Learning FreeCAD for Beginners | 39 | Sub Assemblies in A2 Plus | Chest of Drawers

In this episode we learn how to create sub assemblies in FreeCAD and assemble them into a single assembly. We use the FreeCAD A2 Plus Assembly workbench to create a simple chest of drawers. We create a handle and drawer blank and combine them into a sub assembly. We then create the chest and pull in multiple drawers as sub assemblies. This is a very simple example to keep it easier on the beginner.
#FreeCAD , #CAD , #3DPrinting
Journey with me and
Patreon
/ mangojellysolutions
Donate:
www.paypal.com/paypalme/darre...
or
ko-fi.com/mang0
Subscribe:
/ @mangojellysolutions
Browse my Redbubble Shop:
MangojellyLabs.redbubble.com
Blog:
mangojellysolutions.blogspot....

[@marcusjenkins]

In the real world we would be assembling parts that are dimensioned to have clearances between them. How does this work in this workbench?

[@MangoJellySolutions]

This is a great question that I never thought about including. I have been saying about breathing room in some a2 videos but I have never said adding tolerances, or thought about including that. Some of the constraints allow for an offsets which you can adjust for the tollerances but certain others don't. Plane coincidence, circle on circle, center of mass for example allow for that. I am now wondering if that's the reason these type of constraints exist. Certain ones are just visual, others are for precision. I may use this for content for another video as what you have bought up is extremely important and useful subject.

​@@MangoJellySolutionsit would be nice!

[@kenwendorf2052]

The "PlaneCoincident" Constraint has the offset. So design the drawer smaller than the opening and offset the proper distance. I use the offset quite often for positioning.

[@lowededwookie]

Thanks for this. I really needed it. Coming from Fusion360 I find some aspects of FreeCAD a little foreign and difficult to grasp. Incidentally, if you're on a Mac you don't need to use CTRL click as this causes issues with menus as CTRL then left mouse is the same as clicking the right mouse button. On Mac you simply click each point/plane/edge.

[@Rasspor]

I have been waiting for a video like this one for a long time. Sometimes i think we over look the simplicity of some designs. As i was working on making a desktop storage unit for all of my small stray parts. I ended up with a very complex design that i worked on for hours. Then you made this unit that is configurable and simple in design. You my friend are a godsend. I will be looking at designing storage containers and project enclosures in a completely different way after this video. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge in this complex topic.

[@MangoJellySolutions]

So pleased that you found a great use for this. I to went down the root of over designing the same assembly. Making a front, side and slide in bottom as if I was creating this for a full on wooden construction. I then took a step back and thought to myself 'What an I trying to demonstrate and how can I do this in the minimum amount of steps so people don't get bored ' . I was aiming to make a assembly tutorial that can be built upon. And realised that for 3D printing you don't need all those connecting parts. It lead to a quick tutorial with a practical real world object which for me theses types of tutorials personally love as it creates something with a purpose. Thank you for the kind comments and so pleased that your finding them useful. I am constantly monitoring the reception of the videos and again am tweaking the content I produce. I am trying at the moment to mix experimental intermediate projects along with more friendlier practice ones like this along with some tool explanation to see what the reception is like.

[@Mids1970]

fantastic you have made my life better and so has the man who worked on this software

[@MangoJellySolutions]

Thank you :) :)

[@user-et9ym2ho3g]

Прекрасное объяснение! Все получилось!!!

[@julianrichards8337]

I've just been playing with assembly 4 but this looks much better. Will have a play with A2+ later - Thank you for your great videos / tutorials :-)

[@MangoJellySolutions]

A2Plus is an extremely quick workbench to throw things together. Can be quite fun to use to. Glad you enjoying the videos and thank you 😊

[@chriskeeble]

Great stuff as ever, Darren - thank you 🙂

[@marcusjenkins]

Are you a mind reader? This is exactly what I wanted to learn about. I am considering designing a CNC router using FreeCAD. It will be build with multiple parts that are the same / copies (e.g. NEMA23 stepper motors) that are drafted once and then multiplied and assembled.

[@MangoJellySolutions]

Erm, well, lol, the first video I started to do before I changed it to a drawer consisted of modeling a linear rail, linear bearing.... you can see where this is going lol. I dropped it as it was taking way to long to model each and the video was running over an hour. Then I had the idea of downloading step files and building the assembly from those. I got hold of a Nema 17 from grabcad and bearings then went off on a tangent and made the stl tutorial, I think you may still be able to see the downloaded file when I go off and save the assembly. So tomorrow I'm off to buy a lottery ticket lol. But yes I was putting together the lead screw assembly as one sub assembly then the linear rails so your going down the right path.

Nice!

[@MangoJellySolutions]

Thanks 😁👍

[@yueibm]

Thank you!

[@sjn8099]

Only thank you 🙂

[@ollyk22]

Hi MJS great video as usual... I would love to see you produce a propeller at some point? I have tried (and I am talking one with a twist in the chord line) and have not managed to find a tool or workbench that gives you fine control over how the skin blends from one section to another.... If you could consider that, I think it would be a great lesson and very interesting to many! Thanks.

[@russellw5447]

11:33 When importing the Drawer Assembly I found the Handle & Drawer were separating (my error, I hadn't saved the Fusion earlier). I went back and fused them in part and all is well. I presume One could impose Constraints to restrict the Drawer from coming out the back? Like most things it gets easier the more you do it. I think I'm beginning to understand FreeCAD.

