Make a tube/pipe with FreeCAD

Why I Chose FreeCAD

I chose FreeCAD because it runs smoothly on my old laptop compared to AutoCAD.

Getting Started

There are two methods to create a pipe in FreeCAD that I’m familiar with.

Method 1: Using Draft and Sketcher

1. Open FreeCAD:

   • Create a new document (Ctrl + N).

2. Create a Circle:

   • From the dropdown menu, select Draft.
   • Draw a circle. You can adjust its location and radius later using the options in the left corner box.

3. Set the Viewing Plane:

   • You are currently in the YX plane (visible in the right corner).
   • Press 0 to switch to the 3D view, and then press 1 to view the object in the XZ plane.

4. Create a Sketch:

   • Select Sketcher from the dropdown menu.
   • Create a new sketch and draw a circle with its origin at the center.
   • Use the Circle Constraint to set its radius.

5. Draw a Perpendicular Line:

   • Create a new sketch on the XZ plane.
   • Draw a straight line from the origin, and set the constraints.

6. Sweep the Circle Along the Line:

   • Choose Part from the dropdown menu and rename the circle and line.
   • Select Sweep and choose the circle as the profile.
   • Set the Sweep Path to the straight line and click Done.

7. Create a Pipe:

   • To create a pipe, select the top and bottom surfaces of the cylinder.
   • Press 0 to choose the top surface, then press 5 and Ctrl to choose the bottom surface.
   • Click the Thickness icon and press OK. Your pipe is now complete.

Method 2: Using Create Primitives

1. Open FreeCAD:

   • Create a new document (Ctrl + N).

2. Select Part:

   • From the dropdown menu, choose Part.

3. Create a Cylinder:

   • Select Create Primitives and choose the cylinder shape from the left-hand side.
   • Set the radius and height for your cylinder.

4. Follow Steps from Method 1:

   • Repeat the steps for sweeping and setting thickness from Step 14 in Method 1.

Done!