Curves Workbench

Introduction

The Curves Workbench is an External workbench that is Python based with a collection of tools for NURBS curves and surfaces.

Note: Some tools may not work with earlier versions.

Installation

Download the Curves Workbench via the Addon Manager. Select the Tools → Addon Manager option from the menu and look for Curves.

References

• Developer: @Chris_G
• Github: https://github.com/tomate44/CurvesWB
• Upstream README: installation instructions and contribution guidelines.
• Curves Workbench forum: the recommended place for questions, feedback and bug reports. When reporting a bug, attach a minimal FreeCAD file that demonstrates the problem.
• YouTube tutorial using Curves Workbench: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVdbvxmJ3Mo
• Dailymotion tutorial, tide bottle, demoing Curves Workbench: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6bo9a6

Tools

With the latest update the order of the tools was matched with the menu options of version 0.6.59 and some missing tools were added.

Curve tools

• Parametric line: Creates a parametric line between two vertices.

• Freehand BSpline: Creates a freehand B-spline curve.

• Mixed curve: Creates a 3D curve as the intersection of 2 projected curves.

• Curve extend: Extends the selected edge.

• joinCurves: Joins the selected edges into B-spline curves.

• Split curve: Splits the selected edge.

• Discretize: Discretizes an edge or a wire.

• Approximate: Approximates points to NURBS curve or surface.

• Interpolate: Interpolates points with a B-spline curve.

• Blend curve: Creates a parametric blend curve between two edges.

• Comb plot: Creates a parametric Comb plot on selected edges.

• CurveOnSurface: Projects a curve on a surface object.

Surface tools

• ZebraTool: Zebra texture for surface inspection.

• Trim face: Trims a face with a projected curve.

• IsoCurve: Applies a UV oriented lattice onto selected surfaces.

• Sketch on surface: Maps a sketch onto a surface.

• Map on face: Maps objects on a target face. (WORK IN PROGRESS. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK)

• Sweep2Rails: Creates a sweep either with a ruled surface and a list of profile edges or with two rails and at least two profiles.

• Profile support plane: Creates a support plane for sketches.

• Pipeshell profile: Creates a Profile object for PipeShell.

• Pipeshell: Creates a Pipeshell sweep object.

• Gordon surface: Creates a surface that skins a network of curves.

• Segment surface: Segments a surface on isocurves.

• Compression Spring: Creates a compression spring.

• Reflect Lines: Creates the reflect lines on a shape, according to a view direction.

• MultiLoft: Lofts profile objects made of multiple faces in parallel.

• BlendSurface: Creates a surface between two edges with some continuity with their support faces.

• BlendSolid: Creates a solid between two edges with some continuity with their support shapes.

• Flatten face: Creates a flat developed face from conical or cylindrical faces.

• Rotation Sweep: Sweeps profiles along a spine (sweep path) or a point.

• Surface Analysis: Creates visual analysis maps on selected shapes. This tool has a wrong icon and name in the GUI.

• Draft Analysis: Creates a colored overlay on an object to visualize draft angles.

• Truncated Extend: Cuts a shape and truncates or extends it by a given distance.

• WaterLine: Creates waterline curves on selected faces.

Miscellaneous tools

• GeomInfo: Toggles the display of information about selected shapes.

• Extract subshape: Creates non-parametric copies of selected sub shapes.

• Parametric solid: Creates a parametric solid from selected faces.

• Paste SVG: Pastes the SVG content of the clipboard.

• Objects to console: Moves objects to the console.

• Select Adjacent faces: Selects the adjacent faces of the selected subshape.

• BSpline to Console: Creates a Python script to build the selected B-spline or Bézier geometries.