FreeCAD Drawing Tools and Techniques
1. Basic Drawing Tools
The Point Tool
The point tool allows you to place single points on your drawing.
• To use it: Select the point tool and click on your workspace to place points.
• To stop using the tool: Press the Escape key on your keyboard.
The Escape Key Issue – Do Not Worry!
Sometimes, pressing the Escape key too many times when no tool is active may make it
look like your drawing has disappeared.
• To fix this: Go to the Model panel on the left-hand side of your screen and double-
click your sketch. Your drawing will reappear.
Deleting Unwanted Items
If you draw something you do not need, you can delete it.
• To delete: Hold your mouse button and drag a box around the items you want to
remove. The selected items will turn green. Then press the Delete key on your
keyboard.
The Line Tool
The line tool allows you to draw straight lines.
• To use it: Select the line tool. Click once for the starting point and click again for the
ending point. You can continue drawing more lines in the same way.
2. Drawing Different Shapes
Creating an Arc
An arc is part of a circle. There are two main ways to draw it:
1. Center, Start, End: Select the arc tool. First, click the centre of the circle, then click
where the arc starts, and finally click where it should end.
2. Three Points: Click the arrow next to the arc tool to choose this method. You can
create an arc by clicking three points along the curve.
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Drawing Circles
There are two main methods to create circles:
1. Centre and Edge: Select the circle tool. Click once for the circle’s centre, then click
again to set its size.
2. Three Points: Draw a circle by selecting three points through which the circle
should pass.
The Ellipse Tool
An ellipse looks like a stretched circle.
• To use it: Select the ellipse tool. You usually click two points to set its width and
height, and a third point to adjust its shape.
The Spline Tool
A spline is a smooth, curving line.
• To use it: Select the spline tool and click at several points to create the curve. Press
Escape when finished.
• You can also move parts of the spline to change its shape.
3. More Complex Lines and Shapes
The Polyline Tool
The polyline tool allows you to draw a series of connected straight line segments.
• To use it: Select the tool and keep clicking to add more segments. You can even
join the last point to the first to form a closed shape.
• Note: Although it is drawn as one polyline, each segment can be selected and
deleted separately.
Rectangles
There are different ways to draw rectangles:
• Standard Rectangle: Click two opposite corners.
• Centred Rectangle: Click the centre point first, then drag to the edge.
• Rounded Rectangle: This option creates rectangles with rounded corners.
Polygon Shapes
You can draw many-sided shapes such as hexagons (6 sides), heptagons (7 sides), or
octagons (8 sides).
• To use it: Select the polygon tool and choose the number of sides.
The Slot Tool
The slot tool creates oblong, rounded openings.
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• You will later learn how to adjust the size and dimensions of slots.
4. Modifying Your Drawings
The Fillet Tool
The fillet tool is used to round sharp corners.
• To use it: Draw a shape with sharp corners (such as a rectangle). Select the fillet
tool, then click on the two lines that meet at a corner. The corner will change into a
smooth curve.
• You can adjust the size of the rounded corner later to suit your design.
FreeCAD Drawing Tools and Techniques –
Revision Questions
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which key is used to stop using a tool in FreeCAD?
a) Enter
b) Escape
c) Shift
d) Spacebar
2. What does the Point Tool do?
a) Draws rectangles
b) Places single points
c) Creates polygons
d) Deletes lines
3. Which tool would you use to draw a smooth, curving line?
a) Line Tool
b) Polyline Tool
c) Spline Tool
d) Fillet Tool
4. Which method allows you to create a circle by clicking three points?
a) Centre and Edge
b) Arc Tool
c) Three Points
d) Polygon Tool
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5. What is the function of the Fillet Tool?
a) Delete unwanted items
b) Round off sharp corners
c) Stretch a circle
d) Place single points
True / False Questions
6. Pressing the Escape key too many times may make your drawing disappear.
7. A rectangle can only be drawn by selecting two opposite corners.
8. A polyline is made up of connected straight line segments.
9. The Slot Tool is used to create rounded or oblong openings.
10. Once you draw a polyline, you cannot delete individual segments.
Fill in the Blank Questions
11. To delete unwanted items in FreeCAD, first select them and then press the
__________ key.
12. The __________ tool allows you to place single points on your workspace.
13. An ellipse looks like a __________ circle.
14. The __________ tool is used to round sharp corners in shapes such as rectangles.
15. A shape with 8 sides is called an __________.
Answers
Multiple Choice
1. Which key is used to stop using a tool in FreeCAD?
Answer: b) Escape
2. What does the Point Tool do?
Answer: b) Places single points
3. Which tool would you use to draw a smooth, curving line?
Answer: c) Spline Tool
4. Which method allows you to create a circle by clicking three points?
Answer: c) Three Points
5. What is the function of the Fillet Tool?
Answer: b) Round off sharp corners
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True / False
6. Pressing the Escape key too many times may make your drawing disappear.
Answer: True
7. A rectangle can only be drawn by selecting two opposite corners.
Answer: False
8. A polyline is made up of connected straight line segments.
Answer: True
9. The Slot Tool is used to create rounded or oblong openings.
Answer: True
10. Once you draw a polyline, you cannot delete individual segments.
Answer: False
Fill in the Blank
11. To delete unwanted items in FreeCAD, first select them and then press the Delete
key.
12. The Point tool allows you to place single points on your workspace.
13. An ellipse looks like a stretched circle.
14. The Fillet tool is used to round sharp corners in shapes such as rectangles.
15. A shape with 8 sides is called an octagon.
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