FreeCAD Tutorial for Beginners

[@YeiBalam]

For anyone in 2024 that is seeing this. The Auto Remove Redundants option for constraints can be found under Edit > Preferences > Sketcher > Genera,l it its the first option shown. Also, the grid can be turned on from the top right corner by clicking the grid like looking icon, hope this is useful!

[@andyreact]

Cheers, I was following along and was about to start searching google for that!

[@japesmcgrapes1415]

you just saved my monitor from keyboard🤣

[@danielljung3260]

Thank you so much!

[@todahall]

As an example, the hint above... Edit has no "preferences" tab on my version.0.21.2-33771 mac

[@Mithinco]

Thank you! I was wondering what that redundant thing meant until I ran into it 😆

[@baumkuchen6543]

I hope FreeCAD gets more love after Autodesk revealed it's corporate greedface once again.

[@JayAnAm]

I hope so... next tutorial comes this week.

[@blendarious]

@@JayAnAm Try out RealThunders version of FreeCAD. It's way better than 0.19! And guys support him on patreon (thunderreal)! He's the FreeCAD dev we're all looking for!

[@Relax-kb7tf]

Please, make a freecad tutorial for beginners

[@arnab6408]

Yep... I switched. Its truly ironic to see technology championing 'digital communism' than actual revolution as had been predicted by Marx

[@TyroneDamShewlaces]

Technically it is "corporate greed", but I don't hold it against them to want to make money. The ARE a corporation, so profit is a thing by definition. To expect a corporation NOT to make money from their products is kinda stupid and folks should expect that out of the gate. What I hold against them is the way they did it. If the full free version was a mistake and they should have limited it more from the beginning so free users didn't "abuse" it, then I'm sorry, but any corporate manager should have known what was going to happen on that from the beginning. That is simple stupidity. To let it be free for so long that tons of people got used to it, then dramatically neuter usability, is either stupid or shady (I suspect some of both). I'm sure the original premise is that the free version whets the appetite so that users learn to use it, like it, depend on it, then want to buy it. The addiction method. Lacking a free version, nobody would know to want it. Makes sense to have one just to encourage exposure. But they could have, should have, and maybe DID know better than to include such functionality in the free version from the start. To change it midstream like this points to a lack of competency OR manipulative marketing. Take your pick - neither one is a good look. Even if you didn't use the features they removed, or even didn't use Fusion at all, if you've heard of the debacle, you now think less of Autodesk. Had they limited it from the start in a smart way, folks would love it almost as much and not have a reason to be pissed today. I never have liked any software being tied to a subscription and I never will. You can never say never I guess, but I don't ever expect to even explore a single piece of software that I can only rent. Either I own it from the time of purchase, or I'm not interested. So in my view, Autodesk has been on the wrong side of this issue from the time they started it. No thanks. Personally, I would rather use FreeCAD or whatever from the start, even IF it were half as good, just because I'm NEVER going to let myself rely on something that can change on a dime at the whim of some corporate board somewhere. Yeah, that just happened. Which leads me to conclude that those that are pissed off at Autodesk for what they've recently done, should instead look into the mirror to see the cause of their current grief. I can grok that lots of folks didn't understand this going in, but they should now. Let this just be a lesson as you move forward. Don't let yourself be placed in such a precarious stance from now on. The subscription paradigm alone should have been enough of a red flag if you were paying attention.

[@OnnieKoski]

Just got my first 3D printer and I can’t wait to start making my own original designs. Thank you for making this!

[@JayAnAm]

You are so welcome!

[@sushi3377]

Where are you now?

[@GERntleMAN]

For years I've been trying to use something else than SketchUp and I've tried numerous Tutorials. Never get to understand HOW you have to approach designing in the software. Watched this video and it instantly became clear. Thank you!

[@jeromeweaver809]

I am beginning to learn FreeCAD to create my own models. I love this video; I stumbled upon it. I am looking to seeing more of your videos.

[@okobloko]

The most concise - get you moving - tutorial for FreeCAD there is.

[@ididnotkilljfk861]

thats not saying alot !

[@louisbowels6858]

CAD software always scared me and looked pretty complex but this small tutorial was enough to give me the confidence to start dinking around with it. The least I could do is leave a comment saying thanks

[@Cwiiis]

This is an amazing tutorial, no waffling or superfluous information, gives you the basic information you need as succinctly as possible and assumes the viewer has used a computer before. I picked this one because it was 6 minutes, as opposed to the often 30 minute or longer tutorials elsewhere, and it was exactly what I'd hoped for :)

[@JayAnAm]

Glad to hear that, thx

[@maximthemagnificent]

New Fusion 360 refugee here, and I have to say this was a great introduction. Thanks a lot.

