Introduction to FreeCAD - bring your own project

Want to learn FreeCAD and need some help getting started on a project you have in mind? Join our introduction to FreeCAD where we learn relevant basics for getting started and work together to get everyone started on their own projects. This class will be a mixture of lecture/demo instruction, and personalized instruction tailored to the interests of the attendees.

In this class we will cover the following topics:

• What version and flavor of FreeCAD to use
• What workbench to start with, and what each one is for
• Useful extensions and add-on workbenches
• Design best practices and order of operations
• Making a sketch
• Making a 3d part
• Making multiple bodies and parts
• Fixing broken geometry
• Fixing geometry references
• Preparing a model for 3d printing
• intro to assemblies (time permitting)

Attendees are encouraged to bring ideas for projects they would like to get started on in FreeCAD. This can be just an idea, a napkin drawing, or a model created in a different CAD software. Because of the time constraints it would be best if these are relatively small, but if you have something in mind for a big project or assembly that's fine too, we just may not have enough time to get into it.

If you can't think of anything you want to make, or are just more interested in learning the software that's no problem, I will be using a sample model during instruction which anyone can follow along with.

Required equipment:

• A laptop capable of running FreeCAD. Can be Linux, Windows, or MacOS. Don't forget the power supply!
• There are no officially published system requirements but it tends to be pretty forgiving. If you aren't sure about specs please send me a message. You can try it out by downloading it here https://www.freecad.org/downloads.php
• If you don't have a laptop but still would like to join, please contact me and I will see if I can provide something for you to use during the class.
• A mouse, which is pretty much essential for CAD.

Location:
We will be in the main classroom space of Solid State Depot right inside the front door. Ring the bell to have someone let you in.