Any reason for not using the circular edge constraint? Seems like it would have reduced the number of needed constraints to 1/2 Edit: Oh and thanks for making me aware of a2+ (thought that assembly 2 was still the only option available)
No, no reason. I just wanted to demo the workbench and let people know it was out there. You are right the circular edge would get rid of the need for the planar, so that would be a better choice.
There is a new version of A2plus out now. The constraint buttons in the toolbar are deactivated at first look. If you select geometry which you want to use for constraining, the appropiate constraint buttons get activated. If you want to know, which geometry is to select in which order, you can read the tooltips of each constraint button.
Thank! More freecad videos please, especially 0.18! When making a reassambly, what freecad uses? cpu or gpu? What do we need, to run fast? Fast one thread or multi-thread?
6 лет назад+1
Workbench is young unoptimised Python code ATM, so I guess it's using CPU and a single thread... But hope I'm wrong 🙂 Anyway, splitting big projects in sub-assemblies is always an option to consider unless impossible
I did some research, and found out, freecad not really using multi-tread. fem maybe, i will test later. I have an old workstation, with dual xeon 5550, 16 thread max. :D
6 лет назад
@@VladiFx this should answer your question, at least for calculix forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?t=11567
@@mathcodeprint Even a2+ was not thereon addon manager of 0.18.4 version. In fact except for 3D printingtools, no other addOns were there. I tried on forum. Lot of people had same problem but no solution. I loaded 0.19 and every add ons are there. Now my problem is for every contriants, it gives error message.
i keep getting "The highlighted parts where not moved. They are not constrained (also over constraint chains) to a fixed part!" for every constraint. Any idea whats going on? just have to simple copy parts
You have to fix one part via property. Happens automatically on import of the frist part but not when you try to assemble existing parts within a file.
Thank you for posting. You need to slow down little bit. When ever you choose any tool, explain about it. That will help more to beginner. Please not that beginners only sees these video.
can you make all the parts off one master drawing file? so that if you need to change anything, you only have to update one file and all parts will update with it? And parts might come in at the right location too. Thanks
At the point i made this video, you had to bring the parts in ( at least as far as I could discern ) using import part. They could be updated. You could not have them in the same file, the assembly tool wouldn't let you pick a body or part in the same document. That may have changed.
@@mathcodeprint Thanks. what I meant and wished is, all the parts are constructed off referencing the one drawing file. They are still separate parts and files. But if you update that drawing / master file, all the parts and assembly files will be updated. Inventor has this workflow. Just wondering if FreeCAD followed.
@@motojc Not quite sure if you can do that. I get what you mean now. For example you have a master with measurements and that drives the parts. FreeCAD does have "parametric" capability like that withing the document but I am not sure of between documents. It would be a good feature tho
@@mathcodeprint It's like a diamond shaped structure: on top you have one master drawing file. In the middle you have multiple part files. At the bottom it's the assembly file. That's what Inventor has and quite handy for small revisions (dimensional change). For anything you need to delete a line or geometry things fall apart pretty fast. Still a nice feature to have.
hi there, does any can tell me why I can't select two faces of different pieces to assembley with plane constraint? I can do with plane and edge or edge-edge but not face-face with any addon (a2plus or part design), thanks in advace
Sorry for the long delay in answer. You should be able to select two planes. I am going to guess there is some other error in your model. Try the operation with just two cubes and see if it works.
wonderful video, thank you. i'm new to freecad: how do i get the navigation cube you have? i googled a bit and all i see are people either using it or talking about it, but not how to get it. i have 0.17 on windows 10, freshly installed today
@@777Raim , sorry if I didn't see this post. I hope you found the answer. RUclips is terrible with notifying about comments. I somehow remember replying but I dont see anything here. The nav cube is native toe version 0.18 at this point.
Yes, However, the assembly tool uses the named edges,faces, or vertices. So if a part that exists in the assembly is edited those names change and the assembly may fail. Some changes don't effect the names.
Thanks for the video! I'm trying to get an assembly extension, what is your recommendation between A2+, Assembly2 and Exploded Assembly? I see 3 options in Addon manager. Thank you.
