FreeCAD Learn the Basics of Tech Draw Workbench in 15 minutes. Technical Drawing Beginners Tutorial

Using a basic FreeCAD example we learn how to add views from different angles, add section views, add dimensions such as width, height, distance and radius, add shading, change font and point size, scale, rotate, navigate, export and change the default template / page layout. This tutorial should help you get up and running in tech draw workbench in under 15 minutes.

#FreeCAD , #CAD , #3DPrinting
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[ronjones]

One of the best tutorials I have ever seen. Very helpful, to the point and not a lot of fancy things, just to basics. You were teaching us something, anc not showing off with how much you know. Great video, thak you.

[cheesedoff-with]

Yes, I realise I've spent all my time with FreeCAD 3D modelling.
I've so far avoided, or rather got by without a drawingsheet and title block.
You've made it possible to start churning out drawings.
Thanks

[Allegedlyright]

Haha that’s the way to do it nice to watch a master at work 10/10

[abdelkaderkaouane]

Both of you re amazing, You and FreeCad.

[gregwoolley]

Another really well made tutorial. Imparting a lot of information very quickly and clearly. Much thanks!

[Drew_pew_pew_pew]

May have missed it but it's important to add that if you use dimensions, the ones shown are projected. To get the actual dimensions you have to link them with the 3d geometry

[sana]

many thanks, this very useful for engineering

[therealkinghimself]

Thank you again for doing these videos

[MarkFraserWeather]

The other way of creating multiple views is to use the "insert projection group". This allows you to add multiple views in one go in either 1st or 3rd angle projection.

[glc.]

in FreeCAD 0.21.2 in order to change scale of the view you need to change Scale type from Page to Custom, if you don't it won't let you change the scale.

[johncpescod]

Your FreeCAD videos are so good. You are one of a rare breed who manage to get the message across well. After originally downloading FreeCad several years ago but getting nowhere fast, I've downloaded the most recent 0.2 version. Your videos really make the difference. However my main interest in FreeCAD is to be able to help my daughter and her husband who are architects. Your Tech Draw workbench is a good start, but I would really like to see videos using the Arch and BIM workbenches. The few that do exist for architects date from several years ago and most are really not good at all.
Would you consider making some videos showing how FreeCAD can be used for building design, presentations and drawings for the builders? Top on my list would be have a fully parameteric model with such things as composite walls, and being able to put in doors and windows and producing the sections for the builders.

[picflight]

Is there a video for the house floor, walls and roof?
Should a house be drawn as a part or using the ARCH work bench to ultimately be used for permits and construction.

[shriff]

Very good tutorial! The issue I'm having is the 2nd and 3rd images I insert. The lines are thinner than the first one and look more greyed out. Any suggestions?

[davidbolliger]

Thank you for your time with these. I'm following along with a simple design and when I select "insert view" (timestamp 3:31) all that shows up on the drawing page is a green dotted outlined word "View". I've looked for some refresh or update way and not familiar with FC enough to know where things are. This is very reproducable. Any guidance would be appreciated.

[Appregator]

Anyone else struggling to get an "Insert View" showing the object selected drawing. This was my experience, but somewhat solved it with Scale.

I really struggled with scale as my drawings just did not appear at all on the View A4 page window. Just a flash of colours from my drawing.

The Solution I found was to set the Scale to Auto in the *preferences* . I deleted all previous Views I had inserted and then after selecting ALL of my drawing I pressed the Insert View button and it worked fine. Then in the parameters window for the View i see the Auto had scaled my drawing to 0.01 (No wonder I couldn't see it at the default of "Page" set at 1.0 )

I could then go to the properties "View" window and change auto to custom then edit this "0.01" scale in the properties window, . Set it to 0.02 and hit refresh. It worked. But set it back to Auto and was happy with the 0.01 scale.

I suppose one could select Custom but then it is a mission to find the scale.

I found that if I re-selected Page (seems to be the default on my 0.21 FreeCAD version) with its scale set at 1 in the preferences, then the drawing is enormous (in my case) and when I hit Insert View, then when I go to the properties list in the View, then selecting Auto there will not adjust its scale even after a refresh. It looks like Auto must be selected from preferences first and then it scales correctly, if there is a big relative size.

My last hurdle is that the scale 0.01 is still too large and I can't make it say 0.005 as the scale does not seem to allow scaling to the 3rd decimal point. Will look for a solution and if anyone has ideas then I'd be happy to know what else to do.

[goldstandard]

Great video, I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. When I hit add view, I only get the word view on my page. No image shows up. Any help is awesome. There is something simple I'm just not aware of

[robertlopez]

I am good at 123design, I can import my 3d models into freecad. how do I add it tothe page template? I am having issues.

[kostyantynbrazhko]

hi. i am just starting my CAD experience. do you have a video of 2D drawing basics eg. floor plan?

[MaryThompson]

Is there a way to have rulers or a grid on the page to help with placement of views and notes?

[jylfarm]

If I wanted to print the real dimension of the roof, I am still at a lost to get the house at the proper angle to get the roof flat on paper. (and get the real dimension)