🧩 Lesson: Getting Started with FreeCAD (Beginner Tutorials)

🎓 Software Focus: FreeCAD (Open-Source Parametric 3D CAD)

🧰 Use Case: Functional design, mechanical parts, parametric modeling

✅ Summary

FreeCAD is a free, open-source, parametric 3D modeler ideal for engineers, makers, and hobbyists. This lesson includes step-by-step beginner tutorials to help students get started with basic modeling tasks and prepare their designs for 3D printing.

🎯 Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, learners will be able to:

  • Navigate the FreeCAD interface

  • Use basic tools in the Part Design and Sketcher workbenches

  • Create and modify parametric models

  • Export printable files in STL format

  • Design a basic mechanical part using constraints and extrusions

📘 Lesson Content

🧰 1. Installing and Setting Up FreeCAD

Step-by-Step:

  1. Go to https://www.freecad.org

  2. Download the latest stable release for your OS

  3. Install and open the software

  4. Set the Start Workbench to Part Design or Sketcher for faster modeling access

🖥️ 2. User Interface Overview

When FreeCAD launches:

  • Combo View (left): shows your project tree and tool panels

  • 3D View (center): where you model

  • Workbench Selector (top): switch between Sketcher, Part Design, Draft, etc.

  • Task Panel: for setting options when tools are selected

📌 Tip: Start with the Part Design and Sketcher workbenches only until you’re more advanced.

✍️ 3. Tutorial 1 – Creating a Basic Block

Goal: Create a simple box with a hole

Steps:

  1. Create a New Project (File > New)

  2. Switch to the Part Design workbench

  3. Click Create New Body > Create New Sketch

  4. Choose the XY plane

  5. Draw a rectangle using the rectangle tool

  6. Apply constraints:

    • Select a side, click Length to define it (e.g., 40 mm)

    • Do the same for the other side (e.g., 20 mm)

  7. Click Close to exit Sketch

  8. Use Pad to extrude the rectangle into a box (e.g., 10 mm height)

  9. Select the top face > Create Sketch > Draw a circle

  10. Add diameter constraint (e.g., 8 mm) > Pad with “Through All” to create a hole

✅ Result: A printable block with a centered hole

🛠️ 4. Tutorial 2 – Parametric Phone Stand

Goal: Create a customizable phone stand using parametric values

Concepts Covered:

  • Constraints

  • Angled sketching

  • Mirror and symmetry

  • Chamfer/Fillet features

🧪 This project teaches how to update dimensions later by changing a parameter in the spreadsheet or constraint.

✅ Bonus: Encourage students to export this design for real-world testing.

📦 5. Exporting for 3D Printing

Once your part is ready:

  1. Click on the Body in the tree

  2. Go to File > Export

  3. Choose STL Mesh (*.stl)

  4. Save and open in your slicer (Cura, PrusaSlicer, etc.)

⚠️ Ensure you’re exporting the Body and not just the Sketch or Part container.

📂 Additional Resources

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