[@JayAnAm]

Thx m8, I have the next in planning after the Blender hard surface sculpting videos

[@makun16]

Im donating to the developers to help make it better and more powerful. I cant justify 500/yr on fusion at the hobby level. If they had a one time payment I would but until then, freecad.

[@jsherman1503]

me 2 ; i'll donate a few $$; this is good. $500/y for Fusion is not for the hobbyist :(

[@Rick-fc5zr]

Yes 360 refugee as well. This was a great tutorial.

[@JohnboyCollins]

But the amount of tedium compared to fusion is insane.

[@halc4261]

Hello, Im little bit a stucked in 3:49 - 3:59, whenewer I choose that 2 bottom points + vertical line and click on that button, it will change into orange color with error message: Recompute failed! Did you know why?

[@sin5946]

I know I'm late, but it will save others. I found a guide, and in the new versions it's different, so this is how you solve it: "To achieve this you select two diagonal points and as a third point the center and apply a symmetry constrain"

[@maxg4958]

Started out with CAD in general and FreeCAD specifically; the tutorial is nice to follow and I created the object as described. The only thing missing was 'making the body active' in order to add the bevel/chamfer to a face. (Go to model and right-click the body and "toggle active body".

[@JayAnAm]

Thx for the comment and the info

[@codematic]

Gold standard for instructional videos. Great boot strap for free cad.

[@kungpowchickenwing]

Thanks to you I just printed my first object. A 25 by 25 by 25 mm cube LOL. I know...simple...but you gotta crawl before you can walk.

[@JayAnAm]

Great, glad it worked for you!

[@SC-qx2kj]

Thank you for making the video which helps a lot. As a diehard AutoCad user, I must say FreeCAD is quite user unfriendly. Many operations left me scratching my head why it happened or how to correct errors. Even following exactly what the video had shown may not produce the same results. Many were done only by accident or trial and error.

[@guyabou]

Great tutorial. this is the 3rd I'm watching and it's the best. explains what, why and where, simple and without talking around other non related. Thank you!

[@mattz4229]

All the love. Thank you so very much. This helped me get moving and I will watch any and all videos you have on FreeCad for sure.

[@nomanshiekh26]

This is the fastest I ever followed any tutorial and that too successfully. Thanks !

[@UHStudio]

Nice to see you doing some freecad tutorials!!! The more exposure that this hidden gem of a program can get the better! Looking forward to more

[@JayAnAm]

Thx, next one will come soon, it is in the making:-)

[@mnkdk]

Thanks

[@JohnDoe-es5xh]

After removing conFUSION 360 from all my PCs, I landed here and didn't regret. Nice intro!

[@JayAnAm]

Good to hear! Thx a lot

[@crazypict]

I am really a beginner in CAD so I love to have more demos like this one! Please make it simple!

[@JayAnAm]

Thx, will do!

[@hansisbrucker813]

I didn't know about the symmetry constraint. Lifesaver 😀

[@jpaugh64]

This video has great audio! Thank you for taking the time to have clear and crisp sound.

[@SpaceMarshalGyorni]

This is fantastic, thank you so much. One suggestion to make future tutorials even better: Perhaps you could add some highlighter to your mouse cursor. I often found myself having to go back a few seconds to find out exactly what you clicked on. Having a highlighted cursor and ideally some additional highlight for clicks would make this absolutely perfect.

[@maaadkat]

I had to make it fullscreen. Commentary about what's going to be clicked would help too.

[@Mahhn]

Took me a while to figure out he was double clicking to make the corner rounded, was getting frustrated trying: click, click and drag, adding shift and crtl,,,

[@rancmeat]

Thank you. I was coming from Autodesk and didn't know where to begin. This got me started.

[@donalegandro123]

Thank you for you're clear instructions on how to use Free Cad. Thanks to you're instructions I'm finally able to make my first drawing on a computer, and so setting me on my way to making my first 3D designs for my projects . Thank you, and pls continue making more tutorials on Free Cad

[@victorwestmann]

This was my very first tutorial using FreeCAD! Thank you for explaining things with detail rich instructions, slow, and in a complete way! +1 for you!

[@JayAnAm]

Thank you, also see the second part: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6qckqCIfMh2eaM

[@alessandrog5261]

best tutorial ever! straight to the point I really need of a shape like this

[@JayAnAm]

Thx m8

[@peterbillington5566]

Great tutorial and excellent quality video and audio - thank you!

