FreeCAD For Beginners p.2 - Parametric Modelling

[@thehardwareguy]

▶If you find my videos useful, kindly consider supporting me: www.thehardwareguy.co.uk/membership You can also support the channel in other ways by giving this video a thumbs up and sharing it everywhere! -Gareth

[@noir66146]

you know, if every model file out there came with parametrics, it would make resizing and repurposing a blink.

[@rkaag99]

I've only watched 2 of your videos (so far) and I can say this... if you are not an instructor, you should be. Your pace, content, and delivery are spot on! Well done and thank you!

[@thehardwareguy]

Thank you, very much appreciated. I'm an Engineer currently, teaching is something I enjoy on the side! Glad I could help you out

[@abansalify]

@@thehardwareguy you beat Sal Khan.

[@morpheon_xyz]

Agree, this is my 2nd video too, and it's absolutely insane the knowledge shared already. I've started with OnShape a few weeks ago, knew about FreeCAD but it's just too much to get used to, but I want to own my designs and do private stuff without it being in the public domain, plus I don't have the funds to fuel another company's subscription models when I'm not making money off of the use of their software to support a subscription. This video alone has given me the motivation to learn more about FreeCAD's UI as I might benefit a lot more in the long run given that network isn't always an option everywhere I go either

[@Tyler-wg5xh]

I have attempted to learn CAD for years. Figured out how to muddle through Fusion360, ran into their restrictive BS changed to this and was lost on how to update these things since I didn't realize what I wanted was called Parametric modelling. You have saved me hours of getting mad at a screen within 2 videos. Thank you!!

[@philsussex]

Best Freecad tutorials I've found on KZbin. Thank you!

[@thehardwareguy]

Thank you! much appreciated

[@EzekielGoldbergII]

This series is amazing. Really blows all other tutorials out of the water.

[@jhonny1392]

Totally agree, Mr. Goldberg !. This guy is *awsome* and really know *how to teach* what he knows ! ! !. Greetings from Santiago de Chile, South America. John.

[@jymferrier]

You are absolutely making this more accessible to more people. I'm irritated about the fusion360 license changes so this was very timely.

[@matthewdonoghue321]

Yes the changes certainly are irritating... its the classic marketing strategy of getting people hooked and then bringing in the payment plan. Thankfully there is an alternative.

[@cmarkjclose]

This training is starting at the right level for me, and has made things much clearer, thanks. I was about to give up on ever learning 3d cad.

[@Ed19601]

Ditto. Have been thinking about buying a 3d printer fir 2 years but didn't coz i just did not manage to design anything. I now ordered one

[@nguyenvinhvx]

Same, this guy makes it a lot easier.

[@1961matteo]

Same here as well! Retraining in CAD after 30+ years in IT and electrical engineering. This is exactly the right level. Well done!

[@GutsyGibbon]

One more vote. Saved me from giving up.

[@chrisnurse6430]

Awesome - really enjoying how quickly you get through this and how visual your style is - more “show me” than “tell me” - nice!

[@thehardwareguy]

thank you, much appreciated! I learn best visually as well, so I guess it comes naturally for me to relay the information in the same way! Glad I could help out

[@Dmcriner]

Excellent, clear explanations. I wish I had this guy teaching me when I studied CAD CAM in the mid 1980's.

[@dannyjones13]

I have watched numerous FreeCAD tutorials. This series has been the easiest to understand and follow. I have learned and made more progress from these videos than any others I have watched.

[@thehardwareguy]

Thank you Danny, really appreciate it!

[@bencahil5647]

Great videos!! Finally someone taking the time an doing videos to help us learn the correct ways to use CAD software and so easy to follow! Thanks for doing them!!!!

[@njsurf1973]

Thank you. I appreciate you taking the time to teach. i learned more in 2 of your vids than i did bumbling around on my own for a week!

[@thehardwareguy]

Great to hear! thanks for watching

[@GThorpe]

Just found this site - just what I wanted for a simple explanation of parametric modelling in Freecad - top notch

[@JohnOCFII]

Your tutorials are excellent. Very clear presentation. Logical flow. Good length. Like many, I’m learning FreeCAD after being frustrated with the recent changes to F360. Thing is - I never really learned the right way to do CAD. I’m now taking the time, and am actually MORE effective with FreeCAD than I was in F360 - not due to the tool (as you say, F360 is more polished) but because I’m learning from excellent tutorials such as yours.

[@thehardwareguy]

Thanks for the kind words John, glad I could help out!

[@GabrielAlejandroZorrilla]

As a Linux user at home I'm really locked to FC, these series is awesome. Thanks!

