FreeCAD: Basic steps for a 2d drawing

[last updated: 2019-02-26]
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go to: FreeCAD: Command & Operation Notes
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... in process of being converted to FC 0.18 ...
• Open FreeCAD
• Either open a previously saved project (either click on main opening screen, or File > Open)
  or create a new one (File > New)
  (if you create a new drawing, recommend to immediately "save as": File > Save As, then navigate to desired location, enter desired name, then click <Save>)
• Select workbench - Draft for a 2d drawing
• Set preferences:
• Edit (top menu bar) > Preferences
  Draft (large icon on left side bar)
  Grid and snapping (tab at top)
  Suggest to always snap & Show Draft Snap Toolbar
  Set grid parameters as desired
  eg. "grid spacing" 20mm defines minor div as 0.02 m
  "main lines every" 10 lines defines major div as 0.2 m (7-7/8")
  "grid size" 400 lines defines overall size of grid space as 8 m square (26.25')
  (Grid spacing of 6.35mm is very close to 0.25")

  <OK> (at bottom)

• For editing an existing file, to show the grid, double-click "Sketch"
• draw elements:
• draw a line:
  click the 'create a 2-pt line' icon
  method 1:
  position cursor where you want to start the line and click
  move cursor to drag the line and click to place at desired end point of line
  notice a new element is added to the model tree

  method 2:

  notice keyboard focus and blinking is in the 'global x' field in Combo View
  enter a desired position and press <CR>
  Note: Units (eg. m or mm) may or may not be displayed. If not, they're probably default mm. If you want m (meters), put "m" after the coordinate you enter.
  repeat for desired 'y' position
  press <CR> to accept default for 'z' position [since this is a 2d drawing]
  This will locate start-point of the line. Repeat to locate/place endpoint.
  However:Take note of whether the 'Relative' box is checked. If so, coordinates entered will be relative to startpoint (which is probably what you want) rather than absolute grid coordinates.

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