After almost two years of development, FreeCAD 3, an open source parametric 0.19D modeling system, is officially available. The release sources were published on February 26 and then updated on March 12, but the official release announcement was delayed due to the unavailability of installation packages for all announced platforms. A few hours ago, the warning that the FreeCAD 0.19 branch is not yet officially ready and is in development has been removed and the release can now be considered completed. The current version on the site has also been changed from 0.18 to 0.19.1.
The FreeCAD code is distributed under the LGPLv2 license and is characterized by flexible customization and functionality enhancements through the connection of add-ons. Ready assemblies are prepared for Linux (AppImage), macOS and Windows. The interface is built using the Qt library. Add-ons can be created in Python. Supports saving and loading models in various formats, including STEP, IGES and STL. Open CASCADE is used as a modeling kernel.
FreeCAD allows you to change the parameters of the model, play with different design options and evaluate the work at various points in the development of the model. The project can be a free replacement for commercial CAD systems such as CATIA, Solid Edge, and SolidWorks. While FreeCAD's main purpose is mechanical engineering and new product design, it can be used in other areas such as architectural design.
The main innovations of FreeCAD 0.19:
- The migration of the project from Python 2 and Qt4 to Python 3 and Qt5 is basically completed, and most of the developers have already switched to using Python3 and Qt5. At the same time, there are still some unresolved problems and some third-party modules have not been ported to Python.
- The navigation cube in the user interface has been upgraded, with transparency and enlarged arrows. The CubeMenu module has been added, which allows you to customize the menu and change the size of the cube.
- A new light icon theme has been introduced that is similar in style to Blender and works well with different color schemes, including dark and monochrome themes.
- Added interface for managing icon themes.
- Added several dark theme options and a set of dark styles.
- Added a setting to show checkboxes before items in a tree that reflects document content. The change improves the usability of touch screens.
- Support for saving screenshots with a transparent background has been added to the ViewScreenShot tool.
- A new App::Link object has been implemented for creating linked objects within a document, as well as for linking to objects in external documents. App::Link allows one object to use data from another object, such as geometry and 3D representation. Linked objects can be in the same file or in different files, and are treated as lightweight full clones or as the same object that exists in two different instances.
- C++ and Python objects allow the addition of dynamic properties that can be used in place of the PropertyMemo macro.
- The possibility of visual selection of elements hidden from other elements is provided.
- In the settings editor, it became possible to specify the date and time in the names of files with backups, in addition to the sequence number. The format is configurable, for example "%Y%m%d-%H%M%S".
- The parameter editor has a new field for quick parameter search.
- Added support for hertz as a physical unit of measurement, as well as the "Frequency" property. Gauss, Weber and Oersted units have also been added.
- Added TextDocument tool for inserting an object for storing arbitrary text.
- Support for 3D models in glTF format has been added and the ability to export to html with WebGL has been implemented.
- The add-ons manager has been significantly updated, with the ability to show more complete information about all external environments and macros, as well as check for updates, use your own repositories, and flag add-ons that are already installed, obsolete, or pending updates.
- Extended capabilities of the architectural design environment (Arch). The SectionPlane tool has added support for discarding hidden areas for camera simulation. Added a Fence tool to design a fence and posts to secure it. The Arch Site tool added support for displaying a compass and implemented the ability to track the movement of the sun, taking into account latitude and longitude, to assess the insolation parameters of rooms in a house and calculate roof overhangs.
A new CutLine tool has been added for creating cuts in solid objects such as walls and block structures. Add-on for reinforcement calculation has been improved, an interface has been added to automate the parameters and location of reinforcement.
Added support for importing files in the Shapefile format used in GIS applications. A new Truss tool is proposed for creating beam structures (trusses), as well as a CurtainWall tool for creating various types of walls. SectionPlane adds new rendering modes (Data, Coin and Coin mono) and the ability to generate SVG files.
- In the environment for two-dimensional drawing (Draft), the editor has been significantly improved, in which it has become possible to edit several objects at the same time. The SubelementHighlight tool has been added to highlight the nodes and edges of objects for editing several objects at once and applying various modifiers to them at once, for example, for moving, scaling and rotating. A full-fledged layer system has been added, similar to those used in other CAD systems, and supporting the movement of objects between layers in the drag&drop mode, visibility control and marking with the color of binding to layers.
A new CubicBezCurve tool has been added to create Bezier curves using Inkscape style methods. Added Arc 3Points tool for creating circle arcs using three points. Added Fillet tool to create rounded corners and chamfers. Improved support for SVG format. A style editor has been implemented that allows you to change the style of annotations, such as color and font size.
- Numerous improvements have been made to the FEM (Finite Element Module) environment, which provides tools for finite element analysis, which can be used, for example, to assess the impact on the object being developed of various mechanical influences (resistance to vibration, heat and deformation).
- In the environment for working with OpenCasCade (Part) objects, it became possible to create an object based on points from an imported polygonal mesh (Mesh). Enhanced preview capabilities while editing primitives.
- Improved environments for creating blanks (PartDesign), sketching 2D shapes (Sketcher) and maintaining spreadsheets with model parameters (Spreadsheet).
- The Path environment, which allows you to generate G-Code instructions based on a FreeCAD model (the G-Code language is used in CNC machines and some 3D printers), has added support for controlling the cooling of a 3D printer. Added new operations: Slot for creating slots on anchor points and V-Carve for engraving with a V-shaped nozzle.
- Added support for the "Cycles" rendering engine used in the Blender 3D modeling package to the Render environment.
- Enhanced tools in TechDraw, an environment for 2D modeling and creating 2D projections of 3D models. Improved placement and scaling of window screenshots for 3D viewing. The WeldSymbol tool has been added to provide symbols for identifying welds, including symbols used in Russian GOSTs. Added LeaderLine and RichTextAnnotation tools for creating annotations. Added Balloon tool for attaching labels with numbers, letters and text.
Added CosmeticVertex, Midpoints and Quadrant tools to add dummy vertices that can be used for sizing. Added FaceCenterLine, 2LineCenterLine and 2PointCenterLine tools to add center lines. An ActiveView tool has been added to create a still image from a 3D view and place it in the form of a new view in TechDraw (as a snapshot for quick rendering). Added new drawing design templates for paper in B, C, D and E formats, as well as templates that meet the requirements of GOST 2.104-2006 and GOST 21.1101-2013.
- Added a macro for automatic construction and fastening of light steel frames.
- A new Assembly4 module is proposed with the implementation of an improved environment for designing the operation of prefabricated multicomponent structures.
- Updated 3D Printing Tools, tools for working with models in STL format, which can be used for 3D printing.
- The ArchTextures module has been added, providing a means to use textures in the Arch environment, which can be used to render buildings realistically.
- Flamingo was replaced by the Dodo module with a set of tools and objects to speed up the drawing of wireframes and pipes.
Source: opennet.ru