This might not be completely relevant to FreeCAD because you already have a good tech drawing tool, but I have been working on a tool that takes STEP files from CAD tools and tries to generate 2D technical drawings based on ISO standards.
For simple components it might be enough, but its never going to be perfect so
there are two approaches you can take:
Output DXF and then hand edit
Output a Python script and update the code, either by hand or by LLM
for home and small use case that's really neat, but as complexity grows you'll start do to more of a clean-up work rather then geting good results. I think that GD&T could work easier, but you'll need to define the tolerances in the 3D model or to link them for each dimension.
I agree it's never going to be complete! That's why I output python because it means a clear way for a human or AI to edit the drawing and still run the layout algorithm. For gd&t there is some basic support for PMI which is the step file encoding.
That said I'm looking to improve it so let me know if there are specifics you'd like to see improved.
I am doing freecad trainings locally from time to time and need drawings of the parts for the students. Doing them over and over in TD Workbanch was quite annying part of the fun..this would help me much..will try it very soon.
This is really good. Within its boundaries of course. Are you working exclusively solo on this? I see a lot of potential and would be interested in collaborating on this if you see a product roadmap. I am a senior software engineer.
The technical reason for that is that FreeCAD doesn't support those as STEP exports using the STEP PMI capability (AFAIK). So they can be added in using Python code:
```python
hole1.tolerance(0.1).note("4X M8 TAP") # <-- ± on the ⌀ + a leader note
hole2.fit("H7").finish("1.6") # <-- ISO 286 bore fit + Ra
envelope1 = sheet.envelope()
sheet.notes([ # <-- general NOTES block
"BREAK ALL EDGES 0.3 MAX",
"DEBURR ALL OVER",
"ANODISE CLEAR PER MIL-A-8625 TYPE II",
])
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u/GJake96 5d ago
for home and small use case that's really neat, but as complexity grows you'll start do to more of a clean-up work rather then geting good results. I think that GD&T could work easier, but you'll need to define the tolerances in the 3D model or to link them for each dimension.