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FreeCAD Framing – Hip Roof Joist “Calculator”

This is a very “Alpha” version of this tool”. It has opportunity for simplification. But is a good starting point. It likely will be more annoying than just doing it by hand. But here it is any way.

Using:

Set the length and width of your roof base, include overhang, so it may not be equal to the ceiling, or ceiling plus plates. This can be done in the “Sketch” ( Constraints, Length, and Width )

Place a Clone.

Make a clone of the Joist to place “in situ”, this joist can then be mirrored / copied if necessary.

TODO:

  • Name the Sketches appropriately
  • Name Dimensions.
  • Fix the “Shortening issue”, the basic length from the corners is used making the Joist shorter than it needs to be.
  • The current Chamfer is equal. So it will be wrong if the Length and Width are not a 2:1 ratio.
  • Dimension lines don’t move with sketch edges. ( Can set Draft line vertexes to Sketch vertexes … but that is annoying ).
  • Angle Dimensions Don’t ReCalc or Move

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3d Printed Spring Scale

The 3d Printed Spring Scale can be used in place of regular education spring scales. The learner can engage in Force, Torque and Weight measures. The Spring Scale can be introduced to existing Science and STEM curriculum. Giving the student the option to print, assemble and use their own tool to enhance the experience. At the end of the lab the Student can take the 3d Printed item outside the classroom for additional measurements.

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FreeCAD – Framing Workbench

The Framing Workbench is an experimental workbench. The aim is to add functionality to FreeCAD that will enable the creation of a fully modeled U.S style framed structure. Although most members of a framed structure are simple, each have various considerations and roles to play. These are captured by having members that are named and given custom properties.

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