[@oneeyedphotographer]

I could just about understand this, the previous "beginner" tutorial was incomprehensible. All _I_ want is to be able to plan how to cut up bits of wood and join them together.

[@BeatSlayer]

Finally someone that knows how to teach to NEW people. Subbed and liked, great video.

[@SirTools]

I've tried several so called "basics for FreeCAD" and your's is better, but at 1:34 you lost me. I do not have all those tools showing on mine. I've used Fusion 360 for years and love it, but I'd like to have FreeCAD for a back up. Just can't seem to get this FreeCAD to work for me from the start up.

[@e8n]

Excellent tutorial! Very simple and to the point to give you something to play with. Very nicely done!

[@theegg-viator4707]

Yes! More Freecad.. The real “non-destructive” modeling 😸

[@xl000]

The Egg-ViatoR ever geheard von Houdini ?

[@plasticbuzzardmodelshop9715]

Yes, more FreeCAD tutorials please. Much needed. Subscribing.

[@JayAnAm]

Thx it's in the making and will come after the hard surface sculpting series.

[@javaking70]

I have been watching another FreeCAD Tutorial and it did not explain why only a very choppy how. Thank you so much for a very nice intro to the basics. I look forward to more videos from you covering more complex/compound shapes and transitions them to a slicer. Again thank you for this tutorial.

[@lythd]

very helpful and very concise, being able to show how to make things in 5 minutes like seriously such good job so many tutorials are like half an hour and boring, this was quick simple and to the point very well done sir

[@JayAnAm]

Thx, glad you like it

FreeCAD is an amazing free software. Thanks for the video.

[@jasond.valentine5931]

Incredible video. Thank you for taking the time and effort!

[@taksinwatanabe9362]

Thank you, your tutorial is a good start for beginners, please continue.

[@JayAnAm]

Will do, next one comes this week.

[@bobsterne4767]

This isn't the first FreeCAD tutorial I have watched, but I wish it had been! I learned more here in 6 minutes than I thought possible. THANK YOU !!! If you have one on creating solids of revolution from a 2D sketch, I'm IN....

[@stephenwhitehead902]

The first freecad tutorial i have watched and i have to ask as the others have, can we have some more please. you explained it very well and made it easy to follow.

[@JayAnAm]

Great you like it, thx

[@beechcraft12]

He didn't explain anything though... It's just "we can do this we can do this we can do this" but never a "why", seldomly a "how", or even a wtf a constraint even is.

[@uranoxyd]

Thank you, nicely explained, more please!

[@Mabaz]

I didn't know about this software! Thank you for sharing, would love to watch more!

[@JayAnAm]

Next one will come this week, just stay tuned or hit that notification bell.

[@yugen042]

This is the best 5 min crash course to get started with using freecad. Thanks for this.

[@gigahertzmedia]

Great tutorial! It's short, easy to understand, and explains the basics of FreeCAD very well!

[@EsusGamer]

Thank you! You made freecad seem so much more beginner friendly than other tutorials.

[@lukesmith9033]

Very helpful. I would have been so lost without your tutorial. I was looking for a replacement for solidworks.

[@JayAnAm]

I have more tuts for this on my list

[@ColinTCS]

Would definitely like to see more on this and how it could be used in conjunction with Blender.

[@RojCowles]

Beat me too it! Just what I was going to ask since it'd be awesome to design certain components in a parametric CAD app and then move them into Blender, or Unity/Unreal, once you were finished tweaking it.

[@JayAnAm]

@@RojCowles Alright, thx for the input

[@andysellers8298]

@@JayAnAm Same here! Thanks for making this.

[@kevinhouse7143]

Yep me too.

[@bruceismay5440]

Was taught at school how to use inventor, I was considering getting a printer and saw the price of inventor. This looks just as good

[@vicferrmat4492]

I have because you speak clearly explaining step by step. Thank you so much. This is an excellent tutorial.

[@leov4751]

An excellent first tutorial.

[@JayAnAm]

Thx a lot m8

[@matrix3d270]

Plz upload more videos on free cad. Your explanation is amazing, easy to understand. Keep going.

[@JayAnAm]

Thank you, I will

[@matrix3d270]

@@JayAnAm Thx man!

[@markferrick10]

Please, more tutorials on FreeCAD. I really enjoy your method of teaching. Thank you

[@JayAnAm]

Thanks, will do!

