FreeCAD: Tracing and modelling a part to scale with only photos / pictures. Trace Beginners guide 

Really good tutorial! FreeCAD is a hassle to learn all by yourself. Didn't even know about the cutting tool for intersections!

Incredible tutorial. Thanks

Unleashing the freecad beast!

Hi I want to thank you for the Very interesting video. I learned alot from you and your freecad video's. I had to delete the other comment I made about Freecad. It was mostly me who had to do things with Freecad Mindset. So It is much more reliable than I tout. So once again Thank you very much, and Yes Freecad is a wonderful Program, and IT IS RELIABLE :) when one get to learn how to do things. Have a nice day, weeks, Mounth and more.....:)

Nice, thanks for the learning experience.

It does matter where you place your reference measurement because a camera isn't a right angle to every surface on the plane you're shooting. It's a right angle to the center point only, everything else is distorted.

Thanks!

my options for the workbench don't have all those options. it doesn't have an option for me to choose image. so how do i get those other options

Another great tutorial video. Thanks. I was wonder, I’ve seen you use b-spline in the curves workbench to create a 3d model from several perspective images (sports car), but have you use b-spine in a sketch to trace irregular shapes? I would like to model a 5015 axial fan from an image. These fans are “round”, but the actual shape is more like a involve curve. Is the b-spline to trace in sketcher even a viable solution? Thanks.

This video learns me a lot. Trying over and over again. What I can not figure out is how I can remove the constraint so I can move the right horizontal line down. The part between the slots stays connected. It moves down too. Is there a way to make this line without constraints?

What about using graph paper as the background.

If scaling an image using a ruler for scale use the longest reasonable length for increased accuracy

Can you do this for me on a tank track

Here is a safety tip: if you have selected us inches in the preferences at some time, you still have to select the scale dimensions in MM. If you use inches, even spelled out, your dimensions will be extremely wrong from that point on and figuring out whats wrong can drive you Nuts! With freecad, even doing everything right, step by step, from a working example can result in hours of head scratching. Good video, cut my problem down to one issue. There are So many variables and procedures which can reach across Workbenches causing errors eventually to destroy hours of work.

Love your tutorials and this one helped me a lot. But one thing you didn't address is perspective. IE., what if the photographer was not taking the image perpendicular to the object. In other words he took the image from an angle that makes the near side look larger than the the far end, even tho they are the exact same size? Compensating for that is a pain, BUT you have - at least - to be aware of the effect to be anywhere near accurate. (Easiest way to compensate is to overcompensate and fire the photographer and get one who knows what they are doing)

Nice one! I would be tempted to start rounding all those dimensions to nicer numbers though 😅

For those using 0.21 and 'unable to find Image Workbench' ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-WhxDAgskcHA.htmlsi=e8OkNcOPKvVELHDv

This is absolutely the wrong approach. Referencing from a small feature will give large errors. You are much better off using the largest feature, such as the length of the part. In this case you could use a caliper to measure to get a more accurate result. I have been doing reverse engineering for copying items for over sixty years and have always had excellent results with this technique.

Very helpfull video... However using small dimensions for scale reference is a mistake, it amplifies your error. Why do yo use 10mm of your ruler as a reference when you have almost 300mm of this ruler available on picture? Another point of improvement is to prepare your picture before with a photo editor to get crispier contour and correct the camera lens deformation

I'm new to learning CAD/FreeCAD and enjoy your tutorials. In this video, how do I separate the sketch from the original photo/picture and use the sketch? Thanks.

This video was incredibly helpful. Thank you so much.

I you take not only 10 mm on the ruler to scale, but as much as possible (20cm), the deviation gets smaller! For the holes remember, that there are drill tolerances. A M7 hole is normally a bit larger than 7mm, to make sure, the 7mm screw gets trough.

Nice tutorial, the reason you can’t get exact measurements of the holes at 5 and 7 mm is because your reference image is not directly above making the image slightly distorted.

Very good tutorial, you've just opened a whole new world of possibilities for me

How would one set the scale image pane distance in 0.21.2 ?