If you want VERY simple Animations of a VERY simple assemble then use Assembly 2, it struggles after a small number of constraints. Struggles with complex assemblies. If you want good assembly but no animation then A2+ is the way to go. Handles complex assembly constraints Exploded Assembly is just for animating how to assemble an object. So install that along side one of the first two.
Is A2+ included in the recent 0.18 development builds? It'll be nice when, someday, it is just called "Assembly" instead of Assembly2, Assembly3, Assembly2+, etc!
It is included in the Add-Ons, so you have to "install". I try to stay away from stuff that requires more than a few clicks to install, I am lazy. From what I understand Assembly 3 is the more official version as it is in the source code ( but I could be wrong ). I am pretty certain that at this point one of the two A2+ or A3 will become the standard and end up included in the install.
Take a look at instructions to the left. Also this video is almost a year old now there are likely some improvements in the workbench. I''l try to take a look. You might be able to get more specific help by posting your model to the forum at freecadweb.org
I have run into that as well. My best guess is that there is an error with the solver. I got around it , unfortunately, by starting over with a fresh assembly. Hopefully there is a better answer.
Thanks Klaus, I see now when the part is imported into A2plus it has a section in its data tab under 'import part' section that has 'fixed position' true/false. The part has to be imported using the import button though, if you copy/paste into the assembly, or from say the fastener workbench, it doesn't have that property
@@klausbraun234 If I remember right, Solidworks won't even allow you to start constraining until you select a fixed part, and it would complain about it if you tried.
Hey, I thought I replied to this but I don't see it here, so maybe I didn't submit. It has a custom internal solver ( not solvespace ) you can list the dof, but that seems to be it for now. It is a young project, but very cool so far, so I thought I would demo it.
good day and thanks for the video One question: how to save the assy file because one I close it I can't open again (I work with linux version 0.17), thanks in advance someone can help me
The assembly should save like a regular FreeCAD document. When you click the save icon ( or select file->save ) are there any errors in the report panel?
@@mathcodeprint thanks for your time and help @mathcodeprint I haven't an error in my file, I can save as FreeCAD document but doesn't open after closing it, so I solved saving with part or part design workbench, it's the only way I can but not saving since a2plus
thanks, @@mathcodeprint where did you happen to post them? I will try to follow along with your tutorial. I sidelined my work in freeCAD at v0.14 because I couldn't get asesmbly working, and then i saw your assembly video so I tried to give it another shot.
I added a link in the description. For now it is just .step files. But you can use step files with a2+ with all the assembly constraints. I haven't figure out where and how I am going to release the .fcstd,They will be free and open I just need to maximize the impact to help grow the channel.
Any reason for not using the circular edge constraint?
Seems like it would have reduced the number of needed constraints to 1/2
Edit: Oh and thanks for making me aware of a2+ (thought that assembly 2 was still the only option available)
No, no reason. I just wanted to demo the workbench and let people know it was out there. You are right the circular edge would get rid of the need for the planar, so that would be a better choice.
FreeCAD is improving on a daily basis, and it will undoubtedly be the market leader in a few years.
Just switched 1month ago from another major-CAD... and confirm. FreeCAD is a gamechanger! First time i ->feel
They are using same strategy as Blender...
A quality assembly workbench was the only thing FreeCAD needed in order to compete with commercial CAD packages, and now it has arrived!
Fantastic tutorial! It will be great to have tutorials in FreeCad where you could show designing movable mechanical systems.
finally someone explaining the functions.
OK seems like it's time to prepare for the transition. Was monitoring/waiting v0.2 release but you teased me 😉
Just what I was looking for. Thanks
Good work Thanks
There is a new version of A2plus out now. The constraint buttons in the toolbar are deactivated at first look. If you select geometry which you want to use for constraining, the appropiate constraint buttons get activated.
If you want to know, which geometry is to select in which order, you can read the tooltips of each constraint button.
Thanks, I'll take a look.
Thank! More freecad videos please, especially 0.18! When making a reassambly, what freecad uses? cpu or gpu? What do we need, to run fast? Fast one thread or multi-thread?
