How to Create a Wire in FreeCAD Draft Workbench

This guide explains how to draw a wire (also known as a polyline) using the Draft workbench in FreeCAD. You will learn how to activate the Wire tool, define sequential points in 3D space, switch between straight segments and arcs, close shapes, and edit your completed geometry for use in parametric modeling or 2D drafting workflows.

Step 1: Switch to the Draft Workbench

Open your FreeCAD document and switch from your current workbench to the Draft workbench using the workbench dropdown selector in the top toolbar. Ensure your working plane is set correctly (Top/XY, Front/XZ, Side/YZ, or Auto) depending on where you want your 2D geometry oriented.

Step 2: Activate the Wire Tool

Click the Draft Wire icon on the Draft toolbar (represented by a series of connected line segments), or select Draft → Wire from the top menu. You can also use the default keyboard shortcut: press P followed by I.

Step 3: Define the Points

Once the tool is active, the Task panel appears on the left with input parameters:

  • Clicking in the 3D View: Click sequentially in the 3D viewport to place points. Use the snapping tools to align with existing vertices, edges, or grid intersections.
  • Entering Coordinates: Alternatively, type the X, Y, and Z values manually in the Task panel and click Enter point (or press Enter) for each vertex.
  • Relative Mode: Check the Relative box if you want the next coordinates to be calculated relative to the previous point instead of the global origin.

Step 4: Add Segments or Arcs (Optional)

While drawing, you can customize segments directly from the Task panel:

  • Press A or check Arc to draw a curved segment instead of a straight line.
  • Press U or click Undo to remove the last placed point without exiting the tool.

Step 5: Finish the Wire

To complete your wire:

  • Open Wire: Press Enter, click the Finish button in the Task panel, or double-click on the final point.
  • Closed Wire (Polygon): Click the Close button in the Task panel, or select the first point you drew. This connects the final point back to the starting point and creates a closed boundary.

Step 6: Modifying the Wire

Select the created wire in the Tree view to view its properties in the Property view:

  • Closed: Set this boolean property to True or False to toggle between an open polyline and a closed loop.
  • Make Face: If the wire is closed, set Make Face to True to turn the wire into a solid surface suitable for extrusion or Pad operations in the Part Design or Part workbenches.
  • Draft Edit: With the wire selected, click the Edit button in the Draft toolbar (or press D then E) to move individual control vertices.