Make Assemblies in FreeCAD A2+ |JOKO ENGINEERING|

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[@funkysod]

A really good video covering what you need to know to get started! As usual thanks for sharing and help promoting this very useful, and open source, toolkit.

[@benpracht2655]

I tremendously love your videos. One of my favorite things is how you zoomed in to show where the toolbar button is and made that very clear.

[@IanSGI]

Your videos are so much better than reading documentation!

[@guillaumevincent716]

wow. This is just what I needed! I was strugguling with the assembly 4 workbench. This video was excellent ! Especially after being throught severals tutorials on assembly 4 ( props to the assembly 4 workbench developper and users). Your channel is excellent . I am amazed by how freecad is powerfull. Keep up the good work. I love your style, very inspirationnal. Have a great day.

[@Hotwire_RCTrix]

Thanks this is so easy to understand. I have struggle to find understandable tutorials on FC assembly but this was very clear. :)

[@stanlo45]

Thank so much. The 1st 3 minutes of your video solved my problem.

[@zapper7776]

WOW, i love this workbench, gonna remove some headaches, thx for the tutorial.

[@danmiel7500]

Good video. Your pace is easy to follow I like your explanations.

[@ibokaj]

The best video I found about assemblies in FreeCAD, really well explained. Thank you very much it will help me a lot =)

[@bl4688]

Great idea for a CAD tutorial! Someone needed to do it and of course you could.

[@peterlyons2779]

I was really struggling with both Assembly3 and Assembly4 to do very basic assemblies of 2 or 3 parts. This A2+ tutorial got me going successfully. Thanks!

[@extectic]

An excellent overview of placing parts. This will help me immensely once I get home and can try it out. It's suboptimal to learn piecemeal but at least I'm learning.

[@bobsharpie6583]

I finally learned how to use Assembly 2+. Thank you!!!!

[@AllVisuals4U]

This is a very good tutorial about assembling in FreeCAD!

[@JokoEngineeringhelp]

Nice to hear from you! I'm sending my best wishes to the Netherlands

[@JWAM]

Excellent! You gave me enough encouragement to attempt about in FreeCAD. I never figured out which one (or any) workbench to use for this.

[@JokoEngineeringhelp]

I don't regret starting modeling on the Part Design workbench and then A2+ was the workbench that is most natural to me for assemblies

[@StripeyType]

This is fantastic, thanks!

[@bobbonham4823]

Thanks! This is very helpful.

[@Sevalecan]

Just learning FreeCAD. Not seeing a whole lot of disadvantages vs certain commercially available software TBH for modeling. Love it.

[@kylequinn1963]

Wait until you run into the Topological Naming Problem when you've dumped 10 hours into a more complex design lol

[@Mathew69er]

Very Good Tutorial .... i lerarned a lot ,,,

[@gregwoolley]

Nice video, thank you!

[@axomas]

Thank you!!

[@lauriehartley9808]

Great Tutorial as usual. I have just one comment about adding duplicate parts (at about 10:00). There is an add duplicate part icon - sixth from the left on the lower menu bar - IMO this is the safest and fastest way of adding duplicate parts. If you highlight the desired part in the combo view and click the icon when you bring the cursor back onto the main screen it drags the duplicate with it. The next click place the duplicate part in the approximate area you are going to use it.

[@JokoEngineeringhelp]

I should have mentioned that thanks

[@da60os]

Thanks!

[@bronco7269]

Like the audio upgrade!

[@JokoEngineeringhelp]

First comment on my new audio! It's long overdue

[@ff-mu6cc]

cool!

[@fabiotakeshi1437]

Great video. What are your thoughts on the Assembly 4 workbench vs A2+ when managing bigger assemblies, like when using 100+ for example.

[@TexasDellDude]

I REALLY enjoyed this video, I'm a FreeCAD novice. I'm using version 0.19 and would appreciate a similar beginners video using the Assembly 4 workbench add-in. For extra credit (please forgive me) a secondary video showing how to use the motion capability of Assembly 4 would be awesome! Thank you so very much in Advance!

