This post shows how to generate an SVG file for laser cutting using a FreeCAD 2D drawing. How To Generate An SVG File For Laser Cutting This post (coming soon) does a quick review of how to create a mechanical drawing using FreeCAD and how to print a really large drawing on multiple sheets of paper. How To Create And Print A Multi-D Drawing 1:1 scale) and then use Python to generate each scaled down version. The solution is to model the part full size (i.e. I need to print 3D parts in multiple scales but I only want to create one CAD drawing for each part.This requires the ability to turn a 2D drawing into an SVG file. Some parts for my kits will be laser cut and not 3D printed.An additional requirement is to print plans that are larger than a single sheet of paper on multiple pages in such a manner that you can tape them together.

This requires a 2D projection of the 3D part. I am creating plans for model kits and need full size drawings that show how to assemble the kit. This is why I am getting started with FreeCAD.

Why Use FreeCAD For 3D Printingĭespite being successful with Blender, I have a few requirements that really call for a 2D parametric CAD tool. I can’t imagine doing this in FreeCAD although to be fair I’m just getting started. This has a lot of curving shapes some of which needed final modifications to the mesh. This is a screenshot of a “Harp Switch Stand” I modeled in Blender. Blender allows me to “carve” realistic wood grain into a 3D board. I also like how you can switch between modeling geometric shapes and modeling the underlying mesh. I find I can create complex geometric shapes by combining basic shapes in Blender easily (after a long learning curve).

This includes lots of features not needed (shading, textures, animation) if all you want to do is 3D print.įor my purposes (designing model railroad components to be 3D printed) I have been using Blender. Blenderīlender – this CAD package is inherently 3D and intended primarily for creating 3D animations (think Disney animated movies). Professional diagrams like this can be created with very little effort. This is a 2D mechanical drawing generated by FreeCAD. FreeCAD also has the advantage of being entirely scriptable using Python. They are two different types of CAD packages: FreeCADįreeCAD – this is a “parametric” CAD package primarily intended for creating mechanical drawings in both 2D and 3D. Well, it depends on what you’re trying to accomplish.

2d drawing in freecad