPT nor to SAT. jmplonka https://github.com/jmplonka/InventorLoader
Icon Name Topic Description Author Code Status
Kerkythea Information and data It adds a simple exporter to produce XML files for use with the Kerkythea freeware renderer. marmni https://github.com/marmni/FreeCAD-Kerkythea/blob/master/exportToKerkythea.FCMacro
File:Plot workbench icon.svg Plot Information and data It is a layer on top of the Matplotlib Python module to graph mathematical functions and vectors of points. Jose Luis Cercós Pita https://github.com/FreeCAD/freecad.plot
Reporting Information and data It adds tools to extract information from a FreeCAD document using SQL statements, and show the results in a spreadsheet. The SQL statements can be used from a graphical user interface or from Python scripts. It works in a similar way to the Arch Schedule tool but is more powerful due to the flexibility that SQL provides. furti https://github.com/furti/FreeCAD-Reporting
WebTools Information and data It contains a series of tools to communicate with web services like Git, a BIM server, and Sketchfab. yorikvanhavre https://github.com/yorikvanhavre/WebTools
YAML Workbench Information and data It is an extension that adds an importer to load and manipulate objects from YAML files. In this way it's easier to design and check 3D parts before manufacturing. Mambix https://github.com/Mambix/FreeCAD-yaml-workspace

Shapes

Icon Name Topic Description Author Code Status
3D Printing Tools Shapes It has tools to do small changes to meshes imported from external files like STL. mark1791 https://github.com/mark1791/3D_Printing_Tools
CurvedShapes Shapes It has tools to create 3D curves from 2D profiles chbergmann https://github.com/chbergmann/CurvedShapesWorkbench
Curves Shapes It is a collection of tools to create and edit NURBS curves and surfaces. tomate44 (Chris_G) https://github.com/tomate44/CurvesWB
Defeaturing Shapes It provides tools to edit STEP objects to remove features like holes, faces, and edges, and perform some operations with the simplified objects. easyw https://github.com/easyw/Defeaturing_WB
Lithophane Shapes It is an extension to convert a provided image to a "lithophane" for 3D printing. A lithophane is an image that can only be seen properly when illuminated from behind. furti https://github.com/furti/FreeCAD-Lithophane
MeshRemodel Shapes It provides tools to help re-create or re-model imported mesh objects to obtain a solid shape. The workflow is to create points from the mesh's vertices, and use those to create sketches, which can then be extruded. mwganson https://github.com/mwganson/MeshRemodel
Nurbs Shapes It is a collection of scripts for managing freeform surfaces and curves. microelly2 https://github.com/microelly2/freecad-nurbs
Icon Name Topic Description Author Code Status
Pyramids and Polyhedrons Workbench Shapes It has tools for generating pyramids and polyhedra, fully scalable and usable like regular bodies. eddyverl https://github.com/eddyverl/FreeCAD-Pyramids-and-Polyhedrons
Reconstruction Shapes It provides utilities to reconstruct models from images. microelly2 https://github.com/microelly2/reconstruction
Silk Shapes It is a collection of NURBS surface modeling tools focused on low degree and seam continuity. Silk is the new name of the NURBSlib-EVM project. edwardvmills https://github.com/edwardvmills/Silk
Slic3r-tools Shapes It allows exporting parts, and opening the resulting STL in Slic3r. You can set up a default print profile, and directly get information about the resources that would be used to 3D print it, as well as quickly generate the .gcode file. limikael https://github.com/limikael/freecad-slic3r-tools
SlopedPlanesMacro Shapes It allows you to build figures controlling the slopes of the faces of objects. Damian Caceres Moreno https://github.com/luzpaz/SlopedPlanesMacro

