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
In FreeCAD’s Sketcher workbench you can create a reference circle (or any geometry) that doesn’t become part of the final shape by marking it as “construction geometry.” This lets you use the circle for alignment and as a guide (for example, when positioning the vertices of a hexagon) without it being included in the resulting solid. Here’s how to do it: 1. Switch to the Sketcher workbench and create a new sketch on your desired plane. 2. Use the circle tool to draw a circle where you want your reference geometry. 3. With the circle selected, look for the “Toggle construction mode” button (often depicted as a little dashed-line icon) in the Sketcher’s toolbar, or right-click on the circle and select “Toggle construction mode.” When you mark the circle as construction geometry, it will turn into dashed lines, indicating that it’s for reference only. 4. Now, you can create your hexagon by drawing lines and placing constraints relative to the reference circle (e.g., using its center or intersecting points) to ensure proper alignment. Using construction geometry in this way keeps your design intentions clear while allowing you to use guides without them affecting the final geometry in your model.
Testing if the previous output contains the string construction circle: False
Testing if the previous output contains the string construction geometry: True
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
You can make a “reference” circle in FreeCAD by drawing it as construction geometry in a Sketch. This way, the circle appears just as a guideline (usually drawn as dashed lines) that you can snap to or reference while constructing other geometry (like a hexagon), but it won’t “count” as part of your finished shape. Here’s one way to do it: 1. Switch to the Sketcher workbench and create a new sketch on your desired plane. 2. Use the Circle tool to draw your circle. 3. With the circle still selected, look at the tasks or properties panel (or right‐click the circle in the model tree). There should be an option to “Toggle construction geometry” (sometimes shown as a construction icon or a checkbox). Click that and the circle will be converted to construction geometry. Now, your circle will be shown as a dashed line. You can use its points and curvature as a reference to help you align and draw your hexagon (or any other shape) without the circle being considered a “real” part of the finished part design. This method keeps your sketch cleaner, and the construction elements are not evaluated for features like extrusions or part operations. Happy designing!
Testing if the previous output contains the string construction circle: False
Testing if the previous output contains the string construction geometry: True