In freecad I want to have a circle but only like for reference not to actually be a circle but just so I can line up other lines to make a hexagon for example, how do I do that
In freecad I want to have a circle but only like for reference not to actually be a circle but just so I can line up other lines to make a hexagon for example, how do I do that
To create a reference circle in FreeCAD for aligning geometry (like a hexagon) without including the circle in the final sketch, follow these steps: --- ### **Steps:** 1. **Enter Sketcher Workbench:** - Open FreeCAD and create a new document. - Switch to the **Sketcher Workbench** (via the toolbar or `Menu > Workbench > Sketcher`). 2. **Create a New Sketch:** - Click **Create a new sketch** and select a plane (e.g., XY plane). 3. **Draw a Circle:** - Use the **Circle tool** (or press **C**) to draw a circle in the sketch. 4. **Convert the Circle to Construction Geometry:** - Select the circle in the sketch (click it). - Click the **Toggle Construction** button (blue square with white geometry) in the toolbar or check the **Construction Mode** box in the **Combo View > Data tab**. - The circle will turn blue/dashed, indicating it’s a reference (not part of the final shape). 5. **Build Your Hexagon:** - **Method 1 (Polygon Tool):** - Use the **Polygon tool** (set sides to **6**) from the toolbar. - Place the center at the same point as your construction circle. - Constrain the polygon’s circumradius to match the construction circle’s radius (use the **Constraint tool**). - **Method 2 (Manual Lines):** - Draw lines or points for the hexagon vertices, snapping them to the construction circle. - Use **Coincident Constraints** to attach each vertex to the circle. - Add **Equal Length Constraints** to ensure all sides are equal. 6. **Apply Final Constraints:** - Use symmetry, length, or angle constraints to refine the hexagon. --- ### **Key Tips:** - **Snapping:** Enable snapping in Sketcher (`View > Snap`) to easily align points to the construction circle. - **Constraints:** Use **Geometric Constraints** (e.g., equal length, symmetry) to make the hexagon regular. - **Visibility:** The construction circle won’t appear in 3D views or exported geometry—it’s purely a reference.  This method ensures your hexagon is perfectly aligned and symmetric using the reference circle.
Testing if the previous output contains the string construction circle: True
Testing if the previous output contains the string construction geometry: False