FreeCAD: Tracing and modelling a part to scale with only photos / pictures. Trace Beginners guide

Scaling and tracing a part to scale from a photograph. We explorer how to get your image into a 1 to 1 scale from just from photo's so you can create your sketch geometry to the same scale as the finished item you want to model or fabricate. What do you do when you have a job for an urgent part that needs replacing on an old machine, part needs fabricating from scratch and the client is shipping the part but needs it yesterday? Or you want to recreate some props that appear in your favourite films. As long as you can get some images that are photographed with a reference object that can be used for scale even (a bolt hole or a coin) this should give you a nice start which can then be refine later. This tutorial is great for beginners and experts alike.

#freeCAD #Tutorial #Beginner
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[gregkretchmer]

Here is a safety tip: if you have selected us inches in the preferences at some time, you still have to select the scale dimensions in MM. If you use inches, even spelled out, your dimensions will be extremely wrong from that point on and figuring out whats wrong can drive you Nuts! With freecad, even doing everything right, step by step, from a working example can result in hours of head scratching. Good video, cut my problem down to one issue. There are So many variables and procedures which can reach across Workbenches causing errors eventually to destroy hours of work.

[Mgtn]

Really good tutorial! FreeCAD is a hassle to learn all by yourself. Didn't even know about the cutting tool for intersections!

[michaeldeleo]

Professional grade instruction. Clear and concise with just the right amount of detail and repetition.

[AirBiscuit]

Very good tutorial, you've just opened a whole new world of possibilities for me

[bandk]

I'm addicted to how easy it is to follow your tutorials. If you're employed in CAD, tell your employer he doesn't pay you enough!

[Is_This_One_Taken]

This video was incredibly helpful. Thank you so much.

[rjordans]

Nice one! I would be tempted to start rounding all those dimensions to nicer numbers though 😅

[mamoshimamoshian]

Hi I want to thank you for the Very interesting video. I learned alot from you and your freecad video's. I had to delete the other comment I made about Freecad. It was mostly me who had to do things with Freecad Mindset. So It is much more reliable than I tout. So once again Thank you very much, and Yes Freecad is a wonderful Program, and IT IS RELIABLE :) when one get to learn how to do things. Have a nice day, weeks, Mounth and

[donkeyholmes]

Nice tutorial, the reason you can’t get exact measurements of the holes at 5 and 7 mm is because your reference image is not directly above making the image slightly distorted.

[dschony]

I you take not only 10 mm on the ruler to scale, but as much as possible (20cm), the deviation gets smaller!
For the holes remember, that there are drill tolerances. A M7 hole is normally a bit larger than 7mm, to make sure, the 7mm screw gets trough.

[StylishcpStylishcp]

Thank you very much. It is very helpful. I learned lots of things I did not know.

[hakunamatata]

This video is everything I wished I've seen 12h ago instead of drawing everything 🤦‍♂️🤣
Thank you

[magnussorensen]

Thank you, had difficulty understanding how it should work.

[itstrysten]

If scaling an image using a ruler for scale use the longest reasonable length for increased accuracy

[kxngbde]

I'm new to learning CAD/FreeCAD and enjoy your tutorials. In this video, how do I separate the sketch from the original photo/picture and use the sketch?

Thanks.

[Captain_Cinnamon]

I can probably get this whole thing I want to design done in 60 minutes with Autodesk Inventor. But Freecad is so yuck to use when you come from professional software... these tutorials are helpful

[idrisddraig]

Nice, thanks for the learning experience.

[DaveKnepper-wfwo]

I want To make a template I can print to locate the holes I'll need to drill in the enclosure I want to mount my arduino it. This is an awesome video to help me accomplish this. Thanks Dave

[MatteBlackSilhouette]

It does matter where you place your reference measurement because a camera isn't a right angle to every surface on the plane you're shooting. It's a right angle to the center point only, everything else is distorted.

[nicolasschneider]

Very helpfull video... However using small dimensions for scale reference is a mistake, it amplifies your error. Why do yo use 10mm of your ruler as a reference when you have almost 300mm of this ruler available on picture? Another point of improvement is to prepare your picture before with a photo editor to get crispier contour and correct the camera lens deformation