Arch Component

Library

Reference

BIM

Description

Creates a non-parametric Arch component from any Part-based object. This gives the Part-based object the same attributes and properties as other Arch objects, and allows to specify how it should be exported to IFC by setting its DataIfc Type property.

Usage

1. Select a Part-based object.
2. There are several ways to invoke the command:
   • Press the Component button.
   • Select the 3D/BIM → Generic 3D tools → Component option from the menu.

Properties

The Arch Component object is also a base shared by all other Arch objects (Arch Wall, Arch Structure, etc). Therefore some of its properties and behaviours are common to all Arch objects (except tools that don't produce solid objects, like Arch Section Plane or Arch Axis).

Data

Component

• DataAdditions (LinkList): Arch Components have an addition property, that can hold reference to any number of other Shape-based objects. The shape of these additions will be united with the base shape of the component, to produce the final shape. See Notes.

• DataAxis (Link): An optional axis or axis system on which this object should be duplicated.

• DataBase (Link): Arch Components are always based on a Shape-based base object. Some types of Arch objects will just use the Base shape as is, others (for example Arch Wall) will do some additional operations on it, such as an extrusion. For some types, having a base object is not mandatory (Arch Structure).

• DataClone Of (Link): Any Arch Component can be a clone of another Arch Component of the same type (a Wall can only be a clone of another Wall, etc.). The only exception is the generic Arch Component (as produced by this command), that can be clone of any other type (Wall, structure, window, etc). This allows to use a generic Arch Component to override the type of another one.

• DataHi Res (Link): Arch Components can use the shape of another object as a higher-resolution version of themselves. For this, both the Hi Res property and the Hi Res display mode must be set. This allows, for example, to make a simple wall, and then model every brick that composes the wall, for example with Part Box. Then, use a compound of those bricks as a high-resolution version of the wall. The shape of the wall is not modified by adding a Hi-Res object. Only its representation in the 3D view will change by adopting the representation of the high-resolution version instead of its own.

• DataHorizontal Area (Area): The area of the projection of this object onto the XY plane (read-only).

• DataMaterial (Link): All Arch Components have a Material slot, that can contain either a Material or a MultiMaterial (not all Arch object type support the use of MultiMaterials). The DiffuseColor and Transparency properties of the attached material will define the Shape color and transparency of the Arch component. The material will be imported and exported to IFC, OBJ and DAE.

• DataMove Base (Bool): Specifies if moving this object moves its base instead.

• DataMove With Host (Bool): When a component is embedded inside another (for example a window inside a wall), setting this property to True will make the object move and rotate together when its host object is moved or rotated using Draft Move or Draft Rotate.

• DataPerimeter Length (Length): The perimeter length of the horizontal area (read-only).

• DataStandard Code (String): An optional standard (OmniClass, etc...) code for this component.

• DataSubtractions (LinkList): Arch Components have an subtraction property, that can hold reference to any number of other Shape-based objects. The shape of these objects will be subtracted from the base shape of the component, to produce the final shape. See Notes.

• DataVertical Area (Area): The area of all vertical faces of this object (read-only).

IFC

• Data (Hidden)Ifc Data (Map):

• Data (Hidden)Ifc Properties (Map):

• DataIfc Type (Enumeration): Each Arch Component, besides the function defined by its type (wall, window, etc), also has a Role property, that can define further which kind of function it performs. For example, an Arch Structure can have a beam or column role. Generic Arch Components (as produced by this command) can have any role available in the whole Arch workbench. The role is what is used to define the type of IFC object to export to when exporting to IFC.

IFC Attributes

• DataDescription (String): All Arch Components have a Description field, that can contain any text. This is used when exporting to IFC.

• DataGlobal Id (String):

• DataObject Type (String):

• DataPredefined Type (Enumeration):

• DataTag (Enumeration): The Tag property is another text field, which can be used to give an additional custom identity to objects.

Notes

• The Placement of the Arch Component is applied after the additions and subtractions are done, so these are performed against the base object at its base location. Then the result is moved to the location of the Placement.

