FreeCAD What Is The Link Tool? And How Can We Use It In Parametric Modelling | Mastering FreeCAD | 1

Beyond the Basics with FreeCAD part 1. What is the link tool in FreeCAD? We take you through introducing the link tool in a beginner friendly way, explain how to use it and why it's important for parametric and what it can be used for in FreeCAD. In the first video we will take you through the link tool with a basic introduction. The following videos will show the link tool in two basic FreeCAD project examples including making molds and a parametric cabinet.
#freecad , #CAD , #3DPrinting
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[@OhHeyTrevorFlowers]

I’m happy to see a multipart series on the higher level uses of FreeCAD like cross-file organization. It would be good to also have a video discussing different uses for link, clone, and binders as at a surface level they seem similar.

[@MangoJellySolutions]

Great to hear you like, was in two minds to put this in a separate series or include in the learning freecad but realised these are more in depth and longer tutorials. I will make that video. I think it will be pretty useful.

[@syphiliticmindgaming7465]

Powerful stuff. It's good to see features added that SolidWorks and Alibre can't do. The potential for this and what it could mean for assemblies with lots of similar parts is huge. Well done.

[@MangoJellySolutions]

Thanks 😊 I am shooting the second video as we speak. I have back tracked a little and going for a second take as there is something viital I want to add . The video may be more of an intermediate one so tempted to create a seperate side series away from the learning freecad one so it can slowly grow.

Very informative! I don't even know about this tool. Thank you!

[@MangoJellySolutions]

You're welcome!

[@gregwoolley]

Excellent! Thank you.

[@49cfr]

I think the "show all" feature that I just learned in this video is going to open up new possibilities in my workflow, excited to try this in the Path workbench. Also, I think the link tool is going to be helpful in some future models as well. Cheers!

[@MangoJellySolutions]

Glad it was helpful! The next videos are going to be somewhat longer to give an idea of the full process in action plus some other bonus techniques 😁 be great to hear what you use it for in the future

[@tdtrecordsmusic]

I really hope FreeCAD takes this link thing to new heights caz there is the potential for FC to better than commercial softwares ! I remember in Autodesk inventor there were tons of headaches with assemblies and part versions. Basically, when you started working with multiple objects and then wanted to change some of them it started to get hairy. if any inventor users want to co-miserate > remember having reference geometry, which then conflicted with adaptive constraints.. just to name one hairy thing.... ugh, or having to use that separate practically hidden program to locate missing files.... So many things were half-arsed & I felt like that was unacceptable do to the price & age of the software !! Its like, autodesk was so committed to backwards compatibility they were unable to change for the better. =stuck . FreeCAD is in a fine spot to excel ! For example: Since we don't have to worry about licensing. Old models can be opened with old software versions. New software with new features can just use those software versions. THAT is an example of where freedom wins ! FTW ! Luv this software !! Lets Go !

[@sjn8099]

Thank You 🙂

[@Bob-el3iw]

Very good as always. 3d printing almost anything you want is made possible by you. I know you've done it before, but a refresher course on tracing a photo to STL file would be great. Please don't stop !! 👏 An insight of how you got here & what motivates you would be good.

[@MangoJellySolutions]

Thank you for the kind words. So glad I have managed to help this number of people to get results. Great suggestion on the video. I was thinking about doing an extended version showing his to trace with lofts as well. Don't worry I have loads to share and ideas every day

[@russellw5447]

I'll Second that.

[@TheAndrian463]

Very interesting look into this feature; looking forward to seeing the next upload on this. Wondering if this would better than Lattice WB for repetitions in a linear array or not. Still thinking of what is the best way for repeating same sized shapes like bricks, timber joists etc and keeping the file size small. Messed with Arch WB but doesn't fit into my work flow.

[@MangoJellySolutions]

That is pretty interesting regarding file size. Wonder what they would be like compared with each other. Same build but different array techniques. Well worth a look into. I am very fond of the lattice wb for it's speed. I haven't used it with link before in an assembly type way. Actually I haven't tried seeing if lattice can be used across files.

[@russellw5447]

Darren, As an Aero Modeller designing Aircraft One has a lot of Common Objects (i.e. Engines, Motors, Batteries, Tanks, Servo's etc etc etc...). I'm thinking One could have a Library/ Directory of Commonly shared Objects that could be imported into My Designs. Instead of redrawing these they are simply linked into the latest design.

[@MangoJellySolutions]

Yes that's a brilliant example of what this can be used for so you can build up a library. Or a library of assembled parts as a sub assembly. You can also do this from the assembly workbench to get them into position first.

[@soodonym]

Thanks for that! I want to make multi part items like furniture and teardrop campers. This feels like a tool that might help with it. Maybe that could be a episode idea for you? Hint hint

[@MangoJellySolutions]

Yes I think this would be ideal for furniture as I was using it for a parametric storage unit 😁

[@tdtrecordsmusic]

AWESOME ! yeah, i consider multi-part modeling fundamental to CAD, so this is a winner tutorial/series :) Lets Go ! Also, u should definitely start with ur FreeCad version & real quick show of what workbenches loaded/installed. Especially with this one caz of the RT branch & how many changes have happened + are coming regarding these features/tools. As of this date 7/5/2023, is the topo naming bug fixed in main branch of FreeCAD ?

[@MangoJellySolutions]

Glad your enjoying. I keep on meaning to add the version. Version 0.21 is a big step forward but the topo is still a problem. There is a road map going forward to fix the issue. .

[@toysforboysrc]

Question… could you please give me a video link that shows me how to combine two separate pads that were both made on parts design or however it is that it’s done please!🙏 it’s very important to me. Thank you.

[@clausziegler5720]

For mulatiple parts which share a master sketch in order to assembly them. Will this be possible also with the "link" feature? So to have the master sketch in one file, link it and have all the other parts in independent files?

[@MangoJellySolutions]

Yes it should as well as sharing things like spreadsheets and technical drawings

[@NUeB_net]

Never looked at this function before… quite interesting w/ scaling and element count. But besides that, what are other differences between link and the clone tool? At first sight, link is the more powerful version of clone - so what for is there still a clone tool?

[@MangoJellySolutions]

I'm going to create a video from a previous request regarding differences between clone, shape binder and link so watch out for that. Hopefully that will answer some questions

[@NUeB_net]

@@MangoJellySolutions Thanks in advance! 🙂

[@NavySturmGewehr]

Is link effectively the same as using draft - clone for sketches?

[@MangoJellySolutions]

No, but exactly. You cab use link to link across files including spreadsheets. I am going to do a video to explain the difference between clone, Binder and link

[@I..cast..fireball]

how do I turn the xyz arrows in the bottom right of screen back on? somehow mine are gone.

[@MangoJellySolutions]

Top menu > edit > preferences. Display icon on left > 3d view tab > general section at top. First checkbox, show coordinate system in corner and show relative size option. Hope that helps.

[@I..cast..fireball]

@@MangoJellySolutions thank you

[@fooballers7883]

Another good tutorial... have to reorganise my brain for this linking....LOL...thanks

[@MangoJellySolutions]

Thank you, great to hear you enjoyed it. Have fun!