MangoJelly Solutions for FreeCAD

[Chris Savage]

I have found myself watching some tutorial videos from this channel. I am embedding the two I am currently watching below. I plan on watching these videos a few times, but successively trying to apply the examples to my own creation after a couple of tries.

MangoJelly Solutions for FreeCAD

[granz]

Thanks, Chris, these look like they may be helpful.

I don't have time for them now, but on Wednesday I will take the hour and a half to go through them. Although, as tutorials they will take longer as I keep pausing them to try what they suggest.

[Chris Savage]

Thanks, Chris, these look like they may be helpful. I don't have time for them now, but on Wednesday I will take the hour and a half to go through them. Although, as tutorials they will take longer as I keep pausing them to try what they suggest.

No doubt! Not only did I pause the first video many, MANY times! But, I had to back up several times to understand what was happening. The pace is just a bit too fast for me, but I did learn a lot. Now, as many times in the past, if I don't use the info right away, it disappears. So I need to keep doing this, while using my own examples as I go.

[granz]

... Now, as many times in the past, if I don't use the info right away, it disappears. So I need to keep doing this, while using my own examples as I go.

Yep, same here. 

I am working (slowly) on learning TinkerCad right now, but I prefer not to have my data on someone else's server. So, I would like to get started on FreeCad soon.

[Chris Savage]

Can you tell what I am working on here as my first test print? I went into FreeCAD with the knowledge I had from that longer video. I had to refer to the video a few times for specific things, but now I am able to add surfaces and extrusions, pockets, etc.

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One more step before I do a test print.


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After final step completed (adding holes to posts).


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Fresh out of the oven! Err, 3D Printer.


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So, do you know what this is? 

[granz]

It looks like a front panel for an LCD. Maybe one of those 20X2 character displays?

[Chris Savage]

It looks like a front panel for an LCD. Maybe one of those 20X2 character displays?

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2x16 parallel display. I think this one came with an Arduino accessory kit. In CAD I have made panels with holes in them countless times, but to mount an LCD properly, there's a bit more involved. You have to know how to add pads and pockets.




Back in the day, my enclosures were metal or plastic and I had to do no more than drill the four mounting holes and cut out the display area.




Standoffs would hold the display in place from behind. Of course, the mounting screws would be visible on the outside of the cabinet.


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In this case the mounting posts are part of the main panel. As you can see in my previous post, there's also a recess for the metal frame that holds the display. It was fun learning how to recess the metal frame and then add the mounting posts with properly sized holes for the screws. I believe I have it figured out now.


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Fortunately, my experience with the sizing of holes for the two main screws I use helped me out here. Of course, these posts were just affixed to a base and there was no care for the thickness of the post or the placement.

[granz]

Nicely done, Chris.

I need to get going more on design work. Again, looking forward to these FreeCad tutorial videos (hopefully tomorrow, now.)