[@power-max]

So there seems to be many different tools promising the same sort of thing. I was watching another video about Assembly4. Then I went into my FreeCAD and saw Assembly3. I googled and came across this A2+ and Assembly2 as well. Which one is the best one? I like this one, it seems intuitive as you just apply constraints similar to a sketch or whatnot. I was trying to do this with the 'part' tool and separate bodies but having to enter custom transformations for each part is very tedious.

[@daproph8352]

While they are all singing you praises, I'm gonna yell at you...."Bad Joko!" LOL. Why you may be asking... Well it goes back to his method of constraining the shelf pegs in the video, which is a perfectly valid method. But I also think it's the long method. He used 3 different constraints to fully constrain the pegs, but one is able to fully constrain those shelf pegs with just 2 constraints and I will do my best to explain that method now. After placing the shelf peg into the assembly: On the shelf peg, select the outer circular EDGE (not the face...very important) on the side that will go into the hole. On the side wall, Ctrl select the inner circular EDGE inside the hole. (Note: this can be a little difficult as EDGE highlighting does not always show up inside circular holes while your hovering the mouse cursor over it. Zooming in helps with this as well as switching to wire frame view. My personal trick is just to hover the cursor over the EDGE I want and when all FACE highlighting disappears, I know the EDGE I want is highlighted.) With both circular EDGES selected, click the "add a circularEDGE constraint" (side by side red and blue circles) in the toolbar. (you may need to hit the flip button to align the part correctly.) The circularEDGE constraint acts both as a plane and a axis coincident constraint together. Then you only need to follow his method for applying the parallel constraint to align the peg to the shelf and your done. So what's the difference if one uses 3 constraints vs 2 constraints you may be asking... it's only an extra constraint. Well if we use Joko's model he awesomely provided for the tutorial as a reference and place a shelf peg in each hole, the difference is actually 24 constraints and the selection of 48 faces plus the time it takes to move the view port around to select all those faces. If we say that the average time it takes to select the faces and apply the constraint is about 30 seconds, then the time difference would be about 12 minutes. No worries Joko, I did learn something from your video... I learned what the DoF button does... Knowing that is very useful indeed. Thanks for the awesome video and keep them coming.

[@JokoEngineeringhelp]

Thanks for the comment. What we are really talking about here is scope. I didn't go through the offset function or explodes or transparency toggle or angle or all sorts of other methods. This is the first in a number of videos where additional material will be covered that should save some time, but this for now is enough to get people going.

[@fishdisc7022]

How did you constrain the first part (base)? Nobody ever shows how to do that. The first thing you have to do

[@boostermachine2517]

this looks like an inventor assembly, not much different from the A2+, i really enjoy with freecad, and legal to be use thanks!

[@ferencszabo3504]

Wow, reminds me of Spaceclaim.Is there a create part in place option in the assembly?

[@peterp4319]

Can you insert an assembly into an assembly ( sub-assembly --> top-assembly) ?

[@WayofWood]

If you enable Experimental topology naming in the settings this might fix the issues with the face identities.

[@JokoEngineeringhelp]

THIS. I'm going to try this. Hey you have some great content! Let me know if you'd like to do a collaboration sometime

[@WayofWood]

@@JokoEngineeringhelp Sounds like a great idea. I will send you a mail to brainstorm some ideas.

[@tomlazar2248]

you two should totally do something together!

[@rgones]

I've tried it with this setting enabled (it was already on, maybe by default?). No issues doing the operation outlined in the video! (Freecad 0.18, A2pus v0.4.47)

[@atom6_]

Is it not easier to constraint on edges instead ? saves many clicks.

[@CoopKeith1]

I'm experiencing an issue with fem where I see mesh has no volume elements?

[@TheRainHarvester]

Is there a way to design mating parts that get updated if you make a change in one? I made a sketch of a square with 2 holes. In one parh I want hole#1, In another path, I want hole#2. I want to cnc these parts and I can't figure out how to modify their relative position within a single sketch. (Seems like I'd have to recreate one part or another and manually setup for making the holes/path again!).