Workbench is young unoptimised Python code ATM, so I guess it's using CPU and a single thread... But hope I'm wrong 🙂
Anyway, splitting big projects in sub-assemblies is always an option to consider unless impossible
I did some research, and found out, freecad not really using multi-tread. fem maybe, i will test later. I have an old workstation, with dual xeon 5550, 16 thread max. :D
@@VladiFx this should answer your question, at least for calculix
forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?t=11567
I am not able to import part drawing from other files. I am using FreeCAD Version 0.18 + Assembly 2.
Please help.
Assembly 2, is a complete different workbench than a2+, it is not an earlier version of the same workbench.
@@mathcodeprint Even a2+ was not thereon addon manager of 0.18.4 version. In fact except for 3D printingtools, no other addOns were there.
I tried on forum. Lot of people had same problem but no solution.
I loaded 0.19 and every add ons are there.
Now my problem is for every contriants, it gives error message.
i keep getting "The highlighted parts where not moved. They are
not constrained (also over constraint chains)
to a fixed part!" for every constraint. Any idea whats going on? just have to simple copy parts
You have to fix one part via property. Happens automatically on import of the frist part but not when you try to assemble existing parts within a file.
"Import Part To Assembly" would be a good thing to call it. A part icon with an arrow would be a good icon.
That does sound pretty good. It's the simple things that make the difference.
I'm am hoping to forward your idea to the correct person.
do you mind sharing your FreeCAD parts?
Thank you for posting.
You need to slow down little bit. When ever you choose any tool, explain about it. That will help more to beginner.
Please not that beginners only sees these video.
Agreed, thanks .
Thank you.
can you make all the parts off one master drawing file? so that if you need to change anything, you only have to update one file and all parts will update with it? And parts might come in at the right location too. Thanks
At the point i made this video, you had to bring the parts in ( at least as far as I could discern ) using import part. They could be updated. You could not have them in the same file, the assembly tool wouldn't let you pick a body or part in the same document. That may have changed.
@@mathcodeprint Thanks. what I meant and wished is, all the parts are constructed off referencing the one drawing file. They are still separate parts and files. But if you update that drawing / master file, all the parts and assembly files will be updated. Inventor has this workflow. Just wondering if FreeCAD followed.
@@motojc Not quite sure if you can do that. I get what you mean now. For example you have a master with measurements and that drives the parts. FreeCAD does have "parametric" capability like that withing the document but I am not sure of between documents. It would be a good feature tho
@@mathcodeprint It's like a diamond shaped structure: on top you have one master drawing file. In the middle you have multiple part files. At the bottom it's the assembly file. That's what Inventor has and quite handy for small revisions (dimensional change). For anything you need to delete a line or geometry things fall apart pretty fast. Still a nice feature to have.
Will there be an assembly explode animate and assembly constraint animate module? those would be awesome.
hi there, does any can tell me why I can't select two faces of different pieces to assembley with plane constraint? I can do with plane and edge or edge-edge but not face-face with any addon (a2plus or part design), thanks in advace
Sorry for the long delay in answer. You should be able to select two planes. I am going to guess there is some other error in your model. Try the operation with just two cubes and see if it works.
wonderful video, thank you. i'm new to freecad: how do i get the navigation cube you have? i googled a bit and all i see are people either using it or talking about it, but not how to get it. i have 0.17 on windows 10, freshly installed today
To use the navicube, you have to have .18 , it's referred to as the daily build.
I have a question: what kind of extension for navigating by views like in the Autodesk inventor? Thanks
@@mathcodeprint Thanks for quick answer. I searched in Google and found this info. I'll search daily package in AUR.
Did you find out how to get the navigation globe? Thanks
@@777Raim , sorry if I didn't see this post. I hope you found the answer. RUclips is terrible with notifying about comments. I somehow remember replying but I dont see anything here. The nav cube is native toe version 0.18 at this point.
If you have 1/2 the parts made can you begin the assembly before all the parts are drawn and continue the assembly process as parts are made?
