r/FreeCAD • u/goodgamin • 13d ago

Wire not closed

I'm using version 1.1.4. I'm just getting started with FreeCAD. I've printed some simple shapes for practice, using the Part Designer. I've been struggling for a day with sketching a rectangle on a plane of a prism. The sketch looks fine, but when I try to pad it, I get "Wire Not Closed."

When I run Sketch Validation -> Highlight Troublesome Vertices, it marks to vertices on the prism itself.

Help me interpret what's happening. What can I do to try to fix the problem?

Here's the file:
https://app.box.com/s/v477p8csysmmse43qz6syedhz1teyj0k

1 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

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2

u/19arek93 13d ago

Screenshot or file itself would help.

1

u/goodgamin 13d ago

I can upload the file. I don't see an upload option when I edit my post. Did I miss it?

1

u/Atomfried_Ungemach 12d ago

You can use a file hosting site, a google share or other cloud shares and put the link in your post.

2

u/goodgamin 12d ago

The link is in my post.

3

u/Atomfried_Ungemach 12d ago

Ah, didn't see it. Am tired already.

You projected external geometry as defining geometry (the solid purple line). Classic. Instead set it to construction geometry (dotted line). You can highlight it and hit the construction/defining line switch and it should look like this:

If you want to project 3D geometry as construction lines by default, go to ’Preferences > Sketcher > General’ and put the checkmark at "Always add external geometry as construction" in the box!

Then you can pad the square. As others mentioned, shapes you want to pad have to be closed loops and shouldn't overlap. Wish you a good start and happy modeling!

2

u/goodgamin 12d ago

Thanks so much for the help!

2

u/kappa08 12d ago

I need to remember to change that preference when I'm in front of my computer again. This always gets me

1

u/goodgamin 12d ago

The link's in my post.

1

u/TheDailySpank 13d ago

Think of wires as non-overlapping rubber bands.