Feature description
Updated info on the upcoming release, based on the wiki relnotes.
Feature implementation
FreeCAD 26.3 is out. This is the first release on our new schedule of three releases per year with calendar-based version numbers, so 26.3 follows 1.1: nothing was skipped and nothing was renamed. The next release will be 27.1.
Multiple documents can now be edited at the same time, each with its own tasks and undo/redo stack, so two sketches can be open simultaneously. Recomputes now run in the background so the interface stays responsive, and they are also fine-grained, which makes a noticeable difference in large models. A new Mass Properties command calculates volume, mass, density, surface area, center of gravity and inertia, with material-aware results and custom reference frames. Box selection by dragging is now built into the common navigation styles instead of requiring a dedicated tool.
Part Design gained a parametric Defeaturing tool, cosmetic threads on holes, point, path and circular pattern types with on-view parameters, and start offsets for Pad, Pocket, Hole, Revolution and Groove, so several features can be built from one master sketch without extra offset planes. Creating a new sketch now opens the attachment dialog unless a planar face or datum plane is already selected. Every subtractive feature can now use a Common operation instead of the default Subtraction, keeping only the material shared with the existing body.
Sketcher received a text tool and a Group constraint, and dimension and constraint tools can now pick model edges outside the sketch directly, creating the external reference automatically for you. Internal face generation now handles complex overlapping geometry, such as three or more intersecting circles, and is on by default for new sketches, so intersecting profiles produce individual faces.
Assembly gained a Snapshot feature that saves and restores the placement and visibility of the whole assembly, a Rigid Group joint that fixes any number of components relative to each other, and link arrays for placing repeated components. Simulations can now be exported to video, and dragging no longer requires a grounded component: an ungrounded island moves as a rigid group based on its joints.
CAM has a new machine library and editor with machine-based postprocessing, a feeds and speeds helper, a rotary surface operation for 4th-axis work, and the simulator is now a proper window in the main interface.
FEM can now build hexahedral meshes automatically through new Gmsh refinements, and the refactored CalculiX solver is the default.
BIM gained a Report tool with an SQL-like query language and a Covering tool for finishes and cladding, and Trimex now trims and extends BIM objects such as walls, pipes and structures directly by picking an end face.
In Draft and BIM task panels, typing a value into a coordinate, length or angle field now locks it, so mouse movements no longer overwrite what you entered.
TechDraw scene drawing is substantially faster, right-click context menus adapt to what is selected, and a new Screen Mode scales edges, vertices and annotations with the zoom level so they no longer obscure geometry in complex drawings.
Addons can now use the toponaming API that was introduced internally in 1.0 as well as use the transparent previews. The Addon Manager now uses git for addons too large to cache, so updating the Parts Library fetches only what changed instead of re-downloading the whole archive.
FreeCAD builds against OpenCASCADE 8 while retaining OpenCASCADE 7 compatibility.
Full release notes: https://wiki.freecad.org/Release_notes_26.3
Thanks to everyone who made this release: developers, maintainers, translators, documentation writers, testers and everyone who reported a bug. Many of the improvements here were possible thanks to your donations: https://www.freecad.org/sponsor.php
Feature description
Updated info on the upcoming release, based on the wiki relnotes.
Feature implementation
FreeCAD 26.3 is out. This is the first release on our new schedule of three releases per year with calendar-based version numbers, so 26.3 follows 1.1: nothing was skipped and nothing was renamed. The next release will be 27.1.
Multiple documents can now be edited at the same time, each with its own tasks and undo/redo stack, so two sketches can be open simultaneously. Recomputes now run in the background so the interface stays responsive, and they are also fine-grained, which makes a noticeable difference in large models. A new Mass Properties command calculates volume, mass, density, surface area, center of gravity and inertia, with material-aware results and custom reference frames. Box selection by dragging is now built into the common navigation styles instead of requiring a dedicated tool.
Part Design gained a parametric Defeaturing tool, cosmetic threads on holes, point, path and circular pattern types with on-view parameters, and start offsets for Pad, Pocket, Hole, Revolution and Groove, so several features can be built from one master sketch without extra offset planes. Creating a new sketch now opens the attachment dialog unless a planar face or datum plane is already selected. Every subtractive feature can now use a Common operation instead of the default Subtraction, keeping only the material shared with the existing body.
Sketcher received a text tool and a Group constraint, and dimension and constraint tools can now pick model edges outside the sketch directly, creating the external reference automatically for you. Internal face generation now handles complex overlapping geometry, such as three or more intersecting circles, and is on by default for new sketches, so intersecting profiles produce individual faces.
Assembly gained a Snapshot feature that saves and restores the placement and visibility of the whole assembly, a Rigid Group joint that fixes any number of components relative to each other, and link arrays for placing repeated components. Simulations can now be exported to video, and dragging no longer requires a grounded component: an ungrounded island moves as a rigid group based on its joints.
CAM has a new machine library and editor with machine-based postprocessing, a feeds and speeds helper, a rotary surface operation for 4th-axis work, and the simulator is now a proper window in the main interface.
FEM can now build hexahedral meshes automatically through new Gmsh refinements, and the refactored CalculiX solver is the default.
BIM gained a Report tool with an SQL-like query language and a Covering tool for finishes and cladding, and Trimex now trims and extends BIM objects such as walls, pipes and structures directly by picking an end face.
In Draft and BIM task panels, typing a value into a coordinate, length or angle field now locks it, so mouse movements no longer overwrite what you entered.
TechDraw scene drawing is substantially faster, right-click context menus adapt to what is selected, and a new Screen Mode scales edges, vertices and annotations with the zoom level so they no longer obscure geometry in complex drawings.
Addons can now use the toponaming API that was introduced internally in 1.0 as well as use the transparent previews. The Addon Manager now uses git for addons too large to cache, so updating the Parts Library fetches only what changed instead of re-downloading the whole archive.
FreeCAD builds against OpenCASCADE 8 while retaining OpenCASCADE 7 compatibility.
Full release notes: https://wiki.freecad.org/Release_notes_26.3
Thanks to everyone who made this release: developers, maintainers, translators, documentation writers, testers and everyone who reported a bug. Many of the improvements here were possible thanks to your donations: https://www.freecad.org/sponsor.php