<p>I would also like to take a look at the A2plus Workbench (Freecad Addon). There you can define constraints which can help with this problem. As far as I know, parts cannot be moved with the mouse pointer, but angle parameters can be entered.</p>

<p><a href="https://freecadweb.org/wiki/A2plus_Workbench" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://freecadweb.org/wiki/A2plus_Workbench</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-03T10:31:17.013Z
2019-09-03T10:31:17.013Z
metty
<p>freeCad has a draft rotate function in <strong>DRAFT workbench</strong>:</p>

<ol>
<li>Select an object;</li>
<li>Press the Draft Rotate button, then;</li>
<li>Click to set the rotating point and rotate. </li>
</ol>

<p>You will get used to that after a few trails.</p>

<p>There is a <a href="https://www.freecadweb.org/wiki/Draft_Rotate" rel="nofollow noreferrer">step by step guide</a> on freeCad site.</p>

<p>There is also a <a href="https://youtu.be/5KDEf16MNc0" rel="nofollow noreferrer">short demo of the function here</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-10T11:27:16.983Z
Because... links die, but content typed in here will be archived and searchable.
Davo
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-10T15:52:06.543Z
I suppose that's as far as I can get with FreeCAD... Not as comfortable as in Blender, but kinda solves the task :
Art
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-11T18:14:05.587Z
The link says that three different clicks are required (center point, reference point and rotation point - 5 steps in all). Whilst you do give the main overview, I think that (maybe in this case), a full reproduction of the five steps could be more useful :-) Admittedly, the video may be harder to explain in text (but it probably is [doable](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/6798/how-do-you-calibrate-a-delta-robot-3d-printer/6800#6800))
Greenonline
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-09T22:34:57.993Z
2018-10-11T18:08:37.123Z
2018-10-11T18:08:37.123Z
profesor79
<p>I am trying to create a mechanism with moving parts, and would like to see how it works (whether it even works) before printing it.</p>

<p>For example, there's a servo with a bracket, and I would like to see how far can the bracket move before colliding with other objects.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/mlheh.gif" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/mlheh.gif" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>Unfortunately I cannot find any information on how to set pivot points and rotate objects around these points in FreeCAD. Is this even possible?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-09T15:28:55.820Z
If the user manual doesn't mention it, it's probably not a feature available in FreeCAD.  You may have to consider some more powerful (not free) tool.
Carl Witthoft
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-10T09:40:48.183Z
Fusian 360 is free for most use cases and includes moving joints as well as animations of those joints.
towe
<3d-design><mechanics><freecad>
FreeCAD to design moving parts
Art
# FreeCAD to design moving parts

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-10-08)

I am trying to create a mechanism with moving parts, and would like to see how it works (whether it even works) before printing it.

For example, there's a servo with a bracket, and I would like to see how far can the bracket move before colliding with other objects.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/mlheh.gif)](https://i.sstatic.net/mlheh.gif)

Unfortunately I cannot find any information on how to set pivot points and rotate objects around these points in FreeCAD. Is this even possible?

**Tags:** 3d-design, mechanics, freecad
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: If the user manual doesn't mention it, it's probably not a feature available in FreeCAD.  You may have to consider some more powerful (not free) tool.  
> **username_2**: Fusian 360 is free for most use cases and includes moving joints as well as animations of those joints.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2018-10-09. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

freeCad has a draft rotate function in **DRAFT workbench**:

1. Select an object;
2. Press the Draft Rotate button, then;
3. Click to set the rotating point and rotate.

You will get used to that after a few trails.

There is a [step by step guide](https://www.freecadweb.org/wiki/Draft_Rotate) on freeCad site.

There is also a [short demo of the function here](https://youtu.be/5KDEf16MNc0).

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: Because... links die, but content typed in here will be archived and searchable.  
> **username_0**: I suppose that's as far as I can get with FreeCAD... Not as comfortable as in Blender, but kinda solves the task :  
> **username_6**: The link says that three different clicks are required (center point, reference point and rotation point - 5 steps in all). Whilst you do give the main overview, I think that (maybe in this case), a full reproduction of the five steps could be more useful :-) Admittedly, the video may be harder to explain in text (but it probably is [doable](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/6798/how-do-you-calibrate-a-delta-robot-3d-printer/6800#6800))  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2019-09-03. Score: 2

I would also like to take a look at the A2plus Workbench (Freecad Addon). There you can define constraints which can help with this problem. As far as I know, parts cannot be moved with the mouse pointer, but angle parameters can be entered.

<https://freecadweb.org/wiki/A2plus_Workbench>


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