Hello, Solidworks refugee here, with some questions on navigating FreeCAD’s feature tree.

Example: I want to make this:

Step 1: Sketch on XY, draw rectangle, pad

Step 2: New sketch, draw rectangle, pad

Accidentally forget Step 3, which would have been to sketch and pad another rectangle

Step 4: New body, sketch on XZ, draw circle (or whatever), pad

Step 5: Cut 1st body minus 2nd body.

Step 6: Explode the resulting compound.

Step 7: Realize that I forgot to do Step 3.

What should I do at this point?

In Solidworks, the standard workflow would be to use the “rollback” tool to suppress the boolean operation, add the missing Step 3, then “roll forward” to reapply the boolean operation.

What is the equivalent “best practice” workflow in FreeCAD?

    • Remy Rose@piefed.socialEnglish
      3·
      13 days ago

      Wow, I’ve been using FreeCAD for ages now, and somehow neglected to ever learn about this! Thank you

    • threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
      1·
      13 days ago

      Thanks! That does sound like what I’m looking for.

      Usage

      1. In the Tree View, right-click the feature to set as tip.
      2. Select the Set Tip option from the context menu.
      3. The new tip is set to visible, and all elements below the tip are hidden from view. Elements newly created from that point will be placed under the tip, and above the other existing elements.

      Does “elements below”, literally mean below in the tree list, or does it mean “subsequent elements/operations which were applied after this element”?

      I’ve “Set Tip” to the Pad001 from Step 2 (small rectangle), but this doesn’t seem to have hidden any subsequent elements, like the cut I did in Step 5. What might I be doing wrong?

      • brisk@aussie.zone
        1·
        13 days ago

        Ah, I see.

        It means below in the tree list. FreeCAD doesn’t actually keep track of a timeline of changes, the tree fully represents your state.

        I believe the tip also only applies within a PartDesign body, but that’s okay because that’s where the operation is that you want to insert.

        If you use either the “make dependent copy” or “cross reference” options when you explode the cut, you can still make changes to the tree of the first body and then update the second body. If you use the independent copy option (the one shown selected in your screenshot), then there absolutely no persistent relationship between the two bodies. If the full tree gets copied you might be able to make the same change on both, otherwise you will need to redo at least the explode operation.