[@RoamingAdhocrat]

can you make this but parameterised - like you set internal dimensions for the drawer, wall thickness, clearance margin for container, container wall thickness and all the parts resize appropriately? I can add a spreadsheet, but from the look of it with a multipart a2plus assembly I'd need a spreadsheet and repetition in every .fscad file

[@rancetino4951]

How do you avoid the drawer from going through the back? Is there constraint forthat?

[@MangoJellySolutions]

Unfortunately there isn't at the moment.

[@maffysdad]

Can I have the FreeCAD part of your brain please? 🤣 I knew this was possible, but I wanted to do my design the hard way because I am learning FreeCAD so need the experience, but I spent many, many, many, many hours designing parts and this could've saved me at least three 'many' and made my design look so much cooler!...

[@marcusjenkins]

Forgive me if you've already done this, but... What about a project where you mix some parts you draft yourself and some imported parts, e. g. from McMaster Carr? Also, what about importing parts (again, e. g. downloaded from McMaster Carr and not in FreeCAD) format for customising in FreeCAD?

[@MangoJellySolutions]

I really like this idea. Can see it being a really useful tutorial. Thank you

[@KnugLidi]

Does the A2 workbench have 'collision' detection? From parametric programs I used in 1999 for solid modelling, the sub assemblies prevented solids from intersecting during constrained movement.

[@MangoJellySolutions]

Unfortunately not. It is one thing I would love to see.

[@KnugLidi]

@@MangoJellySolutions yeah, both SolidEdge and Solidworks had collision detection / interference checks, which made it handy for fit checking assemblies Well, its still an improvement over the earlier attempts at assemblies w/ FreeCAD !

[@Hertech_Europe]

Thanks for this enlightening video. Can this workflow be used to design 3D objects and export them as stl file to print them?

[@MangoJellySolutions]

Thanks glad you enjoyed. Yes you can use it for 3d printing. I have actually created a video here of such an example kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYvNimp9ltaIg9k

[@tamgaming9861]

My parts don't move even if I follow step by step your instructions. They stay where they were and don't connect, like in your video at 9:04. What can I do?

[@32_bits]

Just found your channel and looking forward to working through your videos. Could you let me know the 1st video and title to start learning FreeCAD from the long list of videos you have made?

[@MangoJellySolutions]

Welcome to the journey and thank you. Luckily enough I have put together a playlist for the learning freecad for beginners series FreeCAD 0.20 For Beginners Tutorials: kzbin.info/aero/PLWuyJLVUNtc0UszswD0oD5q4VeWTrK7JC the CAD thinking series is a short series that's worth having a look at once you get a few basics down. There is also a playlist for that but I have included it in this series as it was a test 'mini series' which I will be expanding on 😊

[@UserUser-99]

Now, how to export it as .3mf so it can be 3D printed?

[@MangoJellySolutions]

You have to first convert it to a mesh via the mesh workbench 1. Select body 2. Meshes -> Create mesh from shape 3. Standard (10um, 3 deg) 4. Right click generated mesh -> export mesh 5. Select .3mf from dropdown

[@UserUser-99]

Thanks so much Mango! Love your video series. @@MangoJellySolutions

[@ackpacket]

What's the approach for having parametric control over individual parts, in an assembly? Scenario: I want to build a dresser. The dresser consists of a carcass and drawers. The carcass consists of stretchers. The drawers consist of sheets and mechanical joins. My end goal would be to adjust the dresser width and have the drawer fronts/backs scale evenly with it.

[@MangoJellySolutions]

You would be looking at a spreadsheet approach across multiple parts. I am in the process of putting together a video on this subject using a similar furniture so I can make that available once done

[@tonyg8790]

Tony G

[@MZ.steve23]

I wonder can you use this furniture (or even a simple table) to create an Assembly Instruction manual that is printable in A4? I've been searching all over internet but there isn't a complete guide on how to create one, or export one ; the only place that I found got a complete guide is on Solidworks; however I can't afford to pay for solidwork just to create one Assembly instruction, do you able to make it possible by using freecad? I desperately need help for this.

[@MangoJellySolutions]

I haven't replied as of yet as I have been doing some research on the subject. I looked at Solidworks composer, very impressive but unfortunately am equivalent doesn't exist for FreeCAD. The techdraw has internal commands to output as SVG. If there was some way to hook up an animation to take svg snapshots at keyframes u can see this being very useful. But unfortunately there is no composer type program, sorry. The only way to do is is build an explode assembly and take a view of each at that point in time and export out. This will be pretty time consuming. You may be able to script it worth python code.... Now that's an idea!

[@MZ.steve23]

@@MangoJellySolutions Thanks for the reply! And yea you are right, I eventually use this explode assembly method and export it out into PDF; I have to basically position my drawings in different ways and export it out individually, and then use Inkscape to arrange it in accordance to the steps that are required.... It is time consuming and tedious but as long as my goal is achieved then I think is fine..... No need to spend hundreds or thousands of dollar just to get one thing done.

[@qzorn4440]

Most interesting video. Can FreeCad do electrical panel layouts like SolidWorks? SolidWorks is very pricey. $4000 up^

[@MangoJellySolutions]

Thank you, I am not sure I am unfamiliar of the process. There might be a workbench for it. There is something called kiCAD for electronics I am not sure if this would be worth a look.