[@xtiansimon]

I'm a neophyte 3d printer but I recognize the power of parametric modeling; I subscribed because of this.

[@thehardwareguy]

Thanks for watching! Parametric modelling really is such a powerful concept, it'll change the way you approach new projects.

[@xtiansimon]

@@thehardwareguy Do you have recommendations for organizing the Model Tree? I'm having trouble refining my models. Another youtuber CADZiS made a video demonstrating pitfalls in the Model Tree with Part, Part Design workbench, and adding Body, Part into Model Tree. That video was informative, but not instructive. Curious if you have (or maybe plan? hint.hint) to describe how we _should_ organize the Model Tree and it's elements for Parametric Modeling (refining process which includes removing entire elements, and evolving our models).

[@larrycook8540]

You Sir are an excellent Instructor, I have only watched tree of you lessons but I look forward to the next. You make perfect sense where others have missed the mark. Thank You

[@Hotwire_RCTrix]

Fusion 360 is getting less and less accessible for hobbyists. FreeCAD will be our future go to. Thank you for these tutorials. A few months ago I thought Free CAD was not necessary but with the new restrictions in Fusion 360 it's the best long-term option.

[@rifatburaktozkoparan1454]

What a tutorial ! -> EXCELLENT ! the methodology, analytical approach, the ability to transfer the knowledge, ain all aspects this is a TRUE Tutorial. Thank you so much!

[@isaiahgillett2573]

SO many ideas just from these two videos, like using this to make sure all my pockets are the same value, and being able to update all of them at the same time if I decide to change that value. Thank you, love your videos!

[@piotrlg]

The best introduction to using CAD the right way I have ever seen. Congratulations for such excelent presentation.

[@mrcrisps3376]

Your videos are great, also hopefully if more people use freeCAD it will go the way of Blender and get excellent.

[@thehardwareguy]

I hope so too!

[@allenevans8182]

I’m jumping in to 3d CAD coming from spending some time in Tinkercad which as the saying goes, is what it is. FreeCAD appears to be all I need to be able to support my hobby which is RC planes, on-road cars and boats. I’ve now watched 2 of thehardwareguy’s (aka Garett) videos and am totally impressed by his teaching method/style. I read many of the comments below and echo them. Great videos and look forward to learning FreeCAD! A BIG THANKS!

[@iphoneawesome123]

This is honestly mind blowing. I've been doing cad the dumb way (on tinkercad) and having to go back and edit things has always driven me nuts.

[@MaxPower-vf8kt]

Thank you! First time I’ve ever sent payment to a content provider. Having always done hand drawing/design, I’ve struggled with learning CAD in a meaningful and useful manner. I’m a visual learning, who wants the key fundamentals, but whose ADHD can’t sit through “hmm-ing and ahhh-ing,” incessant mouse clicking followed by “Hold on, I didn’t want that. Just a sec. Let me go back. If this happens….” and now I’m trying to follow one or two sides lessons to get back to the main lesson. Those tutorials are slow, unclear, with horrible audio, bad narration and cursors bobbing and weaving creating motion sickness. They gloss over “why” an element is beneficial and fail to teach the elements that make using a computer over drawing, beneficial. Their purpose seems to be illustrating the KZbinr’s talent. Your tutorials explained very efficiently and elegantly these key features I knew existed, but couldn’t implement meaningfully. This is seriously life changing for me and working with CAD. The parameters spreadsheet and setting constraints (another video) were the two features I knew existed, I wanted to utilize and yet could never find a simple, concise, easy to follow video that explained why and how to use them. Please keep making these.

[@mariuspetcu7482]

I must say and I will say it out loud - One of the Few Best CAD tutorials I've seen ... Thank You for Sharing with us from you knowledge and teach us ... I've instantly Subscribed ... Thank You, Thank You and Please keep us on loop with all you do ... Be Safe , Stay safe ...

[@davidchapman3228]

Brilliant, thank you. Have wanted to get into CAD for a long time FreeCad and your tutorials are doing just that. Very easy to watch and listen to you.. 😊

[@niftybass]

Fusion360 confused the crap out of me. You made freecad so logical that I'm debating whether or not I want to watch your fusion 360 videos (but I'm sure I will) THANKS FOR TEACHING!

[@pgwargamer]

Please keeping making these videos!! Your teaching style is incredible. I have been on many courses for Revit and AutoCAD offered by Autodesk for the past 15 years and not one has come close to your style of tuition!!

[@paultyson5145]

Thanks so much for this. I knew that Freecad did this but never knew how to do it. I can't justify the expense of Fusion as I am a hobbyist. I'm going to press on with the rest of your vids. Thanks again.

