Using FreeCAD for 3D printing and simple part manufacture

[Neale]

Be interested to hear why you went FreeCAD. Quite a few of us here use Fusion 360 in its free "home and hobby user" version which is a slightly/somewhat (depending on point of view) version of a full professional package. I tried to use FreeCAD a few years ago and found it rather lacking at that point. I understand that it is both more functional and reliable now but haven't felt the need to go back to it. Good luck with it, though - hope someone can assist!

[Shedguy]

Be interested to hear why you went FreeCAD. Quite a few of us here use Fusion 360 in its free "home and hobby user" version which is a slightly/somewhat (depending on point of view) version of a full professional package. I tried to use FreeCAD a few years ago and found it rather lacking at that point. I understand that it is both more functional and reliable now but haven't felt the need to go back to it. Good luck with it, though - hope someone can assist!

Yes Fusion 360 was my original choice but I’m running Windows10 upgraded a good while back, from Win7. The hardware incorporates integral graphics which HP - the mfrs - have no later drivers for. I mention this because when I tried to run Fusion - I’d run cleaning scan and stopped a lot of stuff running at start up, Fusion simply refused to run smoothly; freezing frequently and even completely crashing. Trued unistall and reinstall twice, but no material change so, I gave it best and downloaded FreeCA D V.0.20.2 instead. Even this took two goes to get running smoothly but it has since been working well enough. It also happens the men’s association - Men in Sheds - I belong too has downloaded FreeCAD as it is - apparently - recommended if you want to make your own models for 3D printing. The incentive there is we have recently been gifted a fully working 3D printer. Apology for the delay in reply, but thanks for your interest. Oh! have solved the centres problem with the techdraw in FreeCAD: seems the centres are disabled by default in the preferences. As they are crucial for accurate dimensioning, cannot for the life of me understand the logic (if any) behind this decision by FreeCAD. I’d ratger have the option to “disable” them rather than “enable” them!