u/some_millwright

This is another situation where there might be an easy way and I just don't know about it.

For some projects I sit down and make up my VarSet before I start sketching. I then want to use the VarSet values as I sketch. If I draw a circle I don't see a way to use the VarSet value unless I draw a random-sized circle, then add a constraint so that I can edit the constraint, hit the fx button, and put in my VarSet value. It would save time if I could start dragging out the circle then just put in the VarSet value right then.

I had what was - to me - a weird print failure. I immediately re-printed and the result is the top, correct print. If this was just a layer offset then I would 'get it', but if you look at the failed print, the layers started to get narrower. The parts on the left side moved to the right but the parts on the right side moved to the left. I was not expecting this. Has anyone else has a similar thing happen?

Update: Thanks to StickAtSea who pointed out that it was just a standard layer shift, but I didn't recognize it as one because it shifted 'upwards' and the angled wall made it look like the layer was narrower.

https://preview.redd.it/y3avy5fnh42h1.jpg?width=480&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5bb7cb075ef1e9ee52f3c5a473cdc13a01bb1d28

When I add an offset in the sketcher and select the offset amount (i.e. I fill in '-10mm' in the box) then why do I then have to measure the offset in a bunch of places to constrain it? Is there a setting that I haven't found yet to have this happen automatically?

So I am doing a simple part using a master sketch. I need a 'horseshoe' shaped part of a circle. The sketch that I have works perfectly to give me the shape that I want, and it is totally constrained, but I am getting a complaint that there are partially redundant constraints, and it suggests (3). I try deleting constraint #3, and the entire sketch explodes and now I have 6 degrees of freedom.

I can - of course - just leave it alone and let it have partially redundant constraints, but it begs the question of what causes this.

https://preview.redd.it/t3exv1vax91h1.png?width=1919&format=png&auto=webp&s=e80e2061e7325c7d70517b18f6610819d530c3bc

The picture is the start of a wrench rail, but I'm after the concept, not the specific object.

I'm trying to figure out how I can take that 'notch' that I have sketched there and have it repeated while getting a bit larger each time.

I have heard of a way that the Lattice2 workbench can do such witchcraft, but it doesn't seem to be able to do it at the sketch level. Maybe I could do the first 'notch' separately and then use Lattice2 on the pocket.

I'm just curious what is the most reasonable way to do this as a general statement.

https://preview.redd.it/czcne6lnsk0h1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=9d40ba74a675a8c477849adfe2efe0f3b8db8b54

I'm trying to figure out how much would be involved in being able to design something at home on my linux machine, and start it printing on my Centauri Carbon at work so that it's done when I get there hours later.

Obviously this is easy to use the Elegoo slicer when you are on the same WiFi as the printer, but if you are not.... is there software out there that makes this work?

My system just updated to FreeCAD 1.1.1.4. I thought I would check to see what had changed in this very minor update, but the FreeCAD website is still talking about 1.1. Where are the detailed release notes? Surely something was changed between then and now... so wouldn't there be release notes somewhere? I took a look on GitHub and found 1.1.1 on the releases page, but this is what my system downloaded:

OS: CachyOS (KDE//usr/share/wayland-sessions/plasma.desktop/wayland)

Architecture: x86_64

Version: 1.1.1.44874 (Git)

Build date: 2026/04/14 22:09:59

Build type: Release

Branch: makepkg

Hash: 0108fd4b4850cc46e625b60e53cea7a7bbe69f8d

Python 3.14.4, Qt 6.11.0, Coin 4.0.8, Vtk 9.6.1, boost 1_91, Eigen3 5.0.1, PySide 6.11.0

shiboken 6.11.0, SMESH 7.7.1.0, xerces-c 3.3.0, OCC 7.9.3

Locale: English/United Kingdom (en_GB)

Navigation Style/Orbit Style/Rotation Mode: TinkerCAD/Trackball/Drag at cursor

Stylesheet/Theme/QtStyle: OpenLight.qss/OpenLight/

Logical DPI/Physical DPI/Pixel Ratio: 96/81.5973/1

Installed mods:

* OpenTheme 2025.5.20

Which is a lot more info than maybe we needed, but the point is that it seems to be newer than whatever 1.1.1.x that I had before this one was downloaded, so where do I find out what changed?

The patient is a 100 ton RTAA process chiller.

One of the compressors is on the way out and a new one is 8-12 weeks for delivery. A new compressor is being ordered, but in the meantime I would like to change things so that compressor 2 (the undamaged one) is the first to start, and it will take the bulk of the load.

The way the unit normally operates is it will start whichever one has the lowest number of starts and hours, and it will run that one until it can't go any more, at which point it starts the second one and then balances the load between them.

I can easily lock out compressor 1 and just have compressor 2 run, but I need compressor 1 to take up the slack beyond what compressor 2 can handle on its own.

I can't find anything in the manuals about changing the loading, other than being able to turn off the balancing which would have it start compressor 1 every time.

Changing the wiring to make the system think that 1 is 2 and 2 is 1 would be a real pig, but I suppose it would be doable. I'd rather not.

