I use FreeCAD almost every day for my work. I don’t design anything complicated (I am an electrical engineer), but FreeCAD was a great tool to make small changes on enclosure and part models, export single objects from complicated STEP files, and even to design simple 3D models for some electrical components.
In one word, I am grateful, and now would like to offer something to FreeCAD developers. Since we (at Leonar3Do) are developing a 6DoF pointing device I thought some of you might be interested in receiving a kit in exchange for some development work to support it to some level. This would let us use FreeCAD as a showcase at exhibitions like CES or Siggraph, and could also make the FreeCAD learning curve more gentle for beginners like me.
One thing I would find useful is support for moving primitives around in the Part WB. I tend to use CSG geometry for quick-and-dirty jobs, but being inexperienced in 3D CAD systems it takes some time to modify the parameters the right way. If there was a 3D snap grid, just grabbing the object and moving it the right place would feel more natural to me (with stereo 3D on). But we are open to anything you feel would enhance the experience.
If anybody is interested, I will discuss his/her project idea with the management and try to send a free kit of our new beta product. It is not what you can see on our website and on youtube. The new kit is wireless and can stand stable on the desk, so picking it up is much easier then before.
Interesting! I have had the idea for a long time about using some form of hand held wireless device to replace the spaceball. I even have some drawings on sticky notes somewhere.
It appears to me, that you have a more rigid motion detection than the leap motion. I think that is a big plus. I can see the leap motion being bogged down in gesture interpretation.
I have done something similar in the past. For a video:http://ubuntuone.com/7jEiLRzlztRTN91WgwZ1RI For the code: https://github.com/blobfish/FreeCAD_sf_master/tree/working This is only for cubes. Some of the functionality is implemented and working good. Some is implemented and buggy. Some isn’t implemented. I use it pretty regularly and is stable for me, but a crash in not out of the realm of possibilities.
Thanks a lot for the code. Based on what I have seen in the video this looks like a good place to start from.
This 3D-grid-and-snapping thing is something I always wanted to implement, but had to realize my programming skills are far below this level. So came the idea of trading L3D kits for development work. I believe this would be beneficial for everybody. Sure it would be to me.
The problem is that we are not ready yet with the drivers, and unfortunately Linux support is not a priority right now. But I will push for it, since I see on the forums that a lot of you are using Linux.
It looks an interesting HID for working with CAD, not that I have had any experience dealing with peripheral devices for manipulating the view. On that note has anyone attempted to use 3D Glasses with FreeCAD? I’ve been given a Nvidia Quadro card which supports it…
Although I don’t think I have to time to dedicate fixing specific tasks, I think it would be good idea to put down some features / fixes that would you’d want, even if it is specific as supporting the Leonar3Do kit. Then we can all see if they are atleast feasible.
