Installing additional components: Difference between revisions

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===GitPython=== <!--T:22-->
===GitPython=== <!--T:22-->
A python library which is used to interact with Git repositories. The feature is currently in development status in FreeCAD. The [[AddonManager|Addon Manager]] can use this library to import addons from a Git repository. The project is hosted on GitHub at https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython.
A python library which is used to interact with Git repositories. The feature is currently in development status in FreeCAD. The [[Addon Manager]] can use this library to import addons from a Git repository. The project is hosted on GitHub at https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython.


===Gmsh=== <!--T:23-->
===Gmsh=== <!--T:23-->

Revision as of 22:05, 27 November 2018


Choose Your Operating System

FreeCAD is a truly multi-platform application, developed with the world-renowned Qt framework. This means FreeCAD looks and acts the same on Windows, Linux and Mac. However, the installation procedure is a little different for each operating system. Choose your operating system for details on installing FreeCAD.

'Windows' 'Linux' 'Mac'
Install on Windows Install on Linux/Unix Install on Mac

Installing additional contents

The offline documentation is not shipped with all installers, but it is available as a separate package; see Installing a helpfile.

Apart from the default workbenches bundled with FreeCAD, there is a growing collection of useful additional workbenches and modules made by community members available on the web. Several efforts are in progress to gather them and make them available to you in a convenient way. They are listed below.

Since these workbenches are not part of the official FreeCAD package and not supported by the core FreeCAD team, you should read the information provided with them, to make sure you know what you are installing. Bug reports and feature requests should be made directly to each addon developer.

The FreeCAD-addons repository

As of FreeCAD 0.17, the addons can be managed directly from the Tools menu, so there is no need to install the macro mentioned here.

This is a gathering of useful workbenches, using the git submodules system, which allows keeping constantly updated contents. The FreeCAD-addons repository can be found at https://github.com/FreeCAD/FreeCAD-addons. This repository features an installer macro that can be launched from inside FreeCAD that will list, download, and install any of the addons automatically.

With FreeCAD 0.16 and older versions, to install the installer macro:

  1. Right-click on addons_installer.FCMacro and choose Save as...
  2. Place the downloaded macro in your FreeCAD Macros folder. The FreeCAD Macros folder location is indicated in menu Macros -> Macros -> User macros location:

  1. Restart FreeCAD. The addons installer will now be listed in menu Macro -> Macros and can be launched by selecting it then clicking the Execute button:

The pluginloader addon

The plugin loader is a much more elaborate way to install and manage additional content for FreeCAD. Install it with the method above, or following the instructions on the pluginloader page.

Manual install

External workbenches, when they are fully programmed in Python (which is the majority) can be easily installed manually, simply by downloading them (clicking the Clone or download or Download ZIP buttons on GitHub), and placing them in your user's FreeCAD/Mod folder (or in the Macros folder if they are macros). Refer to the instructions on each addon page for complete information.

Notes for users with 32-bit system and FreeCAD 0.16.6706

After attempts to install, the additional workbenches may not be available. In this case

External software supported by FreeCAD

FreeCAD supports a whole lot of external software packages out of the box. This means, you just need to install the software and it will be automatically available, the next time you start it. There's no need to recompile it. This section aims to provide a list of all such software packages, together with some information of where it's used in FreeCAD and where you can grab them.

CAD Exchanger

A proprietary, closed source application for exchanging various file formats used in CAD. You can use it to convert proprietary, closed formats into a format which is accessible by FreeCAD. The homepage is at https://cadexchanger.com/ where you can download an evaluation version or purchase a license for the application.

CalculiX

CalculiX is a suite of two finite element packages:

  • CalculiX CrunchiX, or calculix-ccx, is a FEM solver.
  • CalculiX GraphiX, or calculix-cgx, is a GUI frontend to display the results of the solver.

Only the solver is supported by FreeCAD. It can be accessed from the FEM Workbench through Solve->Solver CalculiX. There's a standard and experimental solver supported by FreeCAD. CalculiX can be downloaded from http://calculix.de

DXF Importer

FreeCAD has a native importer and exporter for DXF files, programmed in C++. Currently this importer does not implement all features of the DXF format. If you rely on a not yet implemented feature, you enable an older python based importer/exporter through Edit->Preferences->Import-Export by activating the Use legacy python importer option. You can then choose to let FreeCAD automatically download the needed files or you can grab them from https://github.com/yorikvanhavre/Draft-dxf-importer. The chosen importer / exporter is used by selecting File->Import or File->Export and choosing the AutoDesk DXF 2D file format.

