Main HOWTO: ceremcem/freecad-notes

Description

Example project to demonstrate cutting socket windows. Usage scenario:

• [x] You have a circuit with connectors on it.
• [x] Create an enclosure (panel) for that circuit, arrange the placement with assembly container.
• [x] Cut the connector windows
• [x] Relocate circuit inside enclosure, expect the connector window cuts are relocated accordingly.
• [x] Place additional circuits inside the enclosure
• [x] Create additional window cuts without breaking previous work.
• [x] Refine the window cuts without breaking any previous work.

Status

Practically usable.

Short Instructions

Sheet metal doesn't work with cut parts, so you have to use PartDesign to create the base and create the windows with "Pocket" operations.

1. Create your panel (draw the base, bend, etc.)
2. Make sure that your panel is marked as "Active Body".
3. Select the "Cut" solid within your socket.
4. Create a subshape binder.
5. Create a new sketch inside the Active Body.
6. Create External Geometry Constraints.
7. Draw the cut shape by using the constraints in the previous step.
8. Create pocket.
9. Unfold the body.

Detailed Instructions

Original Tutorial is here

Workflow

You'll need two files:

1. Create a file that holds the enclosure and the electronic part.
2. Create a separate file for the electronics part which holds the circuit and the other components (including cutters) that should be interpreted as a group.

Steps

1. Electronics Part

1. Import the circuit or draw from scratch if it doesn't exist yet. A RaspberryPi will be used in this example.

2. Draw the cutters

   1. Create a Part
   2. Create Binder(s) for socket(s)
   3. Create cutter shapes with Part Workbench

   

2. Enclosure

1. Create a link to the electronics part

2. Draw the panel using PartDesign Workbench

3. Cut the panel with cutter

1. Create a Binder for the cutter
2. Use "Cut" command in the Part Workbench to cut the front-panel with cutter

4. Refine the cutter shape

1. Double-click the Sketch under the cutter
2. Refine as you like

5. Add more cutters in time

1. Add a new component, place accordingly.
2. Create a binder for the new component, move into the front-cutter
3. Edit the Sketch under the cutter extrude
4. All done, go to enclosure, refresh the view

Attachments

asm3-cut-window-example-20180909T2231.zip