FreeCAD3: Sketching with Polyline, Adding Constraints and Dimensions

Third video in beginner series on using FreeCAD. Polyline is likely the most useful geometry tool in sketcher for getting started quickly making sketches. Video ends with closed, fully constrained sketch that is ready to be used as a basis for a 3D solid model

[@TheScotsalan]

Excellent lesson👍. I have been learning freecad for a while now, and this is the first vid I have seen it explained where a right click cancels the current command. Coming from solid works, that I still use, I have been using the esc button. That causes me to tear my hair out, cos on solid works, my finger is on esc all the time. But on freecad, press it once too much, or when there is no active command, it exits the sketch 😂. This one vid has probably just doubled my sketching speed on freecad.

[@abrotherinchrist]

I'm trying to learn how to draw very simple sheet metal profiles. I can't find any videos that demonstrate how to use the polyline tool to draw the profile with live constraints, specifically, how to type in the length and angle you want your next line to be while you are drawing. Example: Point 1 starts at 0,0 and goes flat to 5.63" to the second point, then turns on an angle up 40 degrees for a length of 1", then turns down 45 degrees for .125" and turns back 90 degrees for .5".

[@takami801]

i have freecad0.21.1 but can't see the polyline tool

[@germona]

Very good tutorial, Mitchell. I am new to Freecad, and would like to know if it is possible to hide the dimensions of a sketch for a period of time, so they are not 'in the way' when drawing the skets? Thanks.

[@MonstroLab]

I know There is a button because i saw it in another tut but I forgot where it is.

[@germona]

@@MonstroLab Thanks, Mitchel, i think i have found it. Shortcut zz. Or in the sketch menu, the last option, Virtual space and then something, i cannot really translate. So all good. Jean