Description

FreeCAD is great software. This workbench extends the features of FreeCAD for Woodworking. The main goal for this workbench is to make the furniture designing process in FreeCAD simpler.

Furniture from scratch & redesign: YouTube playlist
Cut-list, BOM, dimensions: YouTube playlist
Joinery examples: YouTube playlist
Parametrization solutions: YouTube playlist
Workbench features & development: YouTube playlist
Woodworking workbench YouTube channel: all videos
Woodworking workbench documentation: Woodworking/Docs

Release notes

New significant changes since the last stable version:

improve code for translations
translations update tool and community support
tenon option at magicDowels tool
getDimensions engine improved

Installation

Step 0. Install correct FreeCAD version:

Download and install: FreeCAD 0.21.2

Step 1. Get FreeCAD Mod folder localization:

From FreeCAD python console run command:
```
  FreeCAD.ConfigDump()["UserAppData"]
```
If there is no Mod folder, create it.

Step 2. Install Woodworking workbench:

Go to FreeCAD Mod directory, for example, in Xubuntu operating system:
```
  cd  ~/.local/share/FreeCAD/Mod/
```

Get the latest Woodworking workbench repository:

  git clone https://github.com/dprojects/Woodworking.git

Step 2. Installation in other operating systems:

Download and unpack Woodworking repository.
Copy the folder Woodworking to the FreeCAD module directory (Mod folder).

Note: You can update this workbench later via debuginfo tool.

Certified platforms

Stable certified versions download at: Woodworking/releases
For cutting edge features download: the master branch

Current development platform:

  OS: Ubuntu 22.04.3 LTS (XFCE/xubuntu)
  Word size of FreeCAD: 64-bit
  Version: 0.21.2.33771 (Git) AppImage
  Build type: Release
  Branch: (HEAD detached at 0.21.2)
  Hash: b9bfa5c5507506e4515816414cd27f4851d00489
  Python 3.10.13, Qt 5.15.8, Coin 4.0.0, Vtk 9.2.6, OCC 7.6.3
  Locale: English/United States (en_US)
  Installed mods: 
  * Woodworking 0.21.2.33771

Note:

I don't have Windows or macOS, so I am not able to test and certify this workbench for those systems. However, if you use FreeCAD AppImage there is a good chance this will be working correctly.
To get better stability make sure your current Woodworking workbench version has always the same version number as the FreeCAD version. You can also verify this via debuginfo tool.

Known issues

Issue: Cut-list, BOM, report toPrint is not in the center of the page.
- Workaround: FreeCAD 0.21.2 has bug related to the TechDraw template. The TechDraw template size is always zero, so the center of the page cannot be calculated correctly. If this is issue for you, can adjust the report manually or please try higher FreeCAD version with this bug fixed (0.22).

Extras

This woodworking workbench is delivered with several useful extras:

Fully parametric examples - this folder inside woodworking workbench contains sample furniture projects. All of the furniture examples are parametric. So, you can quickly adopt it to your current project, without designing e.g. bookcase from scratch. You can also add decoration, if needed, or even merge with other projects.
Fixture examples - this is new approach to 3D modeling. For example you can replace any Cylinder with realistic looking detailed screw. This is very powerful feature and gives a lot of flexibility and simplifies the process of making model detailed.
Texture samples - sample textures for woodworking projects purposes.

API for developers

The Woodworking workbench also has an API for developers. This library contains functions that solve the Topology Naming Problem. You can also leaglly create your own tools and extend the workbench in your private repository in accordance with the MIT license:

View library API documentation: MagicPanelsAPI.md
View library code: MagicPanels.py
Download & install library: raw version

Note:

If you have Woodworking workbench installed you don't have to install the MagicPanels library manaually. Also you can view the library directly from Woodworking workbench via: scanObjects tool.
For programming I use simple Krusader with F4 KWrite editor. I have set tabulators as indent: Settings -> Configure Editor -> Editing -> Indentation -> Tabulators -> Tab width: 4 characters.

Translations

Translations are available at github.com/dprojects/Woodworking-translations repository and are created only for stable versions. This approach allows the translator community to work without time pressure and independently of the development of the main branch, because the code of stable releases will not be changed.

0.21 stable

To install translation for Woodworking workbench version 0.21 stable you have to download all .qm files from 0.21 translations branch and move them to translations folder inside Woodworking workbench folder.

0.22 and above

You can use translations update tool available under drop down menu Woodworking -> Download and update all translations. This tool will automatically download all available .qm files into translations folder for you Woodworking workbench version.