[@JokoEngineeringhelp]

I have been able get parts to update to eachother but it was so involved it is not practical and would be a very long video with many sketches and high level commands. In context editing within assemblies to constrain one part to another is to my knowledge not available in FreeCAD in a straightforward manner. It is interestingly available in Alibre CAD and it's a cheap one time cost for a one time license. I have a guitar video covering in-context editing for Alibre. Good luck

[@vancamjr]

New subscriber, thanks for this very helpful library of training videos. While this A2+ assembly video is helpful, I am used to building complex assemblies "in place" with Alibre or Solidworks. I'm retired and no longer have access to those CAD tools and am now transitioning to FreeCAD. I'd like to use the same (efficient) workflow of building assemblies in place. In this example I might start with creating the back, when finished I'd reference an edge as a sketch plane and begin creating a new part (side) of the cabinet. This allows one to build up an assembly piece by piece using existing geometry as a guide. Is there a way to this in FreeCAD?

[@JokoEngineeringhelp]

Good question. Editing in context like you can do in Alibre isn't really available in FreeCAD, but you can make a multi-body part which is pretty much the same thing. I have some information on that in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZXVZqmfprWqocU Go to time 2:12:30. You basically make the first part, click new body, model the second part etc. You can use something known as shapebinder to easily import things to reference from in other bodies.

[@guillaumevincent716]

Hi joko. Very interesting as always. Question. What is the best way to generate a bom in freecad. Starting from a 3d file or an assembly in a2. Merci

[@JokoEngineeringhelp]

I thought I had a video on that but now I can't find it. The A2+ workbench can generate a bill of materials as part of the drawing environment. I'll see if I can get a video up for it.

[@wjb2]

THANKS, NEWBE TO CAD AND FREECAD -- NEED A REST the grey cells are hurting

[@marvinpagaran8092]

can you help me, a2plus became slower as the part list grew bigger

[@henrymach]

How do we make several separated models share the same spreadsheet or master sketch?

[@JokoEngineeringhelp]

I know that there was no way to do that (for seperate .fcstd files) back when 0.17 was in beta so if a way has come up it's been since then. The only way I would be able to do that is a multi-body part in the part design or part workbench that can all reference the same sheet.

[@Miniellipse]

Do you recommend A2+ vs A4? I only want to learn one. ;) Another great tutorial. Thank you.

[@JokoEngineeringhelp]

I use A2+ exclusively right now

[@bhishmadesai6500]

Hey... Take a breath. You are dealing with beginners, not professional. Professionals will not need this video. Great Explanation any way. 😂😂😂

[@cgyh68748]

thx this video helped me a lot

[@Drew_pew_pew_pew]

Nice video. I'm a rookie in freecad and the past 2 days I was actually busy tackling the problem on how to use freecad for simple woodworking. I tried Assembly 3, 4 and A2+ . How would you make this a parametric assembly, because I have no idea how to start? What if for example, if you want to change the thickness of the sheets you use?

[@JokoEngineeringhelp]

Hi Dries; I use A2+ and changes should be made to the parts individually.There should be an example of this at 6:30

[@lauriehartley9808]

I can recommend this guy’s tutorials - cabinet making is his speciality and he is very good with the spreadsheets - kzbin.info/www/bejne/laGshYKwmtZ9Zrs

[@Drew_pew_pew_pew]

@@JokoEngineeringhelp Thanks, the only workaround I could find was to make 2 files. One where you put al your parts a separate bodies. The other for the assembly. And then just keep on importing the separate bodies from the same file. I don't know what the possible negative consequences are of doing it this way.

[@Drew_pew_pew_pew]

@@lauriehartley9808 Thanks, I didn't know about him. Subscribed and will look at his videos.

[@ExMachinaEngineering]

Can you define kinematics in FreeCAD assemblies?

