FreeCAD 1.1 has officially landed — and it's a massive leap forward for the world's most popular free, open-source parametric 3D CAD software. With over 200 improvements and fixes packed into this release, version 1.1 is arguably the most significant update since FreeCAD crossed the 1.0 milestone. In this post, we break down the 29 most important changes that will directly impact your workflow — whether you're a hobbyist, engineer, or maker.
Video overview by Deltahedra — all 29 major changes explained in under 11 minutes
π Table of Contents
- Why FreeCAD 1.1 Is a Big Deal
- Sketcher Improvements (9 New Features)
- UI & Navigation Overhaul
- Part Design Enhancements
- Assembly & Simulation Preview
- Draft Workbench Updates
- Other Notable Additions
- FreeCAD 1.0 vs 1.1 — Feature Comparison
- Final Verdict
1. Why FreeCAD 1.1 Is a Big Deal
FreeCAD 1.0 was a historic milestone after years of development. But version 1.1 is where the project truly matures. The development team has listened to the community and addressed some of the most long-standing pain points: awkward sketcher behavior, limited UI flexibility, and assembly workflow friction.
This isn't a minor patch. It's a statement that FreeCAD is now in direct competition with commercial tools like Fusion 360 and SolidWorks Hobbyist — for free. Let's get into what's new.
FreeCAD 1.1 — released March 2026
2. Sketcher Improvements — 9 Major Updates
The Sketcher workbench received the most attention in this release. Here are all nine significant upgrades:
πΉ Improved Sketch Plane Selection
Selecting the correct plane to start a sketch is now more intuitive. FreeCAD 1.1 improves the plane picker interface so you spend less time wrestling with orientation and more time modeling.
πΉ Move Entities & Select All
You can now move sketch entities more freely, and a new Select All shortcut makes bulk constraint operations much faster — a small but hugely practical improvement.
πΉ Find Constraints Tool
Large, complex sketches are notoriously hard to debug. The new Find Constraints tool lets you search for redundant or conflicting constraints by name or type — a real time-saver on dense technical drawings.
πΉ Move Dimensions
Dimension labels inside sketches can now be repositioned freely. No more overlapping numbers cramping your sketch — you have full control over label placement.
πΉ New Variable & Alias Menu
Creating and managing named variables (aliases) in the Sketcher is now handled through a dedicated menu. This is critical for parametric modeling workflows where you want dimensions linked to spreadsheet values or named expressions.
πΉ Combined Polyline & Line Tool
The Polyline and Line tools have been merged into a single smarter tool. This removes the constant mode-switching that was annoying many users and speeds up sketch creation considerably.
πΉ Automatic Scale Feature
New geometry added to a sketch now auto-scales to fit your existing sketch dimensions. This prevents the classic frustration where you import geometry that's either microscopic or enormous relative to your existing sketch.
πΉ On-Screen Instructions
Context-sensitive hints now appear on-screen while you work. These guide you through multi-step operations (like arc creation) without having to look at documentation. Ideal for beginners.
πΉ External Projection & Intersection
This is one of the most powerful additions. FreeCAD 1.1 introduces a much improved External Projection tool along with an Intersection option, letting you reference geometry from other bodies or features directly into your sketch more reliably than before.
3. UI & Navigation Overhaul
FreeCAD's interface has always been functional but sometimes dated. Version 1.1 brings several quality-of-life upgrades:
π§ New Navigation Styles & Orbits
Additional navigation presets and smoother orbit behavior make it easier to navigate complex assemblies. Users migrating from other CAD tools will find familiar navigation options.
π‘ 3-Point Lighting System
A new 3-point lighting setup improves how your 3D models look in the viewport. Better light means clearer depth perception and a more professional visual presentation.
π±️ Improved Transform Tool
The Move/Rotate transform tool has been refined with better handle interaction and snapping. Moving objects around in 3D space is now more predictable and accurate.
πͺ Undocking Windows
Panels and views can now be undocked and moved to a second monitor. Crucial for users with multi-screen setups who want the model tree on one screen and the 3D viewport on another.
π️ Interactive Slider UI
A new slider interface lets you interactively adjust feature parameters (like pad depth or chamfer size) by dragging — without re-opening the task panel dialog.
π Spreadsheet Enhancements
The built-in spreadsheet workbench now handles formulas and cell references more reliably, with better support for complex expression-driven parametric models.
4. Part Design Enhancements
πΉ New Internal Face Generator NEW
This is one of the headline features of 1.1. The Internal Face Generator allows you to create complex internal surfaces and transitions that were previously very difficult to achieve cleanly in FreeCAD. It opens the door to more organic and complex geometry without resorting to workarounds.
