When you machine something, you really need to plan your tool paths, and a good cad program can do that. But I would assume that when you import from openscad, you probably just get a mesh anyways, which is really no different from an STL, and unhelpful when planning tool paths.
If you use the “csg” file from OpenSCAD, the data for the geometry is not lost when you bring in to FreeCAD. You are not able easily edit it, but I only use it to do the conversion to STEP. The geometry and volumes you define in OpenSCAD is loss in the conversion to STEP, but most machine shops have no problem using the STEP file to make the tool paths. The part I ordered was simple, but the dimensions came out perfect on all 6 parts I received.
The openSCAD STL are binary, just triangles. The STEP output for the same part from FreeCAD is ASCII, but usually smaller, since STEP is not limit to triangles. The STEP file can have curves, the STL does not.
I did not figures this out myself; I was that other people use OpenSCAD and FreeCAD to do the same. I am not able to find the link to the original explanation.
Interesting. I wonder if maybe freecad is a better OpenSCAD than OpenSCAD then?
OpenSCAD requires a fair amount of care to not produce illegal STL files, but maybe freecad can take the CSG and generate STL (or whatever) better than OpenSCAD can…
So basically, there isn’t really a better accessible option for OSS CAD than FreeCAD? Has anyone tried CAD Sketcher For Blender?
I used FreeCAD for my build.
FreeCAD is not easy, but its not like it’s hard either. This coming from someone who first used AutoCad 10 and last used 14… hadn’t used CAD ever since.
I actually came to enjoy it. As a few people mentioned on the post already, I am not interested in cloud software ever. And these days, if you pay a license fee or subscription fee-- the support is no better (even often worse) than the open source community. FreeCAD had it’s challenges for me, but some youtube videos, and chatGPT while knowing specifically what I needed to do got me there.
I built a quick release battery pack for an 18650 that just slide/snaps in, and the pack slides in with pogo pins, a speaker holder, a proffie holder, and a crystal chamber LED holder (4 separte chassis parts) and then just finished a button holder that goes into the Graflex clamp and hold the power button on the very edge. Just finished the build.
Anyone wanting to save some $$$$ and own their work! Should give FreeCAD a go. Just be warned it is a time commitment, it is by no means efficient. But it is powerful & free.
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Would you be OK with me picking your brains if I get stuck?
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I think it would be cool if questions and answers happened here on the forum. I would love to learn some more about FreeCAD as well.
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Yeah, fair enough. I too would love to learn more about FreeCAD.
Add my name to the list that would like to learn more about FreeCAD. I mostly use TinkerCAD because it is so easy–but because of the limits on file size, I have used FreeCAD to simplify the STLs so I can open them in TinkerCAD. I’ve tried changing the sizes and exporting the STLs for printing from FreeCAD but it’s just not as intuitive as Tinker. I also need to “bend” a chassis for a curved hilt and I don’t think that can be done in Tinker–so I will need to figure out FreeCAD.
That hasn’t been an issue for any of the chassis STLs I’ve purchased, but I consider the Temple Guard mask, the Sabine Wren helmet, and the Mandalorian helmet to be saber-related…
God damn, I’m really struggling!
I don’t use freecad (I found it difficult too) but that looks good to me! I use fusion.
I designed a switch actuator along the lines of the Qui Gon or Obi Wan red button. Going to use a washer as the housing, and it’ll press a tactile switch on the chassis so it can be fully removable.
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Now to figure out how to flip the objects so they rest on the x axis.
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There’s FB groups that will help out with questions like this. I tried freecad its pretty good.
So, I made some progress, despite spilling a mug of coffee on my MBP (and everything working for a while until the screen just suddenly decided to stop working)
This is the finished, fully featured v2. I decided to restart the project from scratch since there were some cascading issues in the object tree. It only took an hour to do what took me three months the first time.
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Prototyping the switch solution…
I’m trying it with a spring loaded actuator. until I can get the chassis printed out and tested, I won’t know the tolerances and practicality.
can you share the script?
Script for what?
the chassis or am I confusing that with openscad?