Defeaturing Workbench

Other languages:

Introduction

Defeaturing Workbench is an add-on workbench intended for editing STEP models, removing of the selected features from the model. It is an external workbench and therefore not part of the standard FreeCAD install.

Features

Features a set of tools to edit a Shape or a STEP model, removing hole(s), face(s), simplifying the model, changing the tolerance, applying Fuzzy Boolean operations etc...
There are also tools to create more solid shape(s), from edge(s), face(s) or shell(s).
It is also possible to use direct modeling of the model, when the history of operations is unavailable. (This is the case for 3D STEP models).
Useful in situations to quickly remove proprietary details of the model before sharing it. See Defeaturing

Note: More advance Defeaturing tools can be used if OCC7.3 is available.

Installation

Automatic (recommended)

Using the FreeCAD Addon Manager available in v0.17+ via Tools → Addon Manager. Search for the Defeaturing workbench icon. The Addon Manager also notifies the user when a new version of this Addon is available.

Manually

See How to install additional workbenches

Supports

FreeCAD v0.15 4671
FreeCAD v0.16 >= 6712
FreeCAD v0.17 >= 13522
FreeCAD v0.18+

References

Author: Github: @easyw | FreeCAD Forums: [1]
Source code on github: https://github.com/easyw/Defeaturing_WB
FC forum thread https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?t=29506

Tools

Defeaturing Tools are located in a separate mask.

Remove Holes: remove Hole from Face
Remove listed Faces: remove 'in List' Faces
Add Faces from 'in List' Edges: add Faces from 'in List' Edges
Select Faces to be Parametric defeatured: select Faces to be Parametric defeatured
Create a copy of the 'in List' Edges : create a copy of the 'in List' Edges

copy Faces from 'in List' Faces : copy Faces from 'in List' Faces
offset face: offset face
offset edge: offset edge

Make Solid from in List Faces: make Solid from in List Faces
Make Solid from the Faces of the selected Objects: make Solid from the Faces of the selected Objects
Make Solid from in List Faces: select ONE object to try to make a Solid through STEP import/export process
Connect: connect
clean Face(s) removing holes and merging Outwire: clean Face(s) removing holes and merging Outwire

show 'in List‘ Edge(s): show 'in List‘ Edge(s)
show 'in List‘ Face(s): show 'in List‘ Face(s)
refine: refine
simple copy: simple copy
parametric Refine: parametric Refine

geometry check: geometry check
get Tolerance value: get Tolerance value
set Tolerance value: set Tolerance value

make Edge from selected Vertexes: make Edge from selected Vertexes
reset Placement: reset Placement
show/hide TypeId of the Shape: show/hide Type Id of the Shape
help: help

Fuzzy Cut: Fuzzy Cut
Fuzzy Union: Fuzzy Union
Fuzzy Common: Fuzzy Common

Video Tutorials

Defeaturing

Removing Features using OCC7.3 new tools

Repairing

Sew a Shape
Removing or Simplify Faces
Remove Holes or Pockets
Read or Change Tolerance
make Fuzzy Boolean operations

External workbenches

FreeCAD workbenches are easy to program in Python, there are therefore many people developing additional workbenches outside of the FreeCAD main developers.

The external workbenches page has some information and tutorials on some of them, and the FreeCAD Addons project aims at gathering them and making them easily installable from within FreeCAD.

New workbenches are in development, stay tuned!