FreeCAD Lesson 2: Add and Resize a Through Hole

Learning outcome

Add an editable through hole to the 100 × 30 × 5 mm plate from Lesson 1. Set its diameter to 6 mm, then resize it to 8 mm without rebuilding the plate.

Before you start

Beginner lesson • approximately 5 minutes • English. Software shown: FreeCAD 1.0.0. Work on a copy of your Lesson 1 FCStd file; do not overwrite the original.

Step-by-step guide

1. Save a new version of the plate and create a sketch on the XY plane (00:30).

2. Draw a circle. Constrain its centre to X = 15 mm and Y = 15 mm and its diameter to 6 mm (01:10).

3. Close the sketch. Create a Pocket using Through all and Reversed (02:20). Reversed is needed here because this sketch is on the bottom XY plane; do not copy that direction blindly to a different support plane.

4. Edit the circle diameter from 6 mm to 8 mm and recompute the model (03:10).

5. Save, close and reopen the FCStd file. Inspect the sketch and Pocket in the feature history (03:50).

Try it yourself

Pause at 04:25 and prove that the hole stays editable. Return the diameter to 6 mm, then change it back to 8 mm. As an extension, change the plate thickness and check that Through all still cuts through it.

Check your result

The plate remains 100 × 30 × 5 mm for the main exercise. The final hole is Ø8 mm with its centre at X = 15 mm, Y = 15 mm. It passes through the entire plate, and the saved file retains the sketch and Pocket history.

Common mistakes

If the cut goes away from the plate, inspect the support plane and Pocket direction. If resizing fails, edit the diameter constraint rather than drawing another circle.

Continue learning

Previous: FreeCAD Lesson 1 — Your First Plate. Lesson 3: Coming soon.

Download the worksheet

FreeCAD Lesson 2 — practice worksheet (PDF, English, 2 pages)

Includes dimensions, detailed checks and troubleshooting. Use your completed Lesson 1 file as the starting geometry; the PDF is not a native FCStd model.