Learning FreeCAD for Beginners | 39 | Sub Assemblies in A2 Plus | Chest of Drawers

In this episode we learn how to create sub assemblies in FreeCAD and assemble them into a single assembly. We use the FreeCAD A2 Plus Assembly workbench to create a simple chest of drawers. We create a handle and drawer blank and combine them into a sub assembly. We then create the chest and pull in multiple drawers as sub assemblies. This is a very simple example to keep it easier on the beginner.

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

I have been waiting for a video like this one for a long time. Sometimes i think we over look the simplicity of some designs. As i was working on making a desktop storage unit for all of my small stray parts. I ended up with a very complex design that i worked on for hours. Then you made this unit that is configurable and simple in design. You my friend are a godsend. I will be looking at designing storage containers and project enclosures in a completely different way after this video. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge in this complex topic.

[ЛюдмилаХарламова-ьв]

Прекрасное объяснение! Все получилось!!!

[russellw]

11:33 When importing the Drawer Assembly I found the Handle & Drawer were separating (my error, I hadn't saved the Fusion earlier). I went back and fused them in part and all is well. I presume One could impose Constraints to restrict the Drawer from coming out the back? Like most things it gets easier the more you do it. I think I'm beginning to understand FreeCAD.

[marcusjenkins]

In the real world we would be assembling parts that are dimensioned to have clearances between them. How does this work in this workbench?

[Mids]

fantastic you have made my life better and so has the man who worked on this software

[julianrichards]

I've just been playing with assembly 4 but this looks much better. Will have a play with A2+ later - Thank you for your great videos / tutorials :-)

[chriskeeble]

Great stuff as ever, Darren - thank you 🙂

[marcusjenkins]

Are you a mind reader? This is exactly what I wanted to learn about. I am considering designing a CNC router using FreeCAD. It will be build with multiple parts that are the same / copies (e.g. NEMA23 stepper motors) that are drafted once and then multiplied and assembled.

[bananasba]

Hi, do you have a similar video for built-in assembly workbench?

[tamgaming]

My parts don't move even if I follow step by step your instructions. They stay where they were and don't connect, like in your video at 9:04. What can I do?

[lowededwookie]

Thanks for this. I really needed it. Coming from Fusion360 I find some aspects of FreeCAD a little foreign and difficult to grasp.

Incidentally, if you're on a Mac you don't need to use CTRL click as this causes issues with menus as CTRL then left mouse is the same as clicking the right mouse button. On Mac you simply click each point/plane/edge.

[RoamingAdhocrat]

can you make this but parameterised - like you set internal dimensions for the drawer, wall thickness, clearance margin for container, container wall thickness and all the parts resize appropriately? I can add a spreadsheet, but from the look of it with a multipart a2plus assembly I'd need a spreadsheet and repetition in every .fscad file

[Hertech_Europe]

Thanks for this enlightening video. Can this workflow be used to design 3D objects and export them as stl file to print them?

[rancetino]

How do you avoid the drawer from going through the back? Is there constraint forthat?

[_bits]

Just found your channel and looking forward to working through your videos. Could you let me know the 1st video and title to start learning FreeCAD from the long list of videos you have made?

[KnugLidi]

Does the A2 workbench have 'collision' detection? From parametric programs I used in 1999 for solid modelling, the sub assemblies prevented solids from intersecting during constrained movement.

[ollyk]

Hi MJS great video as usual... I would love to see you produce a propeller at some point? I have tried (and I am talking one with a twist in the chord line) and have not managed to find a tool or workbench that gives you fine control over how the skin blends from one section to another.... If you could consider that, I think it would be a great lesson and very interesting to many!

Thanks.

[marcusjenkins]

Forgive me if you've already done this, but... What about a project where you mix some parts you draft yourself and some imported parts, e. g. from McMaster Carr? Also, what about importing parts (again, e. g. downloaded from McMaster Carr and not in FreeCAD) format for customising in FreeCAD?

[ackpacket]

What's the approach for having parametric control over individual parts, in an assembly?

Scenario: I want to build a dresser. The dresser consists of a carcass and drawers. The carcass consists of stretchers. The drawers consist of sheets and mechanical joins.

My end goal would be to adjust the dresser width and have the drawer fronts/backs scale evenly with it.

[UserUser-]

Now, how to export it as .3mf so it can be 3D printed?