[@patrickd9551]

When I was in college (a looooong time ago), I used both autocad and autodesk inventor. I always struggled, slogging through the books and lessons. But your way of explaining freecad is spot on. Perfect pace and I only had to pause/rewind only a few times. Fusion isn't up to my taste any more with that cloud only stuff they want to push, so I started looking for different software and combined with your tutorial series I love it. As a programmer I love OpenSCAD, but from a design point of view it can be a bit hard. But with this parametric modelling in freecad it's pretty much all I need for my simple needs. If I want to go complex, I'll probably go ahead and invest time in blender.

[@markdebarr3501]

FreeCAD is finally making some sense to me. Thank you.

[@adrianstealth340]

Your a brilliant teacher When I’ve done your instruction vids (I’ll have to do each one a few times great for your view counts ) I’ll send you some dosh do you can buy some beers !

[@thehardwareguy]

Thank you for the kind words Adrian, much appreciated👊🏻

[@messinger123]

Outstanding instruction. Thank you for taking the time to teach these things.

[@timlast_productions]

Hi. I must agree with the other comments here about how adept you are at demonstrating and teaching these techniques. Well done! It is awesome that the creators of FreeCAD have made this software available for those that do not want to or perhaps, cannot afford to pay for CAD software. I would, however, like to add a comment to all those just starting out. I currently use the paid version of Fusion 360. It literally cuts the steps in half to accomplish the same thing with much less clicking around and automatic parametric modeling, dimensioning and placement in the 3D environment. This is not a negative comment, just a bit of advice to hang in there if this seems like a lot of work to create something. If this is something that you will eventually spend a lot of time doing, you may want to consider a paid version of CAD. After all: "time is money".

[@donnastewart2108]

Thank you so much, I'm surprised to say I'm really enjoying freecad now, thanks to your tutorials.

[@deskbotsdiy2591]

Great tutorial. Made my transition from fusion 360 to the free cad so easy. Thank you. I am very upset with fusion 360 for sudden policy change. It is time Makers get behind a free 3d cad product and support the developers in every way possible.

[@Ed19601]

I have dabbled many months trying to design anything. Tnx to your part 1 i was able to create quite a complex box. Tnx to your part 2 i now will be able to easily re-use my designs with new parameters. Best tutorials i came across

[@thehardwareguy]

Glad to hear it! Thank you for the kind words

[@Ed19601]

@@thehardwareguy simply speaking the truth

[@artemsmotrakov2396]

Thank you for the video! Parameters really make life easier.

[@Sembazuru]

I really like these first two videos (I haven't watched further in the series yet). I'll definitely be suggesting them to my friend who runs a maker space at a local library to try to encourage her to start teaching FreeCAD to the library patrons (I'm slowly getting her on the FOSS train, especially for teaching to the general public who are learning new hobbies who don't want to (or can't afford to) pay for a seat on the more professional packages. I only have one constructive criticism. The circle constraint that you used in these first two tutorials is the circle *radius*, (not diameter as you kept calling it). I'm sure you know that as of FreeCAD 0.18+ there actually is a circle diameter constraint. If there is a way for you to add errata notes to your videos, please correct to radius where you incorrectly use diameter.

[@swampflux]

I feel like I just learned everything I need in half an hour! Thank you so much! Been using 3D software like 3dsmax, then blender for 20 years but really struggled with making models that had a lot of constraints. This is wonderful. wow.

[@jamesn4727]

Great job of explaining the basics and why it should be followed when designing.

[@dirtleg13]

So while this might be embarrasing and or dumb I am a self taught cad guy. I don't use it as much these days as I've changed jobs but have used it professionally for over 10 years. I've mainly worked on electrical schematics so primarily 2D. 3D modeling always seemed so unintuitive to me until today. For whatever reason I just never figured out how to use constraints properly. Thank you for the clear and concise explanation. Also wanted to let you know this freecad tutorial of setting the parameters and aliases is very well done. Again thanks. Looking forward to more of these.

[@shingabiss]

Best FreeCad tutorials by far!

[@fortpatches]

And the "Alias Manager" macro is great for how you have your spreadsheet organized. You can just make those two columns, then click a button to apply the A column values as the Alias for the B column cells.

[@joaoalberto8415]

Excellent video. Fusion, AutoCad and others are expensive to obtain an individual license, especially in these times of economic recession. The alternative is to resort to free software. Freecad proves to be excellent for many applications, and its classes help a lot. Thanks again.

[@thepragmatic6383]

Thank you very much. With this method, it becomes very easy to model bolts, washers and nuts of various sizes and lengths. No need to start all over again to change the length or diameter of a bolt.