[@kenziemac130]

Awesome, tried FreeCad but wasn't sure where to start.

[@childoflight1984]

haha - I had the exact same challenge upon opening FreeCAD :)

[@bridevalley]

This is a great tutorial. I'm just starting to use FreeCAD and would love to see more tutorials like this. Thank you!

[@watnou346]

just commenting, this is great tutorial for beginner, very well appreciated. thanks!!!

[@LandonsArtShow]

Great video! I subscribed!

[@JayAnAm]

Thx m8, a new video on Plasticity and another one on FreeCAD is in the making.

[@gijsqwerasdf]

Love this video. Great introduction showing that is doesn't have to be that hard to learn this tool. Thanks!

[@koosik6651]

The video is in good quality, your voice is loud and clear, no technical mistakes. You provide some valid information about the program. This is a lot, but sadly, everything else is wrong. Consider it as advice. You are not telling the keys that you are pressing (and they are not shown on screen). You are not telling anything about the program itself - I have no clue where I am, I turned on some weird mode, one of dozens, I don't know what it's for or what for are others, and I don't even know if anyone will tell me this in the future. I personally think that video named "for begginers" shouldn't be 6 mins long. I know that some people would get disouraged with several hours long video, but it is paradoxically the fastest way to teach someone the basics, as it gives a solid background for future learning of new features. In the end, I'm sorry that I have to tell it (and i don't know if you were aware of what i said), the video presents no value to me, as It probably won't teach me anything usefull

[@mstreefern]

At first, I felt the same way and was really quite frustrated... If you do what I did, you will find that it is actually quite useful! Watch the vid in full-screen mode so you can get a better view of what is being clicked on or selected. Also, change the speed to 0.75 (or less) and just look for all the progressions without trying to follow the commentary. initially, I kept going back over and over again, missing what he had done to reach where he was until I started watching this way. Now, I don't need to keep going back and I'm watching at normal speed. Another thing is that there appears to be more than one way to reach the same stage but he follows one such set of steps.

[@dimitriosv.771]

Thank you Jayanam! Very good, concise and well structured tutorial!!

[@bloodwolf2609]

Coming from SolidWorks, this tutorial is extremely helpful having never used FreeCAD before

[@JayAnAm]

Great to hear!

[@oscarsamazingworldofeveryt7977]

same

[@25ravenue91]

Clear explanation, thanks!

[@cryptoknight6122]

I am not sure why, but I am yet to come across a FreeCAD video that I can precisely follow because I get different reactions from the software. Eg. @ 4:24 you click CLOSE and instantly a Sketch tools window appears under Tasks. On mine I get Start Part and below that I get Create body and nothing else. It seems there are far too many "settings" in FreeCAD that video creators are changing, but neglecting to mention and thus makes it not possible for a "TOTAL Beginner" to simply follow.

[@yvonhoule566]

Your teaching style is always very precise you have a knack into progressive teaching I will say that all you teach is awesome and for the learner an invaluable resource. Thank you very much for your time effort and dedication. Over the years I have learned quite a bit from various sources but you excel at making it easy.... The purpose of learning is to get results. And you provide me the tools and information I need.

[@andi.herlan]

Very clear features explanation step by step. Thank you.

[@JayAnAm]

Thx, glad you like it!

[@bidouillestudio4617]

Yes, great tutorial, more please 👍☺️

[@JayAnAm]

Alright

[@SavoirPourTous]

Thanks for this video, me too I prepared a list of videos on FreeCad, but this soft is completely different about Sketchup or Blender, we can say it's like Autocad

[@MrSupermugen]

at 3:19 i get an errror saying : double constraint, the selected edge already has a horizontal constraint... how do i fix this!!!!!??!?!?!

[@Promethium666]

A very simple introduction tutorial, thank you for making it easy to follow.

[@chrishoesing5455]

at 4:26 you close the sketch and then pad it... when I close it it disappears?

An unusually clear tutorial. Thank you.

[@JayAnAm]

Haha, glad you think so!

[@HawkEM2]

Genuinely one of the most useful and straightforward videos I've ever seen! Now I can finally design all the things I've put off learning to design!

[@JackWilson327]

Thank you for getting to the point! This was a very efficient use of my time.

[@JayAnAm]

Glad it was helpful!

[@baitclicker9414]

Very clear, helpful instructions mate, cheers. Subscribed.

