#Tag · bonfire.cafe

Did you know you can use @FreeCAD to design computer networks? Ok, it's just a coupler for some @mikrotik devices to put two 10" units in a single 19" U.

The basic option to make this part is to cut a 52 mm long piece of aluminium angle. Drill 6 holes and cut the sides of angle to be 41 mm and 14 mm.

I'd recommend mounting devices connected with a this DIY part above a patch panel that can in part support their weight.

The part works left AND right.

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Isometric view of the part. Screenshoot from FreeCAD.

A technical drawing of the part with four different projections printed on A4 paper.

The part mounted between Mikrotik CSS315 and RB5009 devices.

peter hessler @openbsd boosted

cpresser

@cccpresser@chaos.social · 2 weeks ago

For this #FreeCADFriday I can show this simple 'MTP tool' designed to help with removal and insertion of MTP fibre connectors in a constrained environment.

The straight-fork end is for removal, it fits snug around the movable push-pull part of the connector. The semi-circle part is for pushing on the back of the connector, snapping it into the socket for installation.

3 media

FreeCAD rendering of said MTP Tool.
Its a grey stick with fork-like features on each end.

Additional features are embossed text and a hole for a strap. — FreeCAD rendering of said MTP Tool. Its a grey stick with fork-like features on each end. Additional features are embossed text and a hole for a strap.

Action-shot of a pink 3D-Printed MTP-Tool:
It reaches down into a device where lots of other cables are constricting access to the fibre connection. — Action-shot of a pink 3D-Printed MTP-Tool: It reaches down into a device where lots of other cables are constricting access to the fibre connection.

The fork-end of the tool fits tightly around the teal push-pull part of a MTP connector which sits at the end of a pink fibre optic cable.

steelman

@steelman@mstdn.io · 2 weeks ago

It's #FreeCADFriday once again~

Did you know you can use @FreeCAD to design computer networks? Ok, it's just a coupler for some @mikrotik devices to put two 10" units in a single 19" U.

The basic option to make this part is to cut a 52 mm long piece of aluminium angle. Drill 6 holes and cut the sides of angle to be 41 mm and 14 mm.

I'd recommend mounting devices connected with a this DIY part above a patch panel that can in part support their weight.

The part works left AND right.

4 media

cpresser

@cccpresser@chaos.social · 2 weeks ago

For this #FreeCADFriday I can show this simple 'MTP tool' designed to help with removal and insertion of MTP fibre connectors in a constrained environment.

3 media

Tom Lazar

@tomster@social.tomster.org · 4 weeks ago

Making progress with designing the cabinet. Using STEP files from the manufacturer, I can confidently size and place the drawers and their fronts.

For the top drawer I even managed to create a working assembly that correctly simulates the actual sliding action.

Not too shabby for a free piece of software, if you ask me!

#FreeCADFriday

4 media

tomster.org

Chip Butty boosted

FreeCAD

@FreeCAD@fosstodon.org · 2 months ago

It's the first #FreeCADFriday of 2026. Happy new year! What are you working on currently, or, what are your #FreeCAD plans for the year? #CAD

FreeCAD

@FreeCAD@fosstodon.org · 2 months ago

It's the first #FreeCADFriday of 2026. Happy new year! What are you working on currently, or, what are your #FreeCAD plans for the year? #CAD

FreeCAD

@FreeCAD@fosstodon.org · 3 months ago

It's #FreeCADFriday once again! What are all you wonderful people up to with #FreeCAD? #CAD #CAM

Chip Butty boosted

Adrian McEwen

@amcewen@mastodon.me.uk · 3 months ago

Back on the @MCQN_Ltd My Bike's Got LED packaging kick for this #FreeCADFriday

I'd done a bit more work on it on Monday too and tried cutting it out. That wasn't too bad, but the tabs to hold the panel with the PCB on didn't keep it in place.

So today I reworked that bit to have the side panels to hold the battery hook over the PCB panel. That holds things much better.

#weeknotes #ibal234 #OSHW

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An unfolded box insert, laser-cut from brown corrugated cardboard, sits on a white table. The sheet of cardboard it was cut from can be seen off to the left.

The insert is roughly in a cross-shape, with some three-sided rectangle cuts made into the centre of the cross. Those will fold up to hold the box the battery goes in. Three "arms" of the cross will fold down to form a void below the insert where the saddlebag goes; and the final "arm" folds back on itself to sit above the battery box, and has two fold-up tabs that will locate the My Bike's Got LED PCB. — An unfolded box insert, laser-cut from brown corrugated cardboard, sits on a white table. The sheet of cardboard it was cut from can be seen off to the left. The insert is roughly in a cross-shape, with some three-sided rectangle cuts made into the centre of the cross. Those will fold up to hold the box the battery goes in. Three "arms" of the cross will fold down to form a void below the insert where the saddlebag goes; and the final "arm" folds back on itself to sit above the battery box, and has two fold-up tabs that will locate the My Bike's Got LED PCB.

Adrian McEwen

@amcewen@mastodon.me.uk · 3 months ago

Back on the @MCQN_Ltd My Bike's Got LED packaging kick for this #FreeCADFriday

I'd done a bit more work on it on Monday too and tried cutting it out. That wasn't too bad, but the tabs to hold the panel with the PCB on didn't keep it in place.

So today I reworked that bit to have the side panels to hold the battery hook over the PCB panel. That holds things much better.

