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FreeCAD is an open-source parametric 3D modeler made primarily to design real-life objects of any size. Parametric modeling allows you to easily modify your design by going back into your model history and changing its parameters.

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[SOLVED] Why is FreeCAD symmetry-stupid? (lemmy.sdf.org)

submitted 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) by ExtremeDullard@lemmy.sdf.org to c/freecad@lemmy.ml

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Maybe there's something I don't understand here. I'd love it if someone told me how to do the following.

Let's say I have some really complex shape in a sketch left of the Y axis: it takes me forever to get it just right. Then I need to mirror it on the right side of the Y axis and connect the two halves.

In SolidWorks, it's trivial: mirror the stuff, done. If you change the master shape on the left, the change is reflected on the right.

In FreeCAD, the best you can do is make a mirror copy of the left-hand side elements - which also makes copies of the constraints which are completely independent from the original constraints on the left-hand side - delete the stupid new right-hand side constraints and slowly, painfully constrain the right-hand side copies to the original left-hand side elements, trying to dodge the dreaded orange over-constraints all the time. It's long, it's painful, and the end-result is usually so fragile that if you change anything significant on the left-hand side, the sketch turns orange and then it's back to hunting broken constraints again.

Surely it can't be that painful. Am I missing something obvious?

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[–] ExtremeDullard@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 3 weeks ago (9 children)

I'm using the daily build.

When I use the sketcher symmetry tool, here's how it works for me:

Say I create a rectangle on the left. I use the tool, it creates 4 segments on the right with 2 horizontal constraints, 2 vertical constraints, copies of the horizontal and vertical dimensions, and zero relationships with the original elements on the left. I basically have to delete all the new constraints and add symmetry constraints manually.

[–] mranderson17@infosec.pub 7 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (8 children)

Here's how it works for me: https://vimeo.com/1019673822

Sorry I forgot to click record cursor. But hopefully that's clear enough.

[–] ExtremeDullard@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 3 weeks ago (4 children)

FWIW, this is what I get when I try to mirror a complex sketch:

https://toobnix.org/w/njayYNd5vE1HKNM3XVqYNM

Really not what I want.

[–] mranderson17@infosec.pub 2 points 3 weeks ago

When I do what you did but select "Create Symmetry Constraints" I get a fully constrained result as soon as the Sketcher Symmetry tool is finished. No other action is required.

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