Elmer

Elmer is a multi-physics simulation software, which was open sourced in 2005. In FreeCAD its Grid and Solver modules can be used by the FEM Workbench through Solve->Solver Elmer. The project's homepage is at https://www.elmerfem.org and it can be downloaded from GitHub at https://github.com/ElmerCSC/elmerfem/releases.

FEniCS

FEniCS is a computing platform to solve partial differential equations (PDEs), which are widely used when solving FEM problems. As such it can be used by the FEM workbench. FreeCAD can import and export FEniCS meshes through File->Import and File->Export by selecting the FEM mesh fenics file format. The homepage of FEniCS is at https://fenicsproject.org.

GitPython

A python library which is used to interact with Git repositories. The feature is currently in development status in FreeCAD. The Addon Manager can use this library to import addons from a Git repository. The project is hosted on GitHub at https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython.

Gmsh

A 3D automatic finite element mesh generator. It can be used in FreeCAD from the FEM workbench through Mesh->FEM mesh from shape by gmsh. The homepage of gmsh is at http://www.geuz.org/gmsh

GraphViz

GraphViz is an open source graph visualization software. In FreeCAD it is used to generate dependency graphs through Tools->Dependency Graph... Its homepage is at https://www.graphviz.org

ifcOpenShell

IfcOpenShell is a library for working with the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) file format used in architectural design. It can be accessed from the Arch Workbench through Arch->Utilities->Ifc Explorer. It's homepage is at http://ifcopenshell.org

LuxCoreRender

LuxCoreRender, also known as LuxRender, is one of two currently supported render engines in FreeCAD. It is used through the workflow on the Raytracing Workbench. Currently only the old and abandoned LuxRender-1.x is supported by FreeCAD. If you want help to update to the new LuxCoreRender-2, get in touch with the Raytracing project team. Downloads for LuxRender-1.6 can be grabbed from the LuxCoreRender GitHub release page at https://github.com/LuxCoreRender/LuxCore/releases. The homepage for the current LuxCoreRender project is at https://www.luxcorerender.org.

ODA File Converter

The ODA file converter is a proprietary, closed source, binary and freely available application to import and export DWG and DXF file formats. In FreeCAD it can be used from the File->Import and File->Export menus, when you select the AutoDesk DWG 2D file type. It can be downloaded from https://www.opendesign.com/guestfiles/oda_file_converter.

OpenCAMLib

An open source library aiming to provide computer aided manufacturing (CAM) algorithms. It is used in FreeCAD in the Path Workbench. Its homepage is at http://www.anderswallin.net/CAM/.

OpenFOAM

A library for Field Operation and Manipulation (FOAM), which is needed by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. As such, OpenFOAM is needed by the FEM workbench of FreeCAD. You can access it through the Model->Fluid constraints submenu. The project resides at https://openfoam.org.

OpenSCAD

The Programmers Solid 3D CAD Modeller is another CAD software, based on Constructive Solid Geometry (CSG). This means, it can not handle meshes, but operates exclusively on solid geometry. FreeCAD can import and export files created from OpenSCAD through the File->Import and File->Export menus by the selecting the OpenSCAD CSG format or the OpenSCAD format file types. You can get OpenSCAD from https://www.openscad.org.

POVRay

POVRay is a well-known raytracer which can render photorealistic images. It is one of two raytracers currently supported by FreeCAD in the Raytracing Workbench. You can download POVRay from https://www.povray.org.

pycollada

Pycollada, also known as python-collada, is a Python library to read and write COLLADA documents, a standard for exchanging 3D scenes and elements. If it is installed you can import and export scenes to and from COLLADA files through the File->Import and File->Export commands by selecting the COLLADA file type. The project is hosted through GitHub at https://pycollada.github.io/ and you can download the releases at https://github.com/pycollada/pycollada/releases/

Z88

Z88 is another FEM program, containing a mesher, solver and converters, which can be used by FreeCAD's FEM workbench. It can be accessed through Solve-Solver Z88. Z88 distributes several packages, which all freely available, but are closed source. The Z88OS however, published under an open source license, is what is needed by FreeCAD. The homepage is at https://en.z88.de/. Z88OS is also hosted on GitHub at https://github.com/LSCAD/Z88OS if you want to compile it yourself.

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