Whiffle Ball tutorial

Tutorial
Topic
Whiffle Ball (Part Module)
Level
Beginner
Time to complete
Author
r-frank
FreeCAD version
0.16.6703
Example File(s)
[1] Whiffle Ball
Contents 1 Tutorial 2 Introduction 3 Final model 4 Setting up the basic shape 5 Cutting the corners part 1 6 Cutting the corners part 2 7 Finishing the model

Introduction

This tutorial is here to teach you how to use the Part Module. You will practice:

• inserting primitives
• changing values of primitives
• using placement
• doing boolean operations

Tip: If you selected something wrong or just want to quickly de-select everything,
just click (Navigation-Style OpenInventor: CTRL-Click) in empty space in the 3D-view.

Final model

Setting up the basic shape

1. Switch to the Part Module
2. Create a new document by clicking on File → New
3. Insert box by clicking on
4. Make sure the box ("cube") is selected in tree view
5. Change the dimensions of the box (see data-tab) to
   1. Length= 90 mm
   2. Width= 90 mm
   3. Heigth= 90 mm
6. Click into the value field of placement-row in data-tab so that ... appears on right side
7. Click on ... to change the placement of the box
   1. X: -45 mm
   2. Y: -45 mm
   3. Z: -45 mm
8. Click on OK to close dialog
9. Insert box ("cube001") by clicking on
10. Make sure the box ("cube001") is selected in tree view
11. Change the dimensions of the box ("cube001") (see data-tab) to
    1. Length= 80 mm
    2. Width= 80 mm
    3. Heigth= 80 mm
12. Change the placement of the box ("cube001") to
    1. X: -40 mm
    2. Y: -40 mm
    3. Z: -40 mm
13. Click to insert a cylinder ("cylinder")
14. Make sure the cylinder ("cylinder") is selected in tree view
15. Change radius of cylinder to be 27,5 mm, change height to be 120 mm
16. Change placement values of "cylinder" to be
    1. X: 0 mm
    2. Y: 0 mm
    3. Z: -60 mm
17. Click to insert a cylinder ("cylinder001")
18. Change radius of "cylinder001" to be 27,5 mm, change height to be 120 mm
19. Choose Edit > Duplicate selection from the top menu to get another cylinder ("cylinder002")
20. Make sure "cylinder001" is selected in tree view
21. Change placement values of "cylinder001" to be
    1. Y: 60 mm
    2. Rotation axis with angle
    3. Axis: X
    4. Angle: 90°
22. Click on OK to apply values and close dialog
23. Make sure "cylinder002" is selected in tree view
24. Change placement values of "cylinder001" to be
    1. X: -60 mm
    2. Rotation axis with angle
    3. Axis: Y
    4. Angle: 90°
25. Click on OK to apply values and close dialog
26. Click on to change to axometric view
27. Click on to zoom to fit all
28. Select "cube001", "cylinder", "cylinder001" and "cylinder002" and fuse them by clicking
29. Select "cube" and "fusion", but make sure, that "cube" is selected FIRST
30. Apply a boolean cut by clicking
31. The finished basic shape should look like this:

Cutting the corners part 1

1. Insert box ("cube002") by clicking on
2. Change the dimensions of the box ("cube002") (see data-tab) to
   1. Length= 140 mm
   2. Width= 112 mm
   3. Heigth= 112 mm
3. Change the placement of the box ("cube002") to
   1. X: -70 mm
   2. Y: -56 mm
   3. Z: -56 mm
4. Insert box ("cube003") by clicking on
5. Change the dimensions of the box ("cube003") (see data-tab) to
   1. Length= 180 mm
   2. Width= 180 mm
   3. Heigth= 180 mm
6. Change the placement of the box ("cube003") to
   1. X: -90 mm
   2. Y: -90 mm
   3. Z: -90 mm
7. Make sure "cube002" is selected in tree view, otherwise select it
8. Choose Edit > Duplicate selection from the top menu to get another box ("cube004")
9. Make sure "cube003" is selected in tree view, otherwise select it
10. Choose Edit > Duplicate selection from the top menu to get another box ("cube005")
11. Select "cube003" and "cube002", but make sure, that "cube003" is selected FIRST
12. Activate menu to change placement
13. Tick option "Apply incremental changes to object placement", notice that all values are reset ...
14. Choose "Rotation: X-Axis" and "Angle: 45°" and click on Apply
15. Choose "Rotation: Z-Axis" and "Angle: 45°" and click on Apply
16. Click on OK to close the dialog
17. Apply a boolean cut by clicking , the resulting object will be named "cut001"

Cutting the corners part 2

1. Select "cube005" and "cube004", but make sure, that "cube005" is selected FIRST
2. Activate menu to change placement
3. Tick option "Apply incremental changes to object placement", notice that all values are resetted ...
4. Choose "Rotation: X-Axis" and "Angle: 45°" and click on Apply
5. Choose "Rotation: Z-Axis" and "Angle: -45°" and click on Apply
6. Click on OK to close the dialog
7. Apply a boolean cut by clicking , the resulting object will be named "cut002"
8. Click on to change to axometric view
9. Click on to zoom to fit all

If everything went well your model should look like this:

Finishing the model

1. Select "cut" and "cut001", but make sure, that "cut" is selected FIRST
2. Apply a boolean cut by clicking , the resulting object will be named "cut003"
3. Select "cut003" and "cut002", but make sure, that "cut003" is selected FIRST
4. Apply a boolean cut by clicking , the resulting object will be named "cut004"
5. Click on to change to axometric view
6. Click on to zoom to fit all
7. Don't forget to save your file ...

Congratulations! You just finished this tutorial succesfully!