[@brerdane]

Wow, total game changer for me! Love your videos as I'm new to CAD designing software (going to redo the couple designs I did to this). LOVE working the lazy way as I call it as I hate redoing things. Makes prototyping so much easier...now just have to figure out how to connect pieces so they aren't visible on the exterior. Thank you so much for this series!!! I usually pick up software quickly but have been stumbling around trying to decide between a couple CAD style programs or Blender. Your videos have made the decision for me.

[@marespinoza1]

I tried several other beginner tutorials before landing on this one. Yours are the best!

[@timsanders9111]

outstanding. clear. concise. easy to understand. thank you !

[@johnfisher2495]

To many cad experts forget the questions a beginner would ask, not so here. I watched a couple and they skipped over creating a body, probably so obvious to them they didn’t include it. So thanks for these videos, it’s just what I needed.

[@stojanovik69]

Your FreeCAD KZbin videos are very educational. Have a - well thought-out theme - easy to understand, even for non-native people like me. - Your tone is level-headed, calm and clear and precise. Through your KZbin videos about FreeCAD, I understand FeeCAD better, its structure and the workflow of FreeCAD. My question to you: At which elite university did you study? a. Oxford or b. Harvard.

[@jairrivera9076]

I like the spreadsheet option for modeling. Excellent content and is really easy to follow.

[@ane18s]

After watching this tutorial, I became less tired than I was before. I'm not exaggerating. Usually tutorials don't have that effect. Thank you!

[@kenchapman6730]

Hello Gareth, thanks for making these videos! There are many FreeCAD videos on KZbin that claim to be for beginners, but yours truly are. I'm completely new to 3D and am learning it to design my own products for manufacturing. You take the time to teach the basics that everyone else glosses over. Keep it up!

[@RECESSIM]

Great video, 3 years old and STILL helping people!

[@renniebirch7385]

I've been performing all the bad habits, you mentioned for years. Partly through "Meh, can't be bothered", to fear of the unknown. These tutorials are amazing. Your (simple) description of constraints really was an: "Aw, poop. I've wasted years because of not knowing about them" moment. You've taught his old dog some new tricks, so thanky you.

[@Ciscopy]

I've seen so many Freecad videos, but yours is one of the few that introduced me to this parameter thing. I feel grateful.

[@mnmp90]

this was so helpful I almost gave up on cad in general honestly until I watched your videos, I appreciate your efforts sir! subbed

[@mark6063]

Mr. hardwareguy: I don't know how often you check these comments being the age of these tutorials, with that said I have a high and quick learning curve for the most part and must say your method of teaching these are not only easy to follow but probably the most simplest to understand of any tutorials out there on any platform. (Not just FreeCad) but any Cad Programs in general. I wanted to take the time to thank you for your time and hope you continue in your endeavors to help others. Again Thanks.

[@redslover5293]

Personally, I Like Your Delivery!!! Not only do you actually talk in your videos, you explain things in depth. I have been using TinkerCAD for about 3-4 month now and am totally frustrated with the lack of functionality. I know, its basic entry level CAD but I have out grown it and I have been looking for "my" next step. I do believe that I have frond it. Thank you for caring about all us struggling neophytes and taking the time to do your videos.

[@williamlackie142]

I finished your 2nd video and, as expected, it was excellent!!!!

[@thefeet]

Learned more about FreeCAD here in 12 minutes than 12 hours on other channels. Again Thank you.

[@GreySectoid]

Managed to model and print out my first design with your help, thank you!

[@thehardwareguy]

Fantastic!

[@oqueeutofazendoaqui]

Watched 2min. Best FreeCad teacher that I ever seen

[@thedarkpill3590]

For anyone who is confused about the pocket diameter at 6:44, he really means radius, as per how freecad defines it.

[@dwightposey4694]

Thank you for taking the time to make these videos. I got a 3d printer as payment for doing a brake job on a friend's car. Saved him 800+ dollars (after getting me a printer) that he did not have, gave me a printer I did not have the finances for. After having a few surgeries since December and being restricted on physical activity, a friend got the printer out of storage for me. I have found that a lot of CAD programs have services charge, which I do not have the funds for. But using opensource resources help me to find out if this is something I have a knack for. And it gives my mind something constructive to do. I understand a lot of the concepts, but I have always lacked in the knowing and remembering the proper terminology. I like the way you explain this in detail, along with examples. You make it so easy; I can understand through all the meds they have me taking.

[@DonovanBrown]

This was fantastic. I have watched a lot of FreeCad videos and this is the first time I have ever seen this. Can't believe it is two years old!

