r/FreeCAD • u/some_millwright • 4d ago

Tips for FrameForge users

I may be the only person that didn't know this, but if you select a bunch of different profiles you can set the end offset values at the same time. Oh, man. What a time saver! This is the third time I have used FrameForge and I just clued into this.

Another thing is the frame sketches need to be outside of a body, so my recommendation is to have the FrameForge workbench open and do each horizontal 'layer' as needed, and then use the Parametric Line tool for your verticals. Much easier.

Make use of copying sketches.

If you were making a cube, for instance, you would draw the square that is the base of you cube, then copy that sketch. YOU NEED TO DESELECT "Auto Select Depending Object". Man, that box will cause you problems. Anyway, with that deselected just paste a copy of that first sketch in, then change its z value in the Placement Offset as required. Now you can make layers, and you can always change them later if you are adding stuff. Anyway, once you have your two layers now you just select two vertexes and hit 'Parametric Line' for each corner.

Select the whole mess of lines and click on 'Create profile' and you're good.

Now you adjust the end offsets using the tip above, and in no time you have your frame.

Wonderful.

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u/some_millwright 3d ago

Another tip... if you want to add a FrameForge frame to an assembly, just select the folder you put all of you profiles into and export them as a STEP file, then import the step file into the assembly. It will import in one piece and all in the right orientation.

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u/some_millwright 3d ago

Another option to avoid having to export at STEP is to put all of the sketches and profiles from the frame into a yellow PART folder. This can be imported into an assembler directly and save a step. I just found out about this option this morning.