Glad to hear someone else likes FreeCad. I've not had a moment to play with it, or watch the tutorials when I had sufficient brainpower to profit from them since I last posted on this thread. There is another group that might interest several of you, https://groups.io/g/digitalhobbyist/topics is not one of the groups I own, but I am a member there. Lots of folks doing 3D printing, making electronic leadscrew controllers (automate some functions of a lathe without going full CNC) and hobbyist CNC controllers. The owner, John Lindo, has done some really nice stuff with a Real Bull mini-lathe, and has written/co-written several articles that have appeared in Home Shop Machinist. Lots of good info, and good people to ask questions of. I sign as Bill in OKC there, and other places on GIO.
Bill