[@dwhughes1975]

Like many other viewers, I'm extremely grateful and impressed by what you're doing here. You're a really good instructor. But I'm also very reassured that you admit that FreeCAD isn't the friendliest. It's good until it goes wrong, but when it goes wrong it can be almost impossible to figure out why.

[@UnearthedMind]

After the first part of this tutorial I was able to make my first part which I have wanted to make for quite some time. It gave me all the essential concepts, thanks a lot, you explain things extremely clearly and quickly! :)

[@jasonkilby3146]

Thank you so much, more FreeCAD tutorials please

[@originalFAKEDJ]

also i have to say big thanks for your videos! i have been struggling to get into 3d modelling, but your tutorials are exactly what i needed to know to start working in CAD environment. priceless!!!

[@NikosMouratidis]

So helpful! Really nice approach to teaching FreeCAD. I've watched a couple of other tutorials and this is by far the best approach for a beginner maker.

[@rmrav6247]

Sir, just 2 episodes in, and I already feel like I have a good handle on this program! Your tutorial is simple and straightforward forward and most importantly they follow such a logical progression! Thank you so much!

[@od107]

Great content. It helped me a lot! Just one minor thing: you used the radius constraint in the previous video but called and named it diameter_constraint.

[@dwaero]

Well, that was quite interesting to see the power of the spreadsheet.

[@Arsenico13]

I'm following your tutorials and you are great. Thank you.

[@GutsyGibbon]

Excellent videos. I'm going to do the whole series.

[@guruthossindarin3563]

The pace of these videos is perfect.

[@bassam.2023]

We appreciate this work. Thank you! I can actually put my 3D printer to proper use. :D

[@56hillcrest]

This is so helpful! You're a great teacher. I'm designing tools for flax and hemp processing and this is going to make collaborating with people on different farms much much easier :)

[@miserable_old_git]

I think it should be called pocket RADIUS not Diameter Oh and nice video !

[@thehardwareguy]

that is very true, glad you were paying attention! Fusion 360 uses diameter as standard whereas FreeCAD uses radius. Can get confusing switching between the two!

[@JLTSoft]

This is brilliant! Thanks for another awesome video. I'm fairly new to CAD and didn't even know about this spreadsheet thing and providing parameters.

[@thehardwareguy]

You're very welcome! thank you for watching

[@danielgeorge4992]

This tutorial is very helpful. If i understand correctly i could build the spreadsheet first and use the aliases in sketcher, pad, and pocket.

[@86skye]

Love your videos, super easy to understand and so helpful to learn CAD from scratch. Thank you

[@thehardwareguy]

You're very welcome! thank you for watching and all the best with your projects :)

[@dom0]

you sir, are a legend. I studied solid works close to 15yrs ago back in tech and only recently decided to learn again but didnt want to pay crazy amounts. going through your tutorials is bringing back memories from my studying days including the nostalgia of hitting on the interior design students ahaha.

[@TheWid]

you have a talent for explaining!

[@njuta]

this feels tedious, but I am going to take your word on it being important! Thanks again

[@stevebledl2200]

Your Freecad tutorials are just what i've been looking for.

[@TMacFPV]

Thank you Gareth!

[@peterbarratt8699]

Excellent job, much appreciated.

[@Prince-Of-Arabs]

thank you very much my friend ...

[@ZubbaKon]

This tutorial is extremely helpful. Thank you for the time and effort you put into this!

[@thehardwareguy]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@pedrogonzalezgil]

This video is GOLD! Thanks!!

[@frankenberry9670]

Aside from confusing radius with diameter very nice.

[@thehardwareguy]

Fusion 360 uses diameter, FreeCad uses radius. Fusion 360 is still my CAD package of choice so it's sometimes tricky switching between the two.

[@srinune2036]

Thank you for your videos ! Your videos are extremely clear.

[@bernym4047]

I was captivated by the parametric modelling. I guess there is some way to change all values with a proportional factor (e.g. multiply all by 1.5). I had a play with the spreadsheet but no success so far. However, another superbly presented lecture. Thank you.

[@keithmunt8050]

This is the best tutorial series on FreeCAD that I have found As someone who last used CAD in the 2D days 15 years ago this is the first tutorial that I have been able to follow and really enjoy working through. Please keep it going

[@yalnizyildizebegumeci1841]

I m glad I found your videos. Thanks you.

[@solacechaostra8403]

I find your videos incredibly useful. A lot of job applications in my field require basic CAD experience, and CAD courses were not required in my major in college, so I missed out. These definitely help me catch up with what I missed, and you do it in such a well-paced, take-your-time, friendly manner. Between you and the Blender Guru, I can't thank you enough for increasing my skills in the 3D modelling world!