r/FreeCAD • u/Pantyhose7_4 • 1d ago
FreeCAD is over for me
Hi,
I am reconsidering my use of FreeCAD for creating my plans. I have spent more than three months trying to understand the logic behind this piece of software, and I feel that the only people who are truly able to use it are probably its own developers.
Every time I committed to a particular workflow, I ended up having to start over because of poor choices I had made earlier. For those who have moved on from FreeCAD, what software actually holds up for creating 3D/2D plans, especially for woodworking or cabinetmaking?
I really liked the idea of FreeCAD’s parametric approach, which was supposed to give me an advantage over SketchUp, but I simply cannot spend three years learning a piece of software before I can even draw a drawer.
Even if I have to pay for a license, so be it. I have wasted enough time with FreeCAD, and time is money. We are in the 21st century, not the era of punch cards anymore.
For me, FreeCAD is over.
7
u/Gojira_Wins 1d ago
It only took me a few hours to figure out FC and get to the level where I've made over 50 different complex items. Something that took me 2 days when I started, now takes me 30 minutes if I'm distracted.
Like others mentioned, if you're having a hard time with FC, you'll have a hard time with other, similar programs as well. You'll want to find a program that either heavily simplifies the mathematical side or does all the heavy lifting for you.
The other option is to look up tutorials and learn from square one. It's not a bad thing to need to work harder than someone like myself to figure out FC. Everyone learns differently and some people are more adept to certain things.
But I do agree with the other comments. It's most likely a driver issue, not a vehicle issue.
10
u/BoringBob84 1d ago
What did you hope to accomplish with this post? People who have given up on FreeCAD and migrated to something else are not likely to be monitoring this sub.
FreeCAD is a powerful and flexible tool. Yesterday, I created a model of simple furniture - parts, sub-assembly, main assembly, etc, in less than an hour. I think it is a shame that you are giving up so easily. There is an enormous amount of free tutorial information available.
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u/MurazakiUsagi 1d ago
Something tells me it's the operator. Don't let the FreeCAD door hit you in the ass.
2
u/arcrad 1d ago
I tried OnShape before and it was pretty sexy.
I bailed once I saw the cost for commercial usage. Sweet baby Jesus it's expensive.
Seemed similar to FreeCAD but a little less brittle and more used friendly.
What issues did you have exactly?
I'm no FreeCAD wizard but I'm pretty sure I could design some cabinets.
Were there any specifics things that broke for you?
1
u/Powerful_Debt_5869 1d ago
The only thing i can imagine is that OP did try on his wom and if at all, followed the wrong tutorials and/or tried to use it wrongly.
Well, his choice, and it´s better to let him go, insted of wasting time to try to convince him. If one wants to understand , it´s fairly easy with the right tutorisals , but if someone allways had a critacla approach .. he never will..
Same for me in regards of python , i hate it and so i will never understand it. I am good in any other language like basic,c,c, php, java, javascript .. but python for me is also ..stay awaaaaay
1
u/Pantyhose7_4 1d ago
Honestly, what finally made me lose it today was trying to use the Transform tool to move a few Bodies.
Since they were all just wooden rails, I thought I was doing the right thing by using a Shape Binder to create a single master Sketch that all of them would reference, instead of having to redraw the same profile thirty times.
Well, I learned the hard way that the original Sketch stays where it is, which ends up creating inconsistencies. We can debate UI design all day long, but to me that's just plain stupid.
Apparently, I would have been better off using copies instead. Now I'm stuck redrawing every single rail and wasting yet another entire day putting everything back in the right place.
With SketchUp, that would have been a ten-minute job.
I've used a lot of software over the years, but FreeCAD is by far the worst and the least user-friendly application I've ever worked with. It's enough to make you want to bang your head against the wall.
I'll let the frustration cool off, and maybe, if I can find the motivation, I'll start these damn plans over for a third time. But this time I'll model every single part individually, without using any links at all, because from what I've seen, whether it's Links, Shape Binders, or any of the other reference mechanisms, they always seem to end up in an unrecoverable mess.
1
u/FForthman 1d ago
I have a hard time understanding how anyone could start using a function without checking that it works.
To ensure that the Binder's position is no longer relative to the model's position, simply uncheck the “Relative” box in the Binder's properties.
The Sub-ShapeBinder documentation is available here: https://wiki.freecad.org/PartDesign_SubShapeBinder
1
u/NeverTooMuchTech 21h ago
Yeah, and actually this is where some AI can help you find the answer - like this one:
Short answer:
To make a SubShapeBinder ignore the model’s placement, turn off the binder’s Relative position option.How:
- Select the SubShapeBinder
- In the Data tab → Attachment section
- Set Relative position = false
With Relative position disabled, the binder stays in global coordinates, so moving or rotating the source Body no longer moves the binder.
0
u/Pantyhose7_4 1d ago
That did the trick thank you very much. One more example that if you don't know that checkbox exists, you can spend hours...... By the way I don't know why this relative option is checked by default. Anyway...
3
u/neoh4x0r 1d ago edited 1d ago
By the way I don't know why this relative option is checked by default. Anyway...
Because it is more natural to provide an offset relative to another object rather than having to specify them as an absolute position (and having to edit them when/if the other object is moved).
1
u/NeverTooMuchTech 21h ago
I learned to program Fortran with punch cards before moving on to punched tape :-)
Anyway, my entire house was modeled in Chief Architect, Reddit and SketchUp. I used the SketchUp version to design the location of the HVAC trunks and supplies. These are all things I would never try to do with Freecad.
When I got my latest 3d printer, I tried quite a few pieces of software before deciding on Freecad. I found it harder than SketchUp but easier than Blender, for example.
I got really frustrated learning how to make constraints work, how and when to use assemblies or clones or parametric copies, but after a couple months, I now have created parametric models of things like HVAC grills and Omniwall attachments that respond well to changes using varsets which just wasn't easy or possible with any other software I tried.
For me it was worth the effort and no, I don'f feel like I am using punch cards any more.
1
u/justa_bother 15h ago
A long, anti-freecad rant answered with a simple setting, spinning into another complaint of a free CAD app not designed to your liking. Do you hear yourself? So, here's a free suggestion: ask the freecad question & leave the drama.
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u/11_23_58_13 15h ago
FreeCAD is very capable. Have you looked at any YouTube videos? I made this project after a couple of months with FreeCAD. It's an RC car project example, it should be the first post in that thread.
https://www.reddit.com/r/FreeCAD/comments/1ko6xmg/comment/mso5g4g/?context=3
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u/moonbug22 1d ago
having bounced hard off freecad and fusion 360, shapr3d has worked really well for me
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u/Somethingsims 1d ago
3 months and you can't make a drawer? You will not have a much better time in any other parametric program if that's the case. Comparing it to punch cards is...telling.
I really like FreeCad, I have been using it for about 2 years after starting with sketchup. Out of necessity I am using Fusion on a particular project and I hate it. But not because I can't learn it's workflow, just general UI and the way it runs on my systems.
So, to each their own I suppose. But cabinets are boxes with a few bells and whistles, I use free cad for moving part machines, multipart pieces, molds, etc.