Detessellate

Detessellate is a collection of FreeCAD macros that introduce an algorithm-assisted workflow for reverse engineering imported geometry including mesh models (STL, OBJ, 3MF), point cloud data, and non-parametric STEP solids.

📺 Click the image below to watch the demo video on YouTube

FreeCAD Forum: https://forum.freecad.org/viewtopic.php?t=101467

🎯 Use Cases

• Mesh Reverse Engineering: Convert STL/OBJ/3MF meshes to parametric CAD models
• Point Cloud Processing: Generate sketches from scanned point cloud data
• STEP Reparametrization: Rebuild imported STEP files with sketch-based features
• Sketch Optimization: Clean up and constrain sketch geometry

See individual macro documentation for detailed workflows.

📦 Included Macros

General Tools

• MeshPlacement – recenter and align meshes to origin
• MeshToBody – convert meshes into solids and bodies
• CoplanarSketch – Generate construction sketches from coplanar edges on tessellated solids
• MeshCSToSplines – Convert Mesh Cross Sections into loft-ready splines
• PointPlaneSketch - Generate sketches from selected points of a PointsObject.
• EdgeLoopSelector – Select and process edge loops
• EdgeLoopToSketch - Generate sketches from selected coplanar 3D edges, preserving edge type.
• ReconstructSolid - Rebuild a non-parametric solid from the underlying faces of the selected solid.
• VarSet-Update – Update variable sets properties

Sketcher Tools

• SketchReProfile – Rebuild normal geometry profiles from construction sketches
• ConstrainAllPointOnPoint – Automatically adds coincident constraints to all overlapping vertices in a sketch
• SketcherWireDoctor – Repair and clean sketch wires

PartDesign Tools

• TopoMatchSelector – Match and select topology from earlier body features

Some of these macros are included for convenience and are not strictly part of the Detessellate workflow.

🚀 Getting Started

Install via FreeCAD Addon Manager by adding the Detessellate Repository to the custom repositories list.

1. Open the Preferences via Edit > Preferences.
2. Go to Addon Manager Options.
3. Click the green Plus button under the Custom Repository list window to add to the list.
4. Paste the Repository URL into the Custom Repository dialog box: https://github.com/DesignWeaver3D/Detessellate
5. Type in the Branch name: main
6. Click OK
7. Open Addon Manager and find Detessellate in the list.
8. Click Install
9. Restart FreeCAD.
10. Access tools from the Detessellate workbench and/or the custom toolbars that the workbench creates.

🛣️ Roadmap

• 📚 Expanded documentation and tutorials
• 🛠️ Additional utilities for Detessellate workflows
• 🎯 Integration with FreeCAD Addon Manager

📜 Changelog

• v1.2.0 (2026-07-12) - Added MeshCSToSplines macro for building loft-ready aligned splines from Mesh Workbench Cross Sections.
• v1.1.0 (2026-05-09) - PointPlaneSketch greatly improved with faster performance and a voxel filter for reducing points prior to creating a sketch.
• v1.0.0 (2026-05-07) - Restructured as a proper FreeCAD workbench for Addon Manager indexing.
• v0.4.2 (2026-04-01) - SketcherWireDoctor updated to v1.0.0, adding support for normal external geometry.
• v0.4.1 (2026-01-31) - Fixed ConstrainAllPointOnPoint default tolerance to 50 microns
• v0.4.0 (2026-01-31) - Added ConstrainAllPointOnPoint macro
• v0.3.3 (2026-01-24) - Edited commands so that macro buttons are grayed out if no active document.
• v0.3.2 (2026-01-23) - EdgeLoopToSketch refactored to support additional edge geometry types by utilizing DraftGeomUtils.orientEdge.
• v0.3.1 (2026-01-04) - Bug fix in commands for SketchReProfile.
• v0.3.0 (2026-01-04) - Massive optimizations of of CoplanarSketch & SketchReProfile macros for better handling of larger edge counts!
• v0.2.2 (2026-01-04) - Massive optimization of EdgeLoopSelector by @tarman3 , Thank You!
• v0.2.1 (2025‑12-23) - Fix the PointPlaneSketchCommand
• v0.2.0 (2025‑12-23) - Added ReconstructSolid and PointPlaneSketch macros. Patched Varset-Update to improve data type handling & conversion.
• v0.1.8 (2025‑12-08) - VarSetUpdate patched by @VeryOldBeard to fix the problem of replace being applied on partial matches and to add some more property tyepes.
• v0.1.7 (2025‑12-08) - EdgeLoopToSketch macro updated to v2.0 which fixes bugs and creates additional constraints in the sketch.
• v0.1.6 (2025‑12-07) - Added EdgeLoopToSketch macro for creating sketches from EdgeLoopSelector. Added face selection method to EdgeLoopSelector.
• v0.1.5 (2025‑12-07) - Added multiple loop selection to EdgeLoopSelector
• v0.1.4 (2025‑12‑02) – Fixed regression in CoplanarSketch Macro
• v0.1.3 (2025‑12‑02) – Optimized CoplanarSketch Macro for better handling of larger edge counts
• v0.1.2 (2025‑11‑30) – Improved tooltips for all toolbars
• v0.1.1 (2025‑11‑30) – Bug fix for package.xml for Addon Manager
• v0.1.0 (2025‑11‑26) – Initial release