How to use the Pad Tool in FreeCAD's Part Design workbench

The Pad Tool is used to take a sketch and convert it into a solid. It can also be used to add solid features to an existing solid once the sketch is placed on a face.

Options and Parameters

• Type: This option specifies the type of pad that will be created. There are five types:
  1. To first: This option causes the Pad Tool to create a solid from the sketch to the first face that it encounters. This type can be used to create a pad between two solids;
  2. To last: This option causes the Pad Tool to create a solid from the sketch to the last face that it encounters. The pad will pass through any solids that it encounters before the last face;
  3. To face: This option causes the Pad Tool to create a solid from the sketch to the face that you select. The pad will pass through any solids that it encounters before it reaches the selected face;
  4. Two dimensions: This option causes the Pad Tool to create a pad on both sides of the sketch. The amount of padding on either side of the plane can be specified separately allowing non-symmetric solids to be created.

     Important

     The Two dimensions pad type causes the behaviour o the Dimension option to change. The Dimension option defines the amount of padding applied in front of the plane.

     This pad type also enables the Second length parameter which specifies the amount of padding that is created behind the plane.

• Dimension: This parameter sets the thickness of the pad. It is combined with the other options to alter the way the pad is created;
• Reversed: The Pad Tool normally creates the pad above the plane that the sketch is attached to. This option causes the pad to be created below the plane;

• Note

  The Symmetric to plane option disables the Reversed options because it is not applicable.

  Symmetric to plane: The resulting pad is created on both sides of the plane containing the sketch. The height of the pad in each direction is half the value of the dimension option;
• Second length: This parameter is ONLY available when the Two dimensions pad type has been selected.

Usage from a wood workers perspective

Wood workers tend to work with solid pieces of wood that are rectangular in nature, and the Pad Tool can be used in this way in line with the way that a wood worker would maniupulate the piece of wood.

The Pad Tool can also be used in a manner that doesn't exactly match the way that a wood worker works. Let's consider the example of a piece of wood with several holes in it. A wood worker would typically create a rectangular piece of wood, then layout the holes, and finally drill the holes. This process can be easily replicated using the Pad Tool and other FreeCAD Part Design workbench tools.

Ignoring the production workflow for a moment, the workflow can be modified so that the sketch defines the piece of wood AND the holes themselves. Since the Pad Tool requires a sketch in order to create a solid, a sketch with the holes placed and dimensioned will create a solid that is fully formed.

This may be a more efficient method for creating the solid than using the wood workers normal workflow. The wood worker would still need to manufacture the final piece using the normal workflow. From a modelling perspective it makes no difference if you use a sketch in this manner or two sketches in a two stage workflow.

Writer, Editor, Producer: Geoff Glasson

This video would not have been possible without help from the following people:

• Steven Taylor: https://stinstruments.com.au

Title: Blue as the Night Sky

Publisher: S.I. Publishing (SOCAN)

Available through AUDIOHERO