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Help Part workspace features

Shapes

A box, cylinder, sphere, cone or torus by its sizes, as a new part or cut out of one.

  • ShapesPart workspace toolbar
What other CAD programs call it
SchoolCADOnshapeFusionSOLIDWORKS
ShapesExtrude (box)Box / Cylinder / Sphere / TorusExtruded Boss (box)

Shapes makes a simple solid straight from its sizes, without a sketch: a box, a cylinder, a sphere, a cone or a torus (a ring, like a doughnut). Use it to start quickly, to block out a design, or to cut a round hole or a pocket out of a part (Fusion: Box, Cylinder, Sphere, Torus · Tinkercad: Basic shapes).

How to use it#

  1. Click Shapes, or press ` and type box, cylinder or sphere.
  2. Choose the shape, then type its sizes in mm.
  3. Choose the plane it stands on (Top, Front or Right) and where: X and Y across the plane, Z up from it. Tick Centred to put its middle on the plane instead.
  4. Choose New (its own part), Add, Remove (cut it out of a part) or Intersect (keep only the overlap), and OK.
ShapeSizes
BoxWidth (X), length (Y) and height. It is centred on the position across the plane.
CylinderDiameter and height.
SphereDiameter.
ConeBottom diameter, top diameter (0 for a point, more for a cut-off cone) and height.
TorusThe ring's diameter through the middle of the tube, and the tube's diameter.

The shapes are exact: a cylinder's side is a true cylinder, so holes, fillets and drawings follow it. Double-click the feature to change its sizes later.

Step by step#

Here is the whole thing on a pot holder, from the SchoolCAD video tutorial.

Watch on YouTube
**1.** Click **Shapes**. **Box** is chosen: type the width, length and height, and click **✓**.
1. Click Shapes. Box is chosen: type the width, length and height, and click ✓.
**2.** Click **Shapes** again, choose **Cylinder** and type its diameter and height.
2. Click Shapes again, choose Cylinder and type its diameter and height.
**3.** Choose **Remove** to cut it out of the box, and click **✓**.
3. Choose Remove to cut it out of the box, and click ✓.

Tips#

  • A design made of shapes is quick, but a sketch and extrude can be dimensioned to other parts. Use shapes for simple blocks, and sketches for the parts that must fit.
  • Remove a cylinder from a box for a round pocket, or a sphere for a dimple.

If it does not work#

  • Give the … a … bigger than 0. Type a size for each box.
  • The ring (centre-line) diameter must be bigger than the tube diameter. A torus with a fat tube has no hole: make the ring bigger or the tube thinner.