Defeaturing Workbench

Introduction

Defeaturing Workbench is an add-on workbench intended for editing STEP models, removing of the selected features from the model. It is an external workbench and therefore not part of the standard FreeCAD install.

Features

• Features a set of tools to edit a Shape or a STEP model, removing hole(s), face(s), simplifying the model, changing the tolerance, applying Fuzzy Boolean operations etc.
• There are also tools to create more solid shape(s), from edge(s), face(s) or shell(s).
• It is also possible to use direct modeling of the model, when the history of operations is unavailable. (This is the case for 3D STEP models).
• Useful in situations to quickly remove proprietary details of the model before sharing it. See Defeaturing

Note: More advance Defeaturing tools can be used if OCC7.3 is available.

Installation

Automatic (recommended)

Using the FreeCAD Addon Manager available in v0.17+ via Tools → Addon Manager. Search for the Defeaturing workbench icon. The Addon Manager also notifies the user when a new version of this Addon is available.

Manually

See How to install additional workbenches

Supports

• FreeCAD v0.15 4671
• FreeCAD v0.16 >= 6712
• FreeCAD v0.17 >= 13522
• FreeCAD v0.18
• FreeCAD v0.21
• FreeCAD v1.0
• FreeCAD v1.1+

References

• Author: Github: @easyw | FreeCAD Forums: [1]
• Source code on github: https://github.com/easyw/Defeaturing_WB
• FC forum thread https://forum.freecad.org/viewtopic.php?t=29506

Tools

Defeaturing Tools are located in a separate mask.

• Remove Holes: remove Hole from Face
• Remove listed Faces: remove 'in List' Faces
• Add Faces from 'in List' Edges: add Faces from 'in List' Edges
• Select Faces to be Parametric defeatured: select Faces to be Parametric defeatured
• Create a copy of the 'in List' Edges : create a copy of the 'in List' Edges

• copy Faces from 'in List' Faces : copy Faces from 'in List' Faces
• offset face: offset face
• offset edge: offset edge

• Make Solid from in List Faces: make Solid from in List Faces
• Make Solid from the Faces of the selected Objects: make Solid from the Faces of the selected Objects
• Make Solid from in List Faces: select ONE object to try to make a Solid through STEP import/export process
• Connect: connect
• clean Face(s) removing holes and merging Outwire: clean Face(s) removing holes and merging Outwire

• show 'in List‘ Edge(s): show 'in List‘ Edge(s)
• show 'in List‘ Face(s): show 'in List‘ Face(s)
• refine: refine
• simple copy: simple copy
• parametric Refine: parametric Refine

• geometry check: geometry check
• get Tolerance value: get Tolerance value
• set Tolerance value: set Tolerance value

• make Edge from selected Vertexes: make Edge from selected Vertexes
• reset Placement: reset Placement
• show/hide TypeId of the Shape: show/hide Type Id of the Shape
• help: help

• Fuzzy Cut: Fuzzy Cut
• Fuzzy Union: Fuzzy Union
• Fuzzy Common: Fuzzy Common

Video Tutorials

Defeaturing

Removing Features using OCC7.3 new tools

Repairing

• Sew a Shape
• Removing or Simplify Faces
• Remove Holes or Pockets
• Read or Change Tolerance
• make Fuzzy Boolean operations