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It's #FreeCADFriday! Show us what you're working on this week in #FreeCAD #opensource #CAD #CAM #BIM
Mar 28 at 7:52amWeb
Show threadMichael K JohnsonMar 28

@FreeCAD This week, I released the first beta version of my parametric 3D-printed morse code key. It is a set consisting of a key plus various kinds of mounting or holding arrangements. Screwed down to a desk or block, strapped to your leg, or held in your other hand.

Almost everything about it is parameterized with VarSets for ease of customization, and I wrote a macro to export STEP and STL variants with different built-in 3d-printed springs from light to heavy tension, different lengths of sliding covers, different heights above your leg for the leg mount, and more.

Designed in local builds of FreeCAD 1.1 dev running on Fedora 41. Licensed liberally CC-SA to let others modify and share their modifications.

#FreeCADFriday

Michael K Johnson / Single-Paddle-Key · GitLab

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Show threadThalassMar 28
@mcdanlj
Perfect timing! I'm about to start studying for my ham licence!
@FreeCAD
Show threadMichael K JohnsonMar 28

@Thalass @FreeCAD Oh awesome! I got my license last fall only because at least in the US, morse code ("CW") is no longer required. I wasn't going to touch it at all.

A few weeks later I started studying at LCWO and now it's a lot of what I actually want to do with ham radio. I'm not good yet — I still freeze up, and can't copy reliably yet, but I'm starting to use CW on the air and it's been a fun journey.

If you want to see more of the development history for this key, see this thread.

73 (best regards) de (from) KZ4LY!

Show threadThalassMar 28
@mcdanlj
Nice! I don't think it's a requirement in Canada either, but I want to give it a go. Hopefully in a couple of months I'll see you on the air!
Show threadIvo BlöchligerMar 28
@FreeCAD heute einen Kurs über #freecad im Tech-lab gehalten. Gibt dazu Video Tutorials für verschiedene 3D Objekte, erst mal auf deutsch:
https://fginfo.ksbg.ch/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=techlab:cad-kurs
(I just gave a FreeCAD course at my school's maker space. There are video tutorials for different 3d printed objects, in German)
techlab:cad-kurs [https://fginfo.ksbg.ch Fachgruppe Informatik der KSBG]

Show threadmorganMar 29

@FreeCAD This #FreeCADFriday been a while in the making (and patiently waiting for #KiCAD 9).

KiConnect uses the KiCAD 9 API to import boards, copper layers and footprints into #FreeCAD and eventually bi-directional control.

A ton of feature already being worked on or to be ported from test Macros.

https://git.oit.cloud/morgan/kiconnect

Show threadmorganMar 29
whoops, that repo was set to private. fixed!
Show threadGarrett MaceMar 29
@morgan @FreeCAD This is hot AF. Truly important work right now
Show threadmorganMar 29
@macegr @FreeCAD thanks! I'm super happy I was able to get past some of the roadblocks that doomed prior attempts at this. Lots of additions in the works
Show threadFreeCADMar 30
@morgan this is awesome and interestingly was discussed a fair bit as a concept around FOSDEM. Utterly ace Morgan. /jo
Show threadmorganMar 30
@FreeCAD It had come up quite a bit at the @opentoolchain hackathon ~2 years ago, which kicked off some of my early attempts, thankfully now I understand WB design much better and have a great development workflow down.