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FreeCAD is an open-source parametric 3D modeler made primarily to design real-life objects of any size. Parametric modeling allows you to easily modify your design by going back into your model history and changing its parameters.

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What is the point of sketching a circle when adding a "Hole" feature in Part Design? (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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When I want to add a hole feature, I need to first sketch and constrain a circle where the hole is supposed to be. This would make a bit more sense if the hole actually followed the constraints of the circle, but it doesn't -- I could constrain the sketch of the circle to be one radius, and then, at the same time, specify that the hole be a completely different radius. I feel like it would make much more sense if the hole actually followed the dimensions of the sketch of the circle. If the sketch is just used for the placement of the hole, then it should be enough to simply place a point (which does not currently work -- I must sketch a circle).

Edit 1: It looks like there is an open issue for this on GitHub.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah, it's just "one of those things" with FreeCAD, and is definitely not intuitive.

This is noted on the wiki, for what it's worth - "The centers of the circles and arcs are used to position the holes, but please note that their radii are not taken into account. The generated holes will be identical even if the radii vary".

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This is the reason I exclusively use pockets not holes. This works great for 3d-printing but wont work as well if you intend to export to CAM systems that can use a drill to make the holes.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This works great for 3d-printing but wont work as well if you intend to export to CAM systems that can use a drill to make the holes.

Why's that?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I think the hole feature directly translates into drill instructions in compatible output formats. Where pocket just modifes the 3d shape, not that you couldn't use a drill but it would need more software to spot the hole like shape and use a drill for it.