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Arch Workbench

Introduction

The Arch-Workbench Arch Workbench provides a modern Building Information Modelling (BIM) workflow to FreeCAD, with support for features like fully parametric architectural entities such as walls, beams, roofs, windows, stairs, pipes, and furniture. It supports Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) files, and production of 2D floor plans in combination with the image TechDraw Workbench.

The Arch Workbench imports all tools from the image Draft Workbench, as it uses its 2D objects to build 3D parametric architectural objects. Nevertheless, Arch can also use solid shapes created with other workbenches like image Part and image PartDesign.

The BIM functionality of FreeCAD is now progressively split into this Arch Workbench, which holds basic architectural tools, and the image BIM Workbench, which is available from the image Addon Manager. This BIM Workbench adds a new interface layer on top of the Arch tools, with the aim of making the BIM workflow more intuitive and user-friendly. See FreeCAD BIM migration guide.

The developers of Draft, Arch, and BIM also collaborate with the greater OSArch community, with the ultimate goal of improving building design by using entirely free software.

image

Tools

These are tools for creating architectural objects.

  • image Wall: Creates a wall from scratch or using a selected object as a base.
  • image Structure: Creates a structural element from scratch or using a selected object as a base.
  • image Rebar tools: These tools are only available if the Reinforcement Workbench has been installed.
    • image Straight Rebar: Creates a straight reinforcement bar in a selected structural element.
    • image U-Shape Rebar: Creates a U-shape reinforcement bar in a selected structural element.
    • image L-Shape Rebar: Creates an L-shape reinforcement bar in a selected structural element.
    • image Stirrup: Creates a stirrup reinforcement bar in a selected structural element.
    • image Bent-Shape Rebar: Creates a bent-shape reinforcement bar in a selected structural element.
    • image Helical Rebar: Creates a helical reinforcement bar in a selected structural element.
    • image Column Reinforcement: Creates reinforcement bars in a selected rectangular column.
    • image Beam Reinforcement: Creates reinforcement bars in a selected beam.
    • image Slab Reinforcement: Creates reinforcement bars in a selected slab.
    • image Footing Reinforcement: Creates reinforcement bars inside a selected footing.
    • image Custom Rebar: Creates a custom reinforcement bar in a selected structural element using a sketch.
  • image Curtain Wall: Creates a curtain wall from scratch or using a selected object as a base.
  • image Building Part: Creates a building part including selected objects.
  • image Project: Creates a project including selected objects.
  • image Site: Creates a site including selected objects.
  • image Building: Creates a building including selected objects.
  • image Level: Creates a floor including selected objects.
  • image External reference: Links objects from another FreeCAD file into the current document.
  • image Window: Creates a window from scratch or using a selected object as a base.
  • image Roof: Creates a sloped roof from a selected wire.
  • image Axis tools
    • image Axis: Adds a 1-direction array of axes.
    • image Axis System: Adds an axis system composed of several axes.
    • image Grid: Adds a grid-like object.
  • image Section Plane: Adds a section plane object.
  • image Space: Creates a space object.
  • image Stairs: Creates a stairs object.
  • image Panel tools
    • image Panel: Creates a panel object from a selected 2D object.
    • image Panel Cut: Creates a 2D cut view from a panel.
    • image Panel Sheet: Creates a 2D cut sheet, including panel cuts or other 2D objects.
    • image Nest: Allows nesting several flat objects inside a container shape.
  • image Equipment: Creates an equipment or furniture object.
  • image Frame: Creates a frame object from a selected layout.
  • image Fence: Creates a fence object from a selected post and path.
  • image Truss: Creates a truss from a selected line or from scratch.
  • image Profile: Creates a parametric 2D profile.
  • image Material tools
    • image Material: Creates a material and attributes it to selected objects, if any.
    • image Multi-Material: Creates a multi-material and attributes it to selected objects, if any.
  • image Schedule: Creates different types of schedules.
  • image Pipe tools
    • image Pipe: Creates a pipe.
    • image Connector: Creates a corner or T-connection between 2 or 3 selected pipes.

Modification tools

These are tools for modifying architectural objects.

Utilities

These are additional tools to help you with specific tasks.

Preferences

  • image Preferences: preferences for the default appearance of walls, structures, rebars, windows, stairs, panels, pipes, grids and axes.

File formats

  • IFC: Industry Foundation Classes
  • DAE: Collada mesh format
  • OBJ: OBJ mesh format (export only)
  • JSON: JavaScript Object Notation format (export only)
  • 3DS: 3DS format (import only)
  • SHP: GIS Shapefiles (import only)

API

The Arch module can be used in Python scripts and macros using the Arch Python API functions.

Tutorials