#weeknotes #ibal234 #OSHW

2 media

Alex Akselrod boosted

Gina Häußge

@foosel@chaos.social · 4 months ago

My humble contribution to #FreeCADFriday: A wall mount for a Ubiqiti USW-Lite-16-PoE network switch. The one it came with I couldn't easily mount to my networking HSW, this one I can. Sits satisfyingly snug in there.

Haven't yet disconnected the one it's replacing and wired that one up, that'll be for another day. For now I'm happy everything worked out on the first try with this mount.

I'm running out of ports and especially PoE ones and/or power sockets for injectors. This will help.

3 media

FreeCAD design of a wall mount cage for a network switch.

The printed mount with the switch fit into it.

The printed wall mount is mounted to a printed HSW, the switch sitting inside is, still unconnected.

Gina Häußge

@foosel@chaos.social · 4 months ago

Haven't yet disconnected the one it's replacing and wired that one up, that'll be for another day. For now I'm happy everything worked out on the first try with this mount.

I'm running out of ports and especially PoE ones and/or power sockets for injectors. This will help.

3 media

FreeCAD

@FreeCAD@fosstodon.org · 4 months ago

It's #FreeCADFriday once again! Do show us what you are working on with #FreeCAD! #CAD #CAM

Adrian McEwen

@amcewen@mastodon.me.uk · 4 months ago

The only scary bit of this #FreeCADFriday is using the sheet metal workbench again (I had trouble getting it to unfold last time I tried, but that was *many* versions ago. Seems much nicer so far)

Working on some packaging options for the @MCQN_Ltd My Bike's Got LED kits

#weeknotes #ibal234 #OSHW

A screengrab of FreeCAD showing a red PCB (exported from Kicad, so missing a few components but has the important bits for this design work) sat on a folded cardboard (though it's not totally clear from the render that that's the case) insert with a green rectangular box (which will also be cardboard in reality, and so not green, but it makes it easier to differentiate it) sandwiched in between.

The cardboard insert is rectangular with flaps folded down at either side, providing a void below it for a saddlebag (not pictured, that's far too tricky for me to bother drawing up in CAD!); the (green) battery box sits on top of that; and then a flap at the front of the insert folds up and round to wrap the battery box and provide a platform for the red PCB to sit on. — A screengrab of FreeCAD showing a red PCB (exported from Kicad, so missing a few components but has the important bits for this design work) sat on a folded cardboard (though it's not totally clear from the render that that's the case) insert with a green rectangular box (which will also be cardboard in reality, and so not green, but it makes it easier to differentiate it) sandwiched in between. The cardboard insert is rectangular with flaps folded down at either side, providing a void below it for a saddlebag (not pictured, that's far too tricky for me to bother drawing up in CAD!); the (green) battery box sits on top of that; and then a flap at the front of the insert folds up and round to wrap the battery box and provide a platform for the red PCB to sit on.

Your weary 'net denizen boosted

concretedog

@concretedog@mastodon.social · 5 months ago

Hurrah! #SOURCE issue 3 is out now! There's a focus on #openhardware for this issue with tutorials on the wonderful @FreeCAD , the mighty @kicad , the fabulous @inkscape and also getting your project certified by the brilliant @oshwassociation. As ever it's pay as you feel, links are on this post https://concretedog.blogspot.com/2025/10/source-issue-3-out-now-open-hardware.html #CAD #CAM #PCB #KiCad #FreeCAD #Inkscape #FreeCadFriday #opensource

Please Boost! and have a great weekend. X

The cover of issue 3 of SOURCE magazine. The cover has a diagonal image across the centre with a stack of purple PCB's which are the output of one of the tutorials in the magazine. There is some green text describing the magazine content.

SOURCE ISSUE 3 Out Now! Open Hardware theme!

Indeed! It's that time again, I'm incredibly pleased to say that SOURCE issue 3 is out now. This issue's theme is Opensource Hardware and ...

concretedog

@concretedog@mastodon.social · 5 months ago

Please Boost! and have a great weekend. X

SOURCE ISSUE 3 Out Now! Open Hardware theme!

Indeed! It's that time again, I'm incredibly pleased to say that SOURCE issue 3 is out now. This issue's theme is Opensource Hardware and ...

Tinx

@tinx@jit.social · 5 months ago

Hey @FreeCAD, happy weekend!

I made a VESA mount for my new Framework 12 notebook! 🙌

#FreeCAD #FreeCADFriday #MadeWithFreeCAD #FrameworkLaptop #Framework12 #DIY

3 media

Framework 12 laptop in tablet mode, sitting in a 3D-printed VESA bracket. It is attached to a desk via a monitor arm, next to a regular monitor.
The notebook has FreeCAD on it, displaying the actual model. The other screen has Prusa Slicer on it with a sliced version of one half. — Framework 12 laptop in tablet mode, sitting in a 3D-printed VESA bracket. It is attached to a desk via a monitor arm, next to a regular monitor. The notebook has FreeCAD on it, displaying the actual model. The other screen has Prusa Slicer on it with a sliced version of one half.

The halves are interconnected via jigsaw-puzzle-style tabs and slots on the back.

FreeCAD

@FreeCAD@fosstodon.org · 5 months ago

It's #FreeCADFriday! Show what you are working on using #FreeCAD and happy weekend everyone! #CAD

Adrian McEwen

@amcewen@mastodon.me.uk · 6 months ago

Nice write-up from @concretedog about our @oshwassociation certified bike soundsystem relay setup, and how I used both @FreeCAD and @kicad to make it.

https://wp.me/pe9Jyy-Td

[edit: now with added link! 🤣 ]

#OSHW #FreeCADFriday #Kicad #BikeTooter #weeknotes #ibal249