Yes, However, the assembly tool uses the named edges,faces, or vertices. So if a part that exists in the assembly is edited those names change and the assembly may fail. Some changes don't effect the names.
mathcodeprint thank you very much.
Thanks for the video! I'm trying to get an assembly extension, what is your recommendation between A2+, Assembly2 and Exploded Assembly? I see 3 options in Addon manager. Thank you.
If you want VERY simple Animations of a VERY simple assemble then use Assembly 2, it struggles after a small number of constraints. Struggles with complex assemblies.
If you want good assembly but no animation then A2+ is the way to go. Handles complex assembly constraints
Exploded Assembly is just for animating how to assemble an object. So install that along side one of the first two.
@@mathcodeprint Thank you very much! A2+ it is:)
Is A2+ included in the recent 0.18 development builds? It'll be nice when, someday, it is just called "Assembly" instead of Assembly2, Assembly3, Assembly2+, etc!
It is included in the Add-Ons, so you have to "install". I try to stay away from stuff that requires more than a few clicks to install, I am lazy. From what I understand Assembly 3 is the more official version as it is in the source code ( but I could be wrong ). I am pretty certain that at this point one of the two A2+ or A3 will become the standard and end up included in the install.
You clicking the button and then clicking the surfaces. in my "a2+" workbench All "constraint" buttons just inactive
=\
Take a look at instructions to the left. Also this video is almost a year old now there are likely some improvements in the workbench. I''l try to take a look. You might be able to get more specific help by posting your model to the forum at freecadweb.org
Very interesting! Thanks! Btw does it just work with parts or can you use bodies as well?
@@mathcodeprint Oh I see, thanks! Will absolutely check this wb out.
Weird, I cannot get my parts to move when I add a constraint! Solve is on auto but it just wont budge!
I have run into that as well. My best guess is that there is an error with the solver. I got around it , unfortunately, by starting over with a fresh assembly. Hopefully there is a better answer.
Please start constraining with a fixed part and a second other one. If there is no fixed part in the constraint chain nothing will happen
Thanks klaus
Thanks Klaus, I see now when the part is imported into A2plus it has a section in its data tab under 'import part' section that has 'fixed position' true/false.
The part has to be imported using the import button though, if you copy/paste into the assembly, or from say the fastener workbench, it doesn't have that property
@@klausbraun234 If I remember right, Solidworks won't even allow you to start constraining until you select a fixed part, and it would complain about it if you tried.
All my constraints are greyed-out
doesn't work here, got the error of overconstraint, even there is no single constraint in the file.
probably a bug. better wait for a update.
As always great tutorial Paul. There is one thing I don't get. How do you keep track of the degrees of freedom in the a2+ Workbench?
Hey, I thought I replied to this but I don't see it here, so maybe I didn't submit. It has a custom internal solver ( not solvespace ) you can list the dof, but that seems to be it for now. It is a young project, but very cool so far, so I thought I would demo it.
good day and thanks for the video
One question: how to save the assy file because one I close it I can't open again (I work with linux version 0.17), thanks in advance someone can help me
The assembly should save like a regular FreeCAD document. When you click the save icon ( or select file->save ) are there any errors in the report panel?
@@mathcodeprint thanks for your time and help @mathcodeprint
I haven't an error in my file, I can save as FreeCAD document but doesn't open after closing it, so I solved saving with part or part design workbench, it's the only way I can but not saving since a2plus
will you share the part files =)
Sure. I'll post em later on today. I haven't got it working well yet so I was a little hesitant.
thanks, @@mathcodeprint where did you happen to post them? I will try to follow along with your tutorial. I sidelined my work in freeCAD at v0.14 because I couldn't get asesmbly working, and then i saw your assembly video so I tried to give it another shot.
I added a link in the description. For now it is just .step files. But you can use step files with a2+ with all the assembly constraints. I haven't figure out where and how I am going to release the .fcstd,They will be free and open I just need to maximize the impact to help grow the channel.
I followed the same path I tried freecad very early on, like version 12 or something. It was beyond me at the time. Things change drastically with 17