Are there any other tricks to make the system think that one compressor needs to be babied? If I just set the "Compressor A Tons" to, like, 30 tons would you expect that to limit it?

Any information would be appreciated.

I don't know why it took me so long to figure this out, but if you are getting "Wire is not closed" errors on a sketch that you placed on an existing body, then make the body invisible. Seeing the lines that you made with the existing lines already there is miserable. Once you have imported the external geometry that you need, just make the body invisible and now you just have your sketch to look at.

Simple... but I didn't see it for a long time. Don't be like me: make the body invisible so you can focus on your sketch.

If I have a model, and I want to create a 'left hand' version of it such that it is mirrored over an axis, is that something that the slicer can do? It would be more convenient than having to import it into FreeCAD and then flip it and export it again.

I didn't find anything with a search.

I have been using OneNote for a long, long time. 15 years, maybe.

I am getting fed up with there no longer being a file that I can look and an say 'Yep, that's my data.'. A link to data... somewhere... is not really what I want. Other than that I like OneNote.

Is there something OneNote-like that can store the file locally? Or at least download it locally for backup like you could 10 years ago with OneNote?

Just one guy, not a group that needs intricate file-locking abilities.

https://preview.redd.it/rlgq2ht7sqyg1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=183cd0ab3b7ec7b494bc19195ebcf2948703eabc

Update - Problem solved, see below.

This has been edited to be clearer and simpler using a thrown-together file instead of the orignal.

In this image we see the first body at the bottom. This body has two tapped holes. I want to make counter-bored holes to match. I have used a binder to copy the sketch that includes the hole locations, and I make a sketch for the new body which is on top of the first body.

I want to create a sketch on the top face - coloured cyan - and pick up the hole locations that are on the goldenrod-coloured binder beneath it.

I could add the holes to the bottom of the top body and pocket them through, but I want to use the hole tool, so it would be greatly preferable to have the sketch on the top surface of the body.

The question is how can this be done?

I have tried using a wireframe view and that lets me see the holes but I can't select them to import the geometry. I have tried using a clipping view and that is the same - I can see the holes, but not select them. I have tried to just make my sketch on the first body without a binder, but no matter how I select it (independent, dependent or cross-reference) it won't let me select the holes to import the geometry.

I am quite willing to believe that there is a simple way to do this, but it is escaping me for now.

Update:

BoringBob sorted it out. You still need the subshape binder, and you can't make the BODY that you are working on invisible or the binder will disappear, too, but you have to make the PAD invisible, then you can see the binder without the pad (which is the 'physical reality' of the body) in the way, so that you can import the geometry that is below it.

I understood that NPT threads had been added to the Part Design hole tool with ver. 1.1.

I am running 1.1.1 and I don't see NPT or NPTF or National or anything else that looks like tapered pipe threads. There is a box you can tick that says 'tapered' under ANSI pipes, but it doesn't seem to do what I need.

Are NPT threads usable in FreeCAD at this time without having to manually model them yourself?

I am dealing with Conair tech support on this, but it's taking a while. I'm asking on the off chance that someone here has dealt with this before.

This chiller has given intermittent faults on Compressor 1 since new, but we have never been able to pin it down.

The controller pops up "Compressor 1 Fault" on the HMI, but SO FAR nobody seems to know what this really means. I have verified that the controller has NO IDEA if the contactor is pulled in, and the protection devices in the compressors are in series, so the controller would have no idea that Compressor 1 has a fault, as opposed to compressor 2.

What I want to know is what actually causes the controller to display "Compressor 1 Fault" on the HMI. Justin at Conair sent me a list of error codes, and this code isn't on the list.

Anyone?

I used OneDriver on another distribution with no trouble. It won't work on Cachy - the dialog that should ask me to log in just gets deleted before it is even populated with text.

I tried installing onedrive-abraunegg, and it asks me to log in but although I have tried several times to log in every time I get a page telling me that this might be a phishing attempt and then it takes me to "the wrong place."

Has anyone been successful?

We have all seen the threads asking whether they should switch. I'm thinking we should just make a list of reasons why they should.

Edit:

We have seen spectacular suggestions, so I have started editing/adding to this list to accomodate suggestions from others. Ultimately we will have a list to post whenever we see 'Should I switch from..." messages.

Reasons to Leave Fusion for FreeCAD:
1: FreeCAD is free, and will always be free. Free for personal use and free for commercial use.

2: FreeCAD defaults to storing files locally, not on a cloud. Internet/network connection NOT REQUIRED. You own your files.

3: FreeCAD allows output to PDF for free.

4: FreeCAD CAM output has full-speed G0 movement.

5: FreeCAD has a vibrant user-base to help out, and the developers seem to care whether users are getting a good product or not.

6: FreeCAD is getting better all of the time. Fusion is getting worse.

7: FreeCAD can't disappear. If you have a 10 year old laptop with a 10 year old copy of FreeCAD on it it will still run and open your 10 year old files.

8: FreeCAD is open-source, with all of the benefits that that entails.

9: FreeCAD runs natively on Linux!

10: FreeCAD is near infinitely customizable. You can change the icons, change the menus, change the navigation... you can make FreeCAD act like another program, and the macro system is very robust.