Freecad course - screw

Introduction

In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of creating a screw using FreeCAD. This step-by-step guide is designed for users who are familiar with the basics of FreeCAD and want to enhance their modeling skills. By the end of this tutorial, you will have a detailed understanding of how to model a screw, which is a fundamental component in various engineering applications.

Step 1: Setting Up FreeCAD

• Open FreeCAD on your computer.
• Create a new project by selecting "File" and then "New".
• Ensure you are in the "Part Design" workbench for modeling.

Step 2: Create the Base Cylinder

• Select the "Create a new body" button.
• Click on "Create a new sketch" and choose the top plane (XY Plane).
• Use the circle tool to draw a circle in the center of the sketch. Set the radius to your desired screw diameter.
• Close the sketch by clicking on the "Close" button.
• Select the sketch and use the "Pad" function to extrude the circle into a cylinder. You can set the height as per your requirement for the screw.

Step 3: Adding the Thread

• Select the top face of the cylinder and create a new sketch.
• Draw a smaller circle on the same center point as the base cylinder's circle. This will represent the inner diameter of the thread.
• Use the "Pocket" feature to cut down to the desired depth, creating the base for the threads.
• To create the thread, switch to the "Part" workbench.
• Select the cylinder and use the "Helix" tool to create a helical shape around the cylinder. Set parameters such as pitch and height according to the thread specifications.

Step 4: Finalizing the Screw Model

• After creating the helix, switch back to the "Part Design" workbench.
• Use the "Loft" feature to create the thread by selecting the helix and the base circle.
• Adjust the settings to ensure that the thread looks realistic and matches standard screw dimensions.

Step 5: Applying Fillets and Chamfers

• To improve the aesthetics and functionality of the screw, you may want to apply fillets or chamfers.
• Select the edges you want to modify.
• Use the "Fillet" or "Chamfer" tools from the toolbar, and specify the desired radius or angle.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we covered how to create a screw in FreeCAD, starting from setting up your project to finalizing the model with threads and fillets. This process not only enhances your modeling skills but is also applicable to various engineering designs. For further practice, consider exploring more complex screw designs or integrating additional features such as slots or holes. Happy modeling!