I'm sorry but the people updating freecad are seemingly unable to stop from doing bulls. the video is useless for the new version.

I want To make a template I can print to locate the holes I'll need to drill in the enclosure I want to mount my arduino it. This is an awesome video to help me accomplish this. Thanks Dave

The process is sketching, not tracing, although it’s good tutorial

Great video! Is there a way to specify the image scale based on a scanned image's dpi? In other words, if I use a flat-bed scanner that is set to scan at 600dpi, can I enter that information somehow to get a precise scaling, or would I still have to reference two points in the image? Thanks

I can probably get this whole thing I want to design done in 60 minutes with Autodesk Inventor. But Freecad is so yuck to use when you come from professional software... these tutorials are helpful

I hate fusion 360 for letting me use the program for free and later stripping it from several features. I've gotten so used to it and it's incredibly easy and clear interface.. freecad looks like a dumpster fire and Is so damn cluttered, it's really hard to get a feel for it. But I really hope I learn to use it someday.

i don't get the create planar image in 3d space option up when i import/open a jpeg in this app however? seems greyed out even if followign your same steps

Did you ever get around to making another video with a 3d shape

Professional grade instruction. Clear and concise with just the right amount of detail and repetition.

Thank you very much. It is very helpful. I learned lots of things I did not know.

This video is everything I wished I've seen 12h ago instead of drawing everything 🤦‍♂️🤣 Thank you

Great tutorial ! Subscribed .

Thank you, had difficulty understanding how it should work.

Does anyone know if there is an automated way to do this? Opencv and python?

Great video! Thank you!

I'm puzzled - how do you get the image in the first place? Is it copy and paste, or 'load file/image' or sacrifice a goat?! I'm trting to work on a 3d picture/drawing of an aircraft.

Thanks for cool tutorial!

You Dancer you... Although you seemed a bit heavy on the dimensions and light on the geometric constraints like horizontal/ vertical with points such as circle centres the actual subject was very good, and of course why I came.. I am planning on a modification for my 3d printer, and to release it to the 3d printing community if it works, and I needed to make a part that fits the x carriage of my printer perfectly, with holes lined up perfectly, and so the fan/ hotend cover fits to it perfectly, and although I could measure every one of the 9 holes positions, and the cover size, which of course cannot be a rectangle its got more angles than a con man, it was a task I was not looking forward to! Then up pops you in my recommendations! I swear google is reading my mind now not just listening to me! And... A couple of hours later I have printed a slimmed down part just to check the concept using just my phone camera and if it looks promising get the DSLR out and strobes and line it up square/ true and all that jazz to create a more accurate one to actually use. So knocked together a freecad model, sent it to 3d printer just 5mm thick for a test fitting without wasting hours on a print, and I kid you not it fits like a bloody glove!! Every hole is bang on centred on the holes on the printer, every screw just pops in there and screws into the carriage threads. the cover fits on it perfect, edges lined up like it was actually made to fit!! Well, it was meant to be made to fit, but i didn't expect it to ACTUALLY fit perfectly first go with a phone camera, hand held!!! To say I am blown away would be the understatement of 2021, that is just completely and utterly fan bloody tastic! Thank you so much for your insight, you are a legend :)

Thanks!

❤

Thank you very much you are very kind. I have a question which I hope you could help me with. I have an image and I have done everything step by step as your video. The problem starts when I want to move the image so that it maches the line in setcher. I move the image ( which I find it very hard to match with the setcher line) and as soon as I f.example do the Angle and want to move the x and y position. It just jumps to a holl new place. I have tried saving it without any help. Do you know what the problem might be!!? I am doing everything that you show in your video. I am Grateful for any help ... :) Thank's ( sry my spelling )

The only thing you did not say at the end is how to save it and in what format to save it. So my project is hanging in the air at present

Thanks for the video.

So, how do you save the sketch as an .stl?

I'm addicted to how easy it is to follow your tutorials. If you're employed in CAD, tell your employer he doesn't pay you enough!