
I'm Learning FreeCAD
thingiverse
I've only ever used Tinkercad, but wanted a program that isn't tied to the internet, so I found FreeCAD and started the lessons on YouTube. A few others are doing the same, and we're uploading our progress as we go along, allowing us access while out and about. These tutorials aren't for printing; they're just personal references. I began these tutorials using version 0.17 but got as far as lesson three before it started feeling like I was learning to work around it rather than with it. There must be ways to do it properly in the newest version, but that's not shown in these tutorials. Maybe there are more suitable ones out there, but I haven't found any explaining the changes. I just want to make stuff I can print without reading screen after screen of unfinished help pages. So, I downloaded V0.16 and it's been smooth sailing ever since. It works exactly as in the videos (no beeping or error sounds telling me a draft needs a "body" repeatedly with no explanation), and has taught me a lot about what's possible with this stuff. I'd like to have an isolated version of Tinkercad, but I've got an old copy of 123D Design that works for making/playing around with ideas; it has more features than online Tinkercad, but is slow and glitchy. I completed all 13 lessons using V0.16, and they make much more sense now that I have objects to make involving most major tools rather than having to approach it with random objects. Now, I can see how to make it do what I want or know where to look for help. I recommend watching the videos in an "always on top" minimized window so you can do it as you watch and thanks to the narration, you can go at your own pace. Lesson 01 - Turner's Cube - Done Lesson 02 - Wiffle Ball - Done Lesson 03 - Casino Dice - Done Lesson 04 - Bearing Bracket - Done Lesson 05 - Fork Bearing - Done Lesson 06 - Compression Spring - Done Lesson 07 - Propeller - Done Lesson 08 - Inner Threads - a) Plain Nut (No thread) - Done - b) Concentric Circles (Cosmetic thread) - Done - c) Helix (Actual thread) - Done Lesson 09 - Outer Threads - a) Plain Nut (No thread) - Done - b) Concentric Circles (Cosmetic thread) - Done - c) Helix (Actual thread) - Done Lesson 12 - Ball Bearing - a) Using Part Workbench (starts at 5m43s) - Done - b) Using Part Design Workbench (starts at 14m00s) - Done (as can be seen results look Identical) - c) Bonus Turner's Cube from Lesson 1 Re-done. (starts at 31m47s) - Done Lesson 13 - Draft Shapestring Tutorial - Done Currently, I'm adding all the stuff/videos and links to the comments section. I've added the links in the comments section to two sets of tutorials so far. If anyone else feels like doing the same, here are the links I got FreeCAD from: Latest Stable Software - V0.17 from freecadweb.org/ I'm now currently using - V0.16 from github.com/FreeCAD/FreeCAD/releases (v0.16.6712 64bit version) and I'm using Win10. Get the file and keep it as a backup because if/when you want to go back, that will be the time it'll be hard to get. My Conclusion So Far... I'm not saying FreeCAD is the best one but after doing it this way, I think it's been the easiest (using V0.16), figuring out shortcuts and extra tools to make things pretty (chamfers fillets thickness). I haven't really looked at Tinkercad since I started, and it is completely offline (major plus in my book), but without tutorials like these, I don't think I would have stuck with it. It's just a thought, but these same tutorials done the same way inclusive of changes and explanations for them made for V0.17 would increase newcomer numbers. These have at least saved me an hour trying to find out what I need to actually find help doing, followed by another hour finding out how to actually do it until then I'm sticking with V0.16
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