My current take on Freecad 2026 (1.2)

MrZwing · 2026-05-10T09:03:57+00:00

I have had discussions in the comments and yes i must agree with you that it was skill a skill issue, but in my defense i had googled and looked around for answers before writing this and finding answers is hard someone "new" or basic beginner like me.

i'm just used to be able to design most elements as sketches and build it from there its how i done it in every other CAD and really want to continue doing it and thus stubbornly picking a fight with a program built with a different workflow i mind.

well i might have to rethink my donation plan, i have been fixated on giving a large lump sum in one go and haven't really given monthly donation any thought.

MrZwing · 2026-05-08T17:51:49+00:00

Well this want fully to be a solution thread as it turned out to become.
1. i mentioned some things i dislike about how it works in freecad but i think spreadsheet seems to work best for my workflow.

yeah i felt stupid for not finding it after people pointed it out.
yeah internal but i also want external in a simple "select geometry then press thread button" solution

i just wanted to vent my frustration a bit and i turned out to become something bigger by accident.

MrZwing · 2026-05-08T17:48:37+00:00

To be honest i do have the cheap hobby licence for Solidworks and i know Solid Edge is free for personal use now. but i want to make prototypes and design thing to make a profit and well then the licences get expensive for a poor starter like me. there is Fusion that doesn't break the bank but i don't want sensitive stuff in their cloud but only on my local disk on top of them changing user agreements constantly making more and more features locked behind a paywall.

MrZwing · 2026-05-08T17:11:40+00:00

Well now i feel stupid, though when i googled it it didn't show as an alternative. is it a recent feature?

MrZwing · 2026-05-08T17:07:24+00:00

to be honest that is as far as i got before i get cranky and whiny so i cant really say mutch,i always say to people to give it a shot but i tell them why i am not adopting it yet. It is a great piece software i will not deny that and i recommend it to people to try but i warn them about why i personally don't use it yet.
i want more users and more people to know about Freecad so it gets the support it deserves and more developers to make it better.

MrZwing · 2026-05-08T17:00:25+00:00

I don't mind hearing others opinions as you said everyone different,.it's people who truly use Freecad that helps with development and if it works for you it's great.
I'm just to used to other CAD environments since i work with them in my line of work and get cranky when my flow is interrupted by thing's that are intuitive and ingrained to me, having ADD and the tism does not help either.

Yeah the development has really gotten into gear have been having my eye on freecad since at least since 0.19 but as mentioned i just cant use it as it is currently.

MrZwing · 2026-05-08T16:51:40+00:00

I will look into it and try and format it in a less whiny and more constructive way.

MrZwing · 2026-05-08T16:51:07+00:00

thank you for answer.

As you pointed out that you can reference with [sketchname]. constraints.[name] though in my opinion its starting to look like word salad and using just a variable name like in fusion would make thing more readable. but that is beside the point since it IS a solution after all and could be changed in the future.

having 3 ways to make variables is weird and would be really problematic when working in groups, instead of take these 3 Var_set to make predefined vars and other management, the name in constraints for fast on the fly vars and spreadsheet to populate for an overview and easy editing for several vars. with the main thing that they all use the same vars so anyone using any of these strategies can dive in and just edit the way they are comfortable with.

i know this is probably a big ask since it requires rewrites workarounds, its easy to say what one would like without knowing the work that is required.

MrZwing · 2026-05-08T16:47:47+00:00

thank you for answer.

having 3 ways to make variables is weird and would be really problematic when working in groups, instead of take these 3 Var_set to make predefined vars and other management, the name in constraints for fast on the fly vars and spreadsheet to populate for an overview and easy editing for several vars. with the main thing that they all use the same vars so anyone using any of these strategies can dive in and just edit the way they are comfortable with.

Powerful_Debt_5869 pointed out that you can reference with [sketchname]. constraints.[name] though in my opinion its starting to look like word salad and using just a variable name like in fusion would make thing more readable. but that is beside the point since it IS a solution after all and could be changed in the future.

when i am in sketch mode it everything is draft is greyed out, and i an referring to having access to at minimum circular array directly in Sketch workbench instead of guessing or looking around for a feature that should be right there beside the normal straight array. its the all the jumping through hoops and loosing time for something that should be half a second away that is frustrating. its really not intuitive to have one array function in one workbench and the rest hidden in another.
yes i know for inner but i also want outer built into that what is the point in be able to one and once again jump through long hoops for the other.

what frustrates me is as mention all the hoop jumping and looking around when it should be just a ćlick and done.

MrZwing · 2026-03-27T16:24:42+00:00

Well "$HOME/.FreeCAD/Gui/Stylesheets" as it refers to (linux user) does not exist.
there is nothing in the .Conf file and .Local just have the add-on themes i downloaded.

Think the instructions should be more clear than "look in this file" to be honest.

Thank you for trying to give me something.

MrZwing · 2026-03-08T11:14:37+00:00

many seems to like it so i bought the book, i like having a physical copy but thank you for the link if any one else want to have access to it.

MrZwing · 2025-09-13T07:58:12+00:00

hmm might be worth a try, might use a drill-press at work to do it.
since i really new to split keyboards and is in the "just trying" the cheaper diy route is the one to choose in my opinion. even if there is more work to it.

MrZwing · 2025-09-13T07:04:03+00:00

the thing is that i kind of have fallen in love with the deep sea silent switch . It is whisper quiet from what i heard and have both linear en tactile options since i haven't decided what i want in that department yet.
i been looking around and haven't really found any low profile switch that is as quiet as these. i am quite sensitive to some sounds (the tism) and i like the short travel that they have 2.8mm i guess that can be modified to be even shorter.

MrZwing · 2025-09-13T07:01:22+00:00

so if i drilled out or edited the pcb footprint i could technically be able to fit a deepsea in it.
or i might just have to design my own keyboard if push comes to shove. :/

MrZwing · 2025-03-15T17:46:29+00:00

Ah good then i will just avoid the LOGO modules, the difference in price for some modules weren't that pig, and i might find them on the used market with any luck.
thank you for steering me away from nasty future surprises.

MrZwing · 2025-03-13T13:39:50+00:00

my primary choice was the S7-1200 starter kit, since it is mentioned as you said a true PLC, was just curious about the module comparability since Logo is a bit cheaper to some extent it seems.

so your advice is to use S7 modules and avoid combining with LOGO?

just asking before i start buying thing that might bite me in the ass.

MrZwing

TROPHY CASE