FreeCAD: Tutorial TechDraw workbench (2/3)

Update: July 18, 2021

FreeCAD 0.19

Adding dimensions

Length dimension

Select two points (or one line) on the page with holding down the Ctrl key and execute the Horizontal Distance Dimension to add a horizontal length dimension. You can adjust the display position of the dimension by dragging the number of the dimension with the mouse (if you want to delete the added dimension, select it with the mouse and press the Delete key).

Fig. Selecting two points — Selecting two points

Fig. Adding a horizontal length dimension — Adding a horizontal length dimension

In similar way, select two points (or one line) on the page with holding down the Ctrl key and execute the Vertical Distance Dimension to add a vertical length dimension.

Fig. Adding a vertical length dimension — Adding a vertical length dimension

Arc radius dimension

To add an arc radius, select the arc on the page and execute Radius Dimension.

Fig. Selecting an arc — Selecting an arc

Fig. Adding a radius dimension — Adding a radius dimension

In similar way, you can add a diameter dimension by selecting an arc and executing Diameter Dimension.

Fig. Adding a diameter dimension — Adding a diameter dimension

Angles

Select 2 lines that make an angle on the page and run Angle Dimension to add an angle dimension.

Fig. Selecting 2 lines that make an angle — Selecting 2 lines that make an angle

Fig. Adding an angle dimension — Adding an angle dimension

When all the dimensions is added, it will look like following.

Fig. Adding all the dimensions — Adding all the dimensions

Adjusting dimensions

Adding symbols and character string to the dimensions

You can adjust the formatting by selecting the dimension on the page and changing the "Format Spec" property in the Data tab of the Combo View. The default is "%.2f", but you can add any string you like, for example, "%.2f mm". Press F5 key on keyboard to refresh the entire page and reflect the changes.

You can also set "Arbitrary" property to "true" to display the input string of "Format Spec" as it is on the drawing (regardless of the actual dimensions).

Fig. Adjusting the format — Adjusting the format

Fig. Display after format adjustment — Display after format adjustment

Dimensional tolerance

You can add an upper and lower tolerance to the dimension by selecting the dimension on the page and changing the "Over Tolerance" property in the Data tab of the Combo View. If you want to set different values for the upper and lower limits, set "Equal Tolerance" property to "false" and set the lower tolerance in "Under Tolerance" property. Press F5 key on keyboard to refresh the entire page and reflect the changes.

Fig. Display after setting dimensional tolerance — Display after dimensional tolerance setting

Font

Select the dimensions on the page and change the font type and size by changing "Font" property and "Fontsize" property in the View tab of the Combo View. pressing F5 will refresh the whole page to reflect the change. Press F5 key on keyboard to refresh the entire page and reflect the changes.

Fig. Display after font setting — Display after font setting

Using the "Adding symbols and character string to the dimensions" function above, adjust the formatting in the 2 places on the page shown below (d8 and F7 represent fit tolerances).

Fig. Adjusting dimension format — Adjusting dimension format

Finally, we will edit the description for the drawing and output the drawing as a PDF file.

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