[@serzyoutdoors]

Thank you, I have been using AutoCad since 1989 and own a few copies of it however Their subscription service far exceeds what I want to do for hobby use now that I'm no longer in the industry. I figured most of what I know will transfer over however jumping into a new interface can sometimes be overwhelming. Got a feeling your videos will hold my hand for a while while I navigate through these commands. Appreciate your videos.

[@disposablefar1645]

Thanks, that was properly fast and straightforward!

[@yevgenygandelman437]

Thank you for this video, how do you rotate the part ib 5:17 min?

[@TheGRoques]

Fantastic introduction. Well done!

[@JayAnAm]

Thank you!

[@mikecurley2072]

Thank you for the tutorial. I am thinking of using Freecad and your demonstration was an excellent introduction.

[@peasant8246]

And like this, my journey into the world of CAD begins. :)

[@uldymuldy]

Very simple and leisurely. Clear and uncomplicated.thank you. I 'm waiting to ! keep going!

[@tonyattwood6773]

Thanks for a great tutoral. Your voice over is really impressive, just the right speed. It would be nice to know a bit more about your preferences as I had no grid. I am running 0.19.2 not sure if that makes a difference at all.

[@weststar3597]

For Sketcher grid Go to File -> New, Create Sketch (tab), then in the Combo View window on left click ""show Grid" to true.

[@DBZFAN612]

@@weststar3597 Thanks!

[@weststar3597]

@@DBZFAN612 You're welcome. I actually had forgotten how to use this software lol.

[@forgetmeandhaveahappylife]

This tutorial is so compact and concise. By the way, this video is listed as the second one in the FreeCAD playlist. It would be great if it could be reordered to be the first one. And thank you very much for making such great tutorials.

[@JayAnAm]

Ok thx will do

[@patrickhouchins9074]

How do I get that graph to appear. When I hit start sketch it's not there like on your screen. Great vid thanks

[@BoofGalls]

Where do I get the grid for the 2d sketch? 1:44

[@neonempire1684]

have you found an answer to this? I'm searching for that as well...

[@barjammar]

@@neonempire1684 Maybe go to edit preferences sketch and then turn the grid on (I found a help file on the forum) at forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?t=5889#:~:text=Re%3A%20Grid%20visibility,-Post%20by%20GigiG&text=wrote%3A%20Greetings%20GigiG-,For%20Sketcher%20grid%20Go%20to%20File%20%2D%3E%20New%2C%20Create%20Sketch,%22show%20Grid%22%20to%20true.

[@daslimit1]

Great, more please!!

[@JayAnAm]

Ok, will do:-)

[@rickysingh4470]

@@JayAnAm Yes, more please

[@AgnosiaAgnosis]

Seconded!

[@yorkshiresfinestpair]

yes more please im just starting to learn freecad

[@dionnemachingura2394]

Thank you so much for this, you have no idea how much you have helped me. ☺☺

[@clevelandsavage]

THANK YOU! I have Fusion 360but the cloud requirement is becoming a headache.

[@stevesteve6545]

Great introduction, thanks

[@Bobtech2]

Very nice - please make more

[@JayAnAm]

The new one can be found in the end screen

[@BoofGalls]

The sketch tools at 4:26 are not there, I only see “start body” and “start Boolean”

[@BoofGalls]

Never mind, I just had to select the solved sketch

[@speedracer138]

I need help with a Cantilever mechanism for a large overhead door. I have never used this or any CAD Software. Willing to learn but need help. I saw the Cantilever file in your opening minutes.

[@alicecarroll4953]

Nice presentation clearly done. One or two seconds to show where you are getting new tools will be a good addition.

[@JayAnAm]

Glad you liked it! Thx!

[@christofferlarsson6989]

Great intruduction! Thanks!

[@JayAnAm]

Glad it was helpful!

[@adamzalkornain8255]

Hye. This is very easy to understand and your voice is very clear. Thank you for your kind explaination. Can you teach me how you rotate your block using your cursor?Because i couldnt rotate it freely.

[@brandonhorgan9152]

A bit late but I just figured it out. Hold down middle mouse and then hold left click at the same time

[@Svendus]

Thank You for your great tutorials ❤ Sadly FreeCad do not open on my late2013 MacBook pro running MacOS Bic Sur 11.7 😥

[@tonycstech]

I cant change constraints. Every time i click it, it says it already has one.

[@Porkkanapiirakka0610-m5r]

im literally watching this video IN FreeCAD which is pretty cool

[@GEOsustainable]

Great video. Fast moving introduction.

[@JayAnAm]

Glad you liked it! will be a bit slower next time?