• Objects can be added or removed to/from a Component's Additions and Subtractions lists by selecting both the object and the component, and using the Arch Add or Arch Remove commands, or from the task panel by double-clicking the Component in the Tree view. The task panel also allows to check which object is currently part of these lists.

Library

Reference

BIM

BIM

• 2D drafting: Sketch, Line, Polyline, Circle, Arc, Arc by 3 points, Fillet, Ellipse, Polygon, Rectangle, B-spline, Bézier curve, Cubic Bézier curve, Point

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• 3D/BIM: Project, Site, Building, Level, Space, Wall, Curtain Wall, Column, Beam, Slab, Door, Window, Pipe, Pipe Connector, Stairs, Roof, Panel, Frame, Fence, Truss, Equipment
  • Reinforcement tools: Custom Rebar, Straight Rebar, U-Shape Rebar, L-Shape Rebar, Stirrup, Bent-Shape Rebar, Helical Rebar, Column Reinforcement, Beam Reinforcement, Slab Reinforcement, Footing Reinforcement
  • Generic 3D tools: Profile, Box, Shape builder..., Facebinder, Objects library, Component, External reference

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• Annotation: Text, Shape from text, Aligned dimension, Horizontal dimension, Vertical dimension, Leader, Label, Axis, Axes System, Grid, Section Plane, Hatch, Page, View, Shape-based view

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• Snapping: Snap lock, Snap endpoint, Snap midpoint, Snap center, Snap angle, Snap intersection, Snap perpendicular, Snap extension, Snap parallel, Snap special, Snap near, Snap ortho, Snap grid, Snap working plane, Snap dimensions, Toggle grid, Working Plane Top, Working Plane Front, Working Plane Side

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• Modify: Move, Copy, Rotate, Clone, Create simple copy, Make compound, Offset, 2D Offset..., Trimex, Join, Split, Scale, Stretch, Draft to sketch, Upgrade, Downgrade, Add component, Remove component, Array, Path array, Polar array, Point array, Cut with plane, Mirror, Extrude..., Difference, Union, Intersection

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• Manage: BIM Setup..., Views manager, Manage project..., Manage doors and windows..., Manage IFC elements..., Manage IFC quantities..., Manage IFC properties..., Manage classification..., Manage layers..., Material, Schedule, Preflight checks..., Annotation styles...

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• Utils: Toggle bottom panels, Move to Trash, Working Plane View, Select group, Set slope, Create working plane proxy, Add to construction group, Split Mesh, Mesh to Shape, Select non-manifold meshes, Remove Shape from Arch, Close Holes, Merge Walls, Check, Toggle IFC Brep flag, Toggle subcomponents, Survey, IFC Diff, IFC explorer, Create IFC spreadsheet..., Image plane, Unclone, Rewire, Glue, Reextrude
  • Panel tools: Panel, Panel Cut, Panel Sheet, Nest
  • Structure tools: Structure, Structural System, Multiple Structures
  • IFC tools: IFC Diff..., IFC Expand, Make IFC project, IfcOpenShell update
  • Nudge: Nudge Switch, Nudge Up, Nudge Down, Nudge Left, Nudge Right, Nudge Rotate Left, Nudge Rotate Right, Nudge Extend, Nudge Shrink

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• Additional: Preferences, Fine tuning, Import Export Preferences, IFC, DAE, OBJ, JSON, 3DS, SHP

User documentation

• Getting started
• Installation: Download, Windows, Linux, Mac, Additional components, Docker, AppImage, Ubuntu Snap
• Basics: About FreeCAD, Interface, Mouse navigation, Selection methods, Object name, Preferences, Workbenches, Document structure, Properties, Help FreeCAD, Donate

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• Help: Tutorials, Video tutorials
• Workbenches: Std Base, Assembly, BIM, CAM, Draft, FEM, Inspection, Material, Mesh, OpenSCAD, Part, PartDesign, Points, Reverse Engineering, Robot, Sketcher, Spreadsheet, Surface, TechDraw, Test Framework

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• Addons: Addon Manager, External workbenches, Scripting and macros

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• Hubs: User hub, Power users hub, Developer hub