FreeCAD: revolutions

[last updated: 2021-03-01]
FreeCAD
Basic steps for a 3d model
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• Make a solid by rotation with Part Design Workbench:
  [Note: you can (in older versions) also use Part Workbench to create a revolution, however the procedure to later add a feature to such a model is convoluted,
        so frankly can't figure out why someone would use Part rather than Part Design...
        regardless, I've included the procedure using Part at the bottom of this page.]

  
  However is my current version 0.20.2, this command seems no longer available...

  • Create Base:
    In Part Design:
    Create Body, Create Sketch, Select XY plane, click OK.
    Draw a base, eg. a rectangle. Close sketch. Pad eg. 5mm.
  • Create profile sketch:
    • Profile will be in a plane perpendicular to plane of the base:
    • Click on top of base, click new sketch, then close it.
    • Now rotate plane of sketch:
      Highlight new sketch in model tree.
      Part Design -> Re-orient sketch -> Yes to detach.
      Select XZ plane, 0 offset, click OK.
    • Draw your profile to be revolved. It must be a closed sketch.
      Close the profile sketch edit.
  • -OR-:
    Skip the base and just make the profile:
    • In Part Design:
      Create Body, Create Sketch, Select X-Z plane, click OK.
    • Draw profile, including any base element that can be created with a rotation.
      It must be a closed sketch.
      Close the profile sketch edit.

  • Create Revolution:
    • Part Design Workbench:
      Select the profile sketch in the model tree.
      Part Design --> Rotation

    • Notice the Revolution entity created in the model tree is included in the Body element,
      so that if you add features by creating a sketch on any plane face,
      the resulting feature will be a part of the Body and easy to mesh and export to print.

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• Make a solid by rotation with Part Workbench:
  • Create Base: same as procedure with Part Design that's listed above...
  • Create profile sketch: same as procedure with Part Design that's listed above...
  • -OR-:
    Skip the base and just make the profile: same as procedure with Part Design that's listed above...

  • Create Revolution:
    In Part, with sketch closed:
    Part -> Revolve.
    In Shape field, select profile sketch.
    Select create solid (bottom of box).
    (It may be necessary to select rotate path: select line or curve)
    Click OK.
    Note a new element, "Revolve", is created in model tree.

  • Join Body with Revolution:
    If you started with a separate base Body entity, then
    the revolution that's created is a new entity ("Revolve" in model tree),
    and in order to make a single solid that can be printed,
    you must Join them:
    • Select Body in model tree.
    • Hold ctrl, and select Revolve entity.
    • Part -> Join -> Connect Objects.
      A new entity will be created in the model tree ("Connect")
      that includes both Body and Revolve.
    • Create a mesh to print:
      Mesh Design:
      Click to select the Connect entity.
      Meshes -> Create Mesh from Shape.
      Select standard, OK.
    • Right click Mesh to export.

  • Add a feature,
    • say by creating a new sketch & pad on some part of the model,
      an error box comes up, saying:
            ... is not part of active body
            select '"make independent copy"

      Procedure incomplete from here...
      However the new feature you add is not automatically a part of the model,
      so that if you mesh to print, the new feature is not included...

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eof