πΉ Improved Hole Tool
The Hole tool now supports a wider range of hole types, thread standards, and counterbore/countersink configurations. Combined with better on-screen parameter display, it makes creating standards-compliant fastener holes much faster.
πΉ Pad: Two-Sided Extrusion
You can now pad (extrude) a sketch symmetrically or asymmetrically in both directions simultaneously — no need to create two separate Pad operations and mirror them. A small change with a big workflow impact.
πΉ Part Design: New Array Features
The linear and polar array tools in Part Design have been expanded. You can now create more complex pattern configurations with better control over spacing, count, and offset — essential for repetitive mechanical geometry like bolt hole patterns.
πΉ Core Datum Improvements
Datum planes, lines, and points are now more reliable and easier to work with. These foundational reference elements underpin almost every complex model, so their improved stability is a significant behind-the-scenes win.
5. Assembly & Simulation Preview
The Assembly workbench — now built into FreeCAD core as of 1.0 — receives meaningful improvements in 1.1:
- Better joint handling with more reliable constraint solving
- Simulation preview — a first look at kinematic simulation of assemblies directly inside FreeCAD, letting you test joint motion before exporting
- Improved model tree organization for multi-body assemblies
- More reliable exploded view creation (as seen in the tutorial screenshots above)
6. Draft Workbench Updates
πΉ Linear Array
The Draft workbench now has an improved Linear Array tool that works more consistently and exposes cleaner parameter controls, making repetitive 2D/3D drafting layouts much faster to build.
πΉ Path Array
The Path Array tool lets you distribute objects along any curve or path. In 1.1 this tool has been refined to handle complex 3D paths more reliably — great for architectural layouts, cable routing visualization, or any geometry that follows a curve.
7. Other Notable Additions
πΉ Quick Measure Tool
A new lightweight Quick Measure tool lets you click on edges, faces, or vertices and instantly see distances, angles, and dimensions — without opening the full measurement panel. Invaluable for quick sanity checks during modeling.
πΉ Creating Variables in Sequence
You can now create multiple named variables in rapid succession through an improved workflow. This makes building expression-driven parametric models significantly faster.
πΉ CAM & Path Updates
The CAM workbench (formerly Path) receives several toolpath improvements and better stock/job setup dialogs. If you're using FreeCAD to drive CNC machines, version 1.1 is a worthwhile upgrade for CAM workflows alone.
8. FreeCAD 1.0 vs 1.1 — Feature Comparison
| Feature Area | FreeCAD 1.0 | FreeCAD 1.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Sketcher tools | Solid foundation | 9 major new tools & improvements |
| Internal Face Generator | ❌ Not available | ✅ New in 1.1 |
| Pad / Extrude | One-directional | ✅ Two-sided extrusion |
| Hole Tool | Basic | ✅ Expanded thread & counterbore support |
| Navigation styles | Limited presets | ✅ Additional styles & improved orbits |
| Window management | Fixed panels | ✅ Undockable windows |
| Assembly simulation | ❌ Not available | ✅ Preview available |
| Lighting | Default single light | ✅ 3-point lighting system |
| Quick Measure | Full panel only | ✅ Lightweight click-to-measure tool |
| Total improvements | — | ✅ 200+ fixes and features |
9. Final Verdict — Should You Upgrade?
Yes, absolutely. FreeCAD 1.1 is one of the best releases in the project's history. The Sketcher improvements alone are worth the upgrade for anyone doing parametric CAD work. Add the new Internal Face Generator, the refined Part Design tools, the lighting overhaul, and the early assembly simulation, and this is a release that closes the gap with commercial software in very real, tangible ways.
If you're still on FreeCAD 0.21 or an earlier 1.0.x build, there has never been a better time to update. The download is free, the upgrade is seamless, and the improvements are immediately noticeable.
π freecad.org/downloads.php | π Full Release Notes (200+ changes)
Have you tried FreeCAD 1.1 yet? Which new feature is your favorite? Drop a comment below — we'd love to hear what you're building!
— FreeCAD Extreme | Your free resource for FreeCAD tutorials, drawings, and models
Tags: FreeCAD, FreeCAD 1.1, FreeCAD release, FreeCAD new features, FreeCAD update 2026, FreeCAD tutorial, 3D CAD free, open source CAD, parametric modeling, FreeCAD Sketcher, FreeCAD Assembly, FreeCAD Part Design
