FreeCAD Frame Workbench

A frame-module for FreeCAD

Requirements

FreeCAD >= v0.16
scipy v?? <----

Installation

Automatic Installation

As of v0.17 it's possible to use the built-in FreeCAD Addon Manager to install this workbench.

Manual Installation

cd ~/.freecad/Mod || mkdir ~/.freecad/Mod && cd ~/.freecad/Mod
git clone https://github.com/looooo/freecad_frame.git
restart FreeCAD

Usage

Create a Beam

Create new document
Create profile. Possible sources for profile:
- Sketch
- Draw a sketch.
- Go to Part WB.
- Select profile.
- Create Face from profile.
- "Profile" command in Arch WB allows to insert some predefined profiles like RHS.
The profile should be in XY-plane (this is current limitation).
Create a path to make beam. The path can be:
- Straight lines from any sketch.
- Straight lines from Draw WB.
Curves can't be used as path for beams.
Go to Frame and beams WB.
- Select "Beam" command
- Select profile.
- Select path.
- Enter extents if beams should be longer than path.
- Enter rotation for profile to turn beam around its path.
- Press "Create".
- Select another path or profile to create more beams or press "Close" to finish command.

Miter cut two beams

Select "Miter Cut" command from Frame and beam WB
Select first beam.
Select second beam which intesects the first beam.
Press "Cut".
To cut another beams select them and press "Cut" or press "Close" to finish command.

If one or two beams are selected when "Miter Cut" command activated they will be preselected as "Beam 1" and "Beam 2". To cut them press "Cut" button.

Plane Cut

Select "Plane Cut" command from Frame and beam WB
Select first beam.
Select face of another beam which intersects the first beam.
Press "Cut".
To cut another beams select them and press "Cut" or press "Close" to finish command.

If beam and beam face (in that order) are selected when "Plane Cut" command activated they will be preselected as "Beam to cut" and "Cut with". To cut them press "Cut" button.

Shape Cut

Select "Shape Cut" command from Frame and beam WB
Select first beam.
Select second beam which intesects the first beam.
Press "Cut".
To cut another beams select them and press "Cut" or press "Close" to finish command.

If one or two beams are selected when "Shape Cut" command activated they will be preselected as "Beam 1" and "Beam 2". To cut them press "Cut" button.

Example

Gate leaf creation.

Prerequisites:

Made from hollow profile with rounded corners with size 40x20mm and thickness 2mm.
Internal height between top and bottom bars is 1500mm.
Horizontal size 1700mm.
Middle bars added to have decorations inside between top and middle bar and bottom and middle bar (not shown due to lack of object). Height of decorations is 155mm.
Diagonal supports added.

Create profile.
1. Create a new sketch in XY plane.
2. Repeat drawing from picture above. Outer rounding radius is 3mm and inner rounding radius is 2mm.
3. Close sketch.
4. Select Part Workbench and convert sketch to face ("Make face from wires" command).
Create sketch for beam axes. Since this is gate leaf the sketch should be created, for example, in XZ plane.

This will require a little bit more work because some measurements give outer sizes, some give inner and no one give axes. The diagonal supports are drawn according to other beams. To achieve correct lines construction geometry should be used for everything that is not beam in final design like outer edge of gate.
Create outer beams. Since they should fully intersect the "Extent 1" and "Extent 2" should have value 20mm at least. Please don't enter very big values because some extra parts can be left after cutting.
Create inner beams. They axes long enough to get full intersection with other beams so the extents can be left as is.
Miter cut outer beams.

Please note that every cut operation creates a new beam so if beam needs to be cut twice it should be reselected after the first cut. Removing cut beam can break other cut beams if it is used in the other beam cut operation.
Plane cut inner beams by outer beams inner planes. Plane cut diagonals.
Select TechDraw Workbench
1. Insert page from template and select A4 Portrait template.
2. Go to the 3D view and select "Front View" to see front side. The TechDraw inserts view in current active projection.
3. Select Main Diagonal.
4. Go to the inserted page and press "Insert view". The page will contain huge page placed as viewed.
5. Select view in tree and set scale to 0.1. This makes beam completely inside drawing.
6. The TechDraw don't allow to simple rotations like "make this line vertical" so view should be rotated by -55.582° (measured as angle between vertical border and angled one). This make beam straight vertical on drawing.
7. Add dimensions to overall length and how to cut corners.
Repeat steps above for every unique beam. Fill fields below as needed. This gives the set of drawing suitable to create all parts of gate leaf.

To have drawing with guide to assemble it full view (with all part selected) should be inserted on a new page. Welding annotations will describe how to join parts.