In this article we will design 3D objects for laser cutting using the free and open source CAD software FreeCAD. We will create a simple mounting bracket as an example.
A free 3D CAD software, TinkerCAD is a three-dimensional design app owned by Autodesk and built for beginner. Designed to run in your browser, TinkerCAD uses an intuitive block-building concept and basic operations of modeling which allows the users to create design models from a set of basic shapes.
Freecad 3d Design Tool
Nov 06, 2019 A free 3D modelling CAD application for multiple platforms. FreeCAD is a general purpose feature-based, parametric 3D modeler for CAD, MCAD, CAx, CAE and PLM, aimed directly at mechanical engineering and product design but also fits a wider range of uses in engineering, such as architecture or other engineering specialties. Mar 04, 2020 Product design is originally a commercial term, but in the 3D world, it often means modeling something with the idea to have it 3D-printed or, more generally, manufactured by a machine, for example a 3D printer or a CNC machine. When you print objects in 3D, it is of ultimate importance that your objects are solid. As they will become real. Sweet Home 3D is a free interior design application that helps you draw the plan of your house, arrange furniture on it and visit the results in 3D. With Sweet Home 3D you can create realistic photos & also you can create 3D videos. The features of Sweet Home 3D may be extended thanks to plug-ins. Dec 14, 2020 One of the main uses of FreeCAD is to produce real-world objects. These can be designed in FreeCAD, and then made real in different ways, such as communicated to other people who will then build them, or, more and more frequently, sent directly to a 3D printer or a CNC mill.
These mounting brackets are designed to hold the cooling unit of the K40 that we build here. This is a bit too complicated to model as a simple 2d model in Inkscape as we have shown
in this article
.png/220px-Freecad_screenshot_--_Rockn_house_(in).png "Freecad 3d design tutorial")
FreeCAD however is easily able to handle this design.
Enable laser cutting CAD in FreeCAD
The LC Interlocking Workbench is a great way to design even quite complicated shapes for the laser cutter. Install the workbench following the instructions on the website.
In FreeCAD we switch to the LC Interlocking workbench.
Designing the shape with the laser cut interlocking workbench
We want the mounts to have a length of 150 mm and the short sides to be around 25 mm wide. The box design tool from the workbench gives us a head start and creates the necessary pieces easily.
We just fill in the width, height, length of the box and the the thickness of the material – which is 3.1 millimeter – and get a box of that size.
We delete the two sides that we don't need with the delete key and position the two sides that later will become supporting elements 30 mm inwards.
To move objects by a set amount we add the respective number in the positioning area. Just type the plus sign and the number and let FreeCAD do the math for you.
We then select all the pieces and click on the button to create connection tabs. In the task panel we add all parts to the assembly with the add same parts button. By pressing space we hide one long piece and mark the faces of two short pieces so that they get tabs.
While for the short sides the default setting of a single tab works fine we increase the amount of tabs for the long sides to five.
After hiding the second long side we can add the other two faces and after closing the task panel all the tabs are created.
Refinement with the parts design workbench
Now we switch back to the part design workbench to modify the pieces. Before we can modify a shape we have to convert it into a body with the button showing a blue staircase.
For the smaller pieces we create a sketch on their surface and then use the button with the blue box to get the corners of the shape as a reference. Cricut design space blank screen.
With the multiline tool we then draw a triangle and directly close the sketch.
By pocketing the triangle through the entire structure we cut away part of the shape. This change is purely for the look.
We repeat the same steps for the other supporting structure.
The two long pieces get holes to mount the cooling unit and screw the mount to the cart. These are also sketches on the surface that are then pocketed through the piece.
Creating sketches in FreeCAD follows a simple logic. If you get close to an existing point and it turns yellow the point is catched and a constraint is automatically created.
FreeCAD however is easily able to handle this design.
Enable laser cutting CAD in FreeCAD
The LC Interlocking Workbench is a great way to design even quite complicated shapes for the laser cutter. Install the workbench following the instructions on the website.
In FreeCAD we switch to the LC Interlocking workbench.
Designing the shape with the laser cut interlocking workbench
We want the mounts to have a length of 150 mm and the short sides to be around 25 mm wide. The box design tool from the workbench gives us a head start and creates the necessary pieces easily.
We just fill in the width, height, length of the box and the the thickness of the material – which is 3.1 millimeter – and get a box of that size.
We delete the two sides that we don't need with the delete key and position the two sides that later will become supporting elements 30 mm inwards.
To move objects by a set amount we add the respective number in the positioning area. Just type the plus sign and the number and let FreeCAD do the math for you.
We then select all the pieces and click on the button to create connection tabs. In the task panel we add all parts to the assembly with the add same parts button. By pressing space we hide one long piece and mark the faces of two short pieces so that they get tabs.
While for the short sides the default setting of a single tab works fine we increase the amount of tabs for the long sides to five.
After hiding the second long side we can add the other two faces and after closing the task panel all the tabs are created.
Refinement with the parts design workbench
Now we switch back to the part design workbench to modify the pieces. Before we can modify a shape we have to convert it into a body with the button showing a blue staircase.
For the smaller pieces we create a sketch on their surface and then use the button with the blue box to get the corners of the shape as a reference. Cricut design space blank screen.
With the multiline tool we then draw a triangle and directly close the sketch.
By pocketing the triangle through the entire structure we cut away part of the shape. This change is purely for the look.
We repeat the same steps for the other supporting structure.
The two long pieces get holes to mount the cooling unit and screw the mount to the cart. These are also sketches on the surface that are then pocketed through the piece.
Creating sketches in FreeCAD follows a simple logic. If you get close to an existing point and it turns yellow the point is catched and a constraint is automatically created.
Now the circle still has an arbitrary size. We select the circle and add a constraint to make its radius 2mm. We close the sketch and pocket the hole though all the material.
On the other piece we first create two circles that have an arbitrary size and position. Then we constrain them.
In a first step we mark both centers and make sure they are on the same height with a horizontal constraint.
Using Freecad For 3d Printing
When selecting both circles the radius constraint is automatically applied to both elements. We measured the distance of the mounting holes of the radiator to be 120 mm – which is a horizontal distance constraint.
Free Cad 3d Design Software
We then again use the blue box icon to get the edge of the shape as a reference so that we can measure the horizontal distance of 7,5 mm and the vertical distance of 10 mm.
After closing the sketch we selet pocket and go though all the material. We finish the shape and can inspect it from all sides.
Freecad 3d Design Projects
Laser cutting
In order to cut them on the laser we select all the parts and go back to the LC Interlocking workbench. A very cool feature is this button with the small squared that puts all pieces flat in one plane.
We export these shapes to a DXF file and can cut them on the K40.
After that we cut the parts out the mounting brackets are ready for glue up.
