Create, add to, subtract from, or intersect parts and surfaces (by sweeping sketch regions, planar faces, lines, or curves along a path), or thin parts (by sweeping sketch regions, planar faces, lines, or curves along a path). Add optional profile control (by orientation, lock faces, or lock direction), twist (by turns, angle, or pitch), and scale.

The Sweep feature sweeps a profile along a path to create a swept solid, surface, or thin solid.

To create a sweep, both a path and a profile are required.

The path may consist of one or more sketch entities, an entire sketch, a curve, or model edges.

The profile can be closed or open. Use a closed profile sketch or a part face to create a solid sweep.

When using an open profile, you can sweep a surface or a thin solid. For a thin solid, Thickness 1 and Thickness 2 define the thickness in either direction. Additionally, check Midplane to replace the 2 separate thickness values with a symmetric thickness value and keep the sketched profile centered within the thin sweep.

You may also sweep a closed profile with the Thin option. The result is a hollow, swept solid.

To create a swept surface, select the surface option and either a closed or open sketch as the sweep profile.

Here, a U-bolt is created as an example.

First, create and fully constrain the sketch path. Then, create a sketch for the profile to be swept along the path.

A best practice when creating your profile sketch is to choose a sketch plane that is normal to the end of your path. In this example, the path sketch ends at the Front plane, making a construction plane unnecessary. In other cases, creating a curve point construction plane normal to the end of your path would help align your profile.

Sketch the sweep profile. In this U-bolt example, a circle sweeps along the path. Sketch a circle and add a dimension.

Another best practice when sweeping is to constrain your profile sketch to the path sketch by defining either a Coincident or Pierce constraint. For example, constrain this sketch with a Coincident constraint between the center of the circle and the endpoint of the path sketch.

Now that the path and profile sketches are complete create a Sweep feature. Accept the sketch and select the Sweep tool from the toolbar. Select the circular sketch region as the profile and the U-shaped sketch as the path.

When selecting your path, you can left-click the individual pieces of your path to select them one by one or select the entire sketch by selecting it in the Features list.

If the profile sketch is located somewhere along the path rather than at the end of the path, the Sweep feature sweeps the profile in both directions along the entire length of the selected path.

  1. Click Sweep feature tool icon to open the Sweep dialog box:

    Screenshot of the Sweep dialog Solid section

  2. Select Solid Creation type.

    3. Onshape remembers the selection (Solid, Surface, or Thin) and opens the dialog with the last selected option in subsequent operations.

  3. Select a Result operation type:  
    • New - Create a new solid
    • Add - Add to an existing solid
    • Remove - Subtract from an existing solid
    • Intersect - Keep the intersection of two (or more) solids
  4. Select the faces and/or sketch regions to sweep.
  5. Click to make the Sweep path field active. Select a line segment or curve on the sketch or an edge on the part.
  6. Select a Profile control type:
  • None - No profile control (maintain the profile relationship with the global plane).
  • Keep profile orientation - Maintain the profile relationship along the sweep path.

    Example using the Sweep tool with Keep profile orientation

    An example of Sweep with Keep profile orientation selected (above).

    Example using the Sweep tool without Keep profile orientation

    An example of Sweep without Keep profile orientation selected (above).

  • Lock profile faces - Lock the selected profile face or faces of the sweep into place.

  • Lock profile direction - Lock the profile direction of the sweep into place. (Select the direction to lock.)

  1. Optionally, select the Twist checkbox and choose a Twist type from the dropdown: 
    • Turns - Allows you to specify how many total rotations the profile should make before the end of the sweep path.
    • Angle - Allows you to specify the angle in which the profile should rotate at the end of the sweep path.
    • Pitch - Allows you to specify the frequency in which the profile should make a full revolution around the path.
  2. Optionally, select the Scale checkbox and enter a Scale factor. This allows you to transform the overall size of the sweep profile proportionally at the end of the sweep.
  3. If necessary, select a Merge scope (or Merge with all) to select parts with which to merge the new (additional) part.
  4. Click Accept checkmark icon.

If the sweep feature references a face or sketch region that is along the sweep path (not at an end) the path is broken where the profile plane touches it and the sweep is created in both directions, for the length of the sweep path.

For best results, the profile and the path should touch.

  1. Click Sweep feature tool icon to open the Sweep dialog box:

    Screenshot of the Sweep dialog Surface section

  2. Select Surface creation type.

    3. Onshape remembers the selection (Solid, Surface, or Thin) and opens the dialog with the last selected option in subsequent operations.

  3. Select a Result operation type:
    • New - Create a new surface
    • Add - Add to an existing surface
  4. Select the edges and sketch curves to sweep.
  5. Click to make the Sweep path field active. Select a line segment or curve on the sketch or an edge.
  6. Select a Profile control type:  
  • None - No profile control (maintain the profile relationship with the global plane).
  • Keep profile orientation - Maintain the profile relationship along the sweep path.

    • Example using the Sweep tool with Keep profile orientation

    An example of Sweep with Keep profile orientation selected (above).

    Example using the Sweep tool without Keep profile orientation

    An example of Sweep without Keep profile orientation selected (above).

  • Lock profile faces - Lock the selected profile face or faces of the sweep into place.

  • Lock profile direction - Lock the profile direction of the sweep into place. (Select the direction to lock.)

  1. Optionally, select the Twist checkbox and choose a Twist type from the dropdown: 
    • Turns - Allows you to specify how many total rotations the profile should make before the end of the sweep path.
    • Angle - Allows you to specify the angle in which the profile should rotate at the end of the sweep path.
    • Pitch - Allows you to specify the frequency in which the profile should make a full revolution around the path.
  2. Optionally, select the Scale checkbox and enter a Scale factor. This allows you to transform the overall size of the sweep profile proportionally at the end of the sweep.
  3. If necessary, select a Merge scope (or Merge with all) to select parts with which to merge the new (additional) part.
  4. Click Accept checkmark icon.

If the sweep feature references a face or sketch region that is along the sweep path (not at an end) the path is broken where the profile plane touches it and the sweