I post this in every FreeCAD thread: If you're going to start designing something with it, use the spreadsheet tool to make everything parametric. You'll save yourself a ton of time as your designs get more complicated.
Maybe this isn't anything new to experience CAD users. I don't know if other CAD tools do this as I started using FreeCAD after playing with 3D printing.
You can also use VarSet[0], which I think is easier than spreadsheet since you don't have to switch the workbench.
Recently one of the magnet holders for my window shutters broke, and I thought I'd take a crack at designing a replacement to 3D Print. I'd never designed anything in CAD software before, so I had no real reference.
I found FreeCAD extremely easy to use and intuitive. I watched a couple videos and followed-along with the tutorials, then started on my own item. It's a relatively simple 3-part component. I took measurements with digital calipers, and in a few hours was printing the first prototype.
A couple prototypes later (small measurement adjustments to account for plastic shrinkage, etc), I had the final model. Replaced all of the magnet holders since they were sure to go soon, too.
I had fun, and finally used my 3D printer for something "real". Pretty cool.
Learning to design parts was a huge "unlock" for me.
Wasn't just printing other people's designs.
Great feeling to measure and design something then have it fit perfectly.
I just saw a great video on how to replicate parts for printing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcMvTfUfNXo
Previously I'd get my calipers first and try to model using the direct measurements. The key point imo of the video was to take photos and model based on the photos, and then correct the measurements with your recorded measurements second.
That is the spirit! A friend recommended me to buy a Bambu P2S: there are parts I want to print and I don't want to model then send them to have them printed, nor to bother my friend all the time. Funnily enough I've got magnets falling too: for an alarm system on the doors/windows and they don't hold well anymore after the years. Then my car's radar detection device (fully legal) doesn't fit nicely in the phone holder I use to that effect: I want it a specific angle (I want it both inclined and facing towards me a bit). So I'll model those and just print them. There are a few things like that where I keep thinking: "If I had a 3D printer, I'd just print a part".
Most importantly: I've got a 11 y/o and I think it's cool for the kid to see how it works.
Already watch a few vids. Doesn't look too hard for simple things.
I had a hard time but I didn’t start with the tutorial first.
But once I saw their “philosophy” as it were, everything became so much easier.
for incredibly simple parts that i can describe using measurements, i've had a lot of fun pointing a high-power ai at openscad and letting it iterate through making the design for me
it's still tough to turn it into something i can then keep fiddling with in freecad though
put on "tron: legacy" in the background to fully appreciate the model designing something that will be 3d-printed :)
In coming time you can see freecad massively improving.
This space lacks good opensource solution.
I have tried creating my parts, tried tinkercad (which is simple but limited)
Tried fusion. And pretty much other things don't support mac.
I've a hunch lots of vibe coders are going to come and launch stuff like freecad and Gimp (which I never liked, can't even get simple tasks done in gimp)
Future is bright for opensource powered by LLM coding on steroids.
sho_hn