[@JokoEngineeringhelp]

Yes see bottom of page here wiki.freecadweb.org/A2plus_Workbench

[@kingkasma4660]

Hey Joko Im currently Building a shelf, buts its all wieldet, is there a way to say i want it placed on this plane but at a certain distance? or how can i achive something like this withou modeling bores into it?

[@JokoEngineeringhelp]

You'll see a constraint properties menu pop up at 10:22. Add offset distance in the box to specify offset

[@kingkasma4660]

@@JokoEngineeringhelp Thanks Ur Great Keep Going!

[@Helli__]

Is it possible to directly switch from modeling to assembly? It seems more practical to me to model the whole cabinet structure in 1 file as separated bodys or "components" instead of saving them all into a separate file and adding them again into a new file for assembly.

[@JokoEngineeringhelp]

Are you a fusion 360 user? That's how assemblies work in that platform, whereas SolidWorks, Alibre and others use separate files. For my own modeling, I pretty much exclusively use A2+ and that requires separate files. I believe the A4 is the same way.

[@Helli__]

@@JokoEngineeringhelp I'm a 2D or 2.5D guy😊(pen and paper). For using 3D CAD I've tinkered a bit with fusion, but never got really warm with it. I also did a bit more with sketch up and some other direct modelers a few years ago where I worked with components or "groups". If I had to decide for a CAD I would be more the parametric guy, because I think "automating" the model itself is the way to go and the way this is done makes the model more consistent. Therefore I'm really enjoying your videos to learn FreeCAD. I was just curious about the complete workflow from model to assembly. I have to try it now, but my attempt, as said, would've been modeling the cabinet first in one file with different bodys for sides, bottom and top. Then export bodys as separated files and then go on as you did in the video. Right?

[@Helli__]

@@JokoEngineeringhelp I just realized I first have to learn how to deal with parts, bodys, and groups etc.. Is it even possible to export separate bodies or parts into new files? I guess my old habits and expectations do not fit for the workflow with FreeCAD, so i have to shake them off and relearn from scratch 😊 Thank you for the good work and the sheer amount of effort you put in your videos!

[@JokoEngineeringhelp]

@@Helli__ Hi Helli; You sure can do it that way. I usually make all the parts individually and put them together. No absolute right or wrongs here!

[@FunoXXX]

One question: Is it possible to pattern your shelf inside this assembly? So for example how would you "pattern" your pins along every row of holes you created here?

[@JokoEngineeringhelp]

Good question. To my knowledge, the best way to pattern is to create an array in the part using the draft workbench and insert the patterned part into the assembly. The assembly modules of freecad are still under development, so I wouldn't be surprised to see the feature added to the assembly at some point.

[@FunoXXX]

@@JokoEngineeringhelp Thanks very much! This helped tremendious... I'm trying to switch to Feecad completly, but some features like a linear patterns (which you helped immensly) the offset feature during drafting really held me up... You don't happen to have a good tip for the offset feature ;-)? ^^

[@JokoEngineeringhelp]

@@FunoXXX For sketch offset? @Allvisuals4u did a great job kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKjQe2aLorpmbLM

[@keithschaub7863]

I did what you showed - I made 2 squares..worked great. Now, on one of the sketches add a thru-hole..then update the assembly and the assembly moves "in" undesirably without explanation. Can you try it and explain to us?

[@JokoEngineeringhelp]

I don't think I understand your question. Does the explanation on topology naming at 8:28 not suffice?

[@keithschaub7863]

@@JokoEngineeringhelp Sorry, I wasn't clear. Let me try again. Made 2 squares. Connected them exactly like in video. Great. Then, re-edit one of the sketches and added one simple hole. Closed the sketch. Here's a video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4i7mHmwj86Mh7M

[@MrKsuhiyp]

This is really useful, can you make a rocket stove. Thank you

[@JokoEngineeringhelp]

Thanks for the idea. Any particular things you need the stove to be made out of?

[@MrKsuhiyp]

​@@JokoEngineeringhelp There is a very interesting concept in wood combustion applied in rocket stoves called wood gamification. Here is a third part of video for a welder doing one kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4KVfoNsp96Medk