Parts

Icon Name Topic Description Author Code Status
BOLTSFC Parts It is an extension that allows you to use the BOLTS "Open Library for Technical Specifications", which is a collection of objects like nuts, screws, bolts, and so on, parametrically defined. jreinhardt, berndhahnebach https://github.com/berndhahnebach/BOLTSFC
CadQuery Parts It allows users to design parametric 3D CAD models defined by the CadQuery CAD scripting API. It includes a full-featured editor with auto-completion, syntax highlighting, line numbering, and code folding. Example scripts are included. Script variables can be edited dynamically through the use of a parameter dialog. This workbench also includes cqparts, which is a library that adds support for parts and assemblies with constraints on top of CadQuery. jmwright https://github.com/jmwright/cadquery-freecad-module/wiki
File:FNLogo.svg Fasteners Workbench Parts It is a workbench that provides various fasteners, screws, bolts, nuts, etc., to attach to your model complying with ISO standards. Ulrich Bramar (@ulrich1a) and Shai Seger (@shais) https://github.com/shaise/FreeCAD_FastenersWB
FCGear Parts It is an extension that adds many different gears like cylindric involute, involute rack, cylindric cycloid, spherical involute bevel-gear, and crown gear. looooo https://github.com/looooo/freecad.gears
Frametools Parts It is an extension with tools to create frames and beams, including two intersecting beams, in which one beam is cut by a plane or by another beam. looooo https://github.com/looooo/freecad.frametools
Icon Name Topic Description Author Code Status
Parts Library Parts It is an extension that downloads a library of parts in STEP format .step or in FreeCAD format .FCStd that can be imported into a document. Users can contribute content to this library by forking the repository, adding their own parts under a permissive CC-BY 3.0 license, and submitting a pull request to merge the new objects. Community https://github.com/FreeCAD/FreeCAD-library
PCB Parts It is a workbench that allows the user to import and create printed circuit boards (PCB) in FreeCAD. It supports layers, colors, transparencies, importing Step and Iges models, and displaying holes and vias. marmni https://github.com/marmni/FreeCAD-PCB
Retr3d Parts It is a framework designed to model and manufacture 3D printable parts starting from electronic waste. The intention of this project is to recycle e-waste, and promote 3D printing, especially in developing economies. Maaphoo https://github.com/Maaphoo/Retr3d/
Symbols Library Parts It is an extension that downloads a library of SVG symbols that can be used in FreeCAD, particularly in the TechDraw Workbench to produce technical documentation. Users can contribute content to this library by forking the repository, adding their own symbols under a permissive CC-BY 3.0 license, and submitting a pull request to merge the new objects. Community https://github.com/FreeCAD/FreeCAD-symbols
ThreadProfile Parts It provides tools to create parametric 2D thread profiles compatible with extrusion tools in Part and PartDesign workbenches. mwganson https://github.com/mwganson/ThreadProfile

Deprecated extensions

  • Assembly2 provides tools to create multi-part assemblies. It is unmaintained since 2016. Consider using A2plus instead.
  • cura_engine (github link) is an extension that integrates CuraEngine into FreeCAD in order to facilitate gcode generation for 3D printing. This addon is unmaintained since 2014 and no longer works with recent versions of CuraEngine.
  • Drawing Dimensioning adds dimensioning and annotation tools to the Drawing Workbench. It is deprecated since FreeCAD 0.17. Consider using TechDraw Workbench instead.
  • NavigationIndicator (github link) is an extension that adds an indicator for the mouse navigation style in the status bar. Since FreeCAD 0.17 this extension is obsolete, as the indicator is included natively in FreeCAD.
  • persistenttoolbars (github link) is a small extension to keep the toolbars in their locations. Since FreeCAD 0.17 this extension is obsolete, as the functionality is included natively in FreeCAD.
  • pluginloader (github link) is a small extension that allows the user to install macros, external workbenches, and other extensions in FreeCAD. Since FreeCAD 0.17 this utility is obsolete, as this functionality is already provided by the Addon Manager.

Translating external workbenches

See the wiki page for more information Translating an external workbench

Missing documentation

(April 2019) If you are the developer or a user of a new workbench, add it below. However, consider creating a page for it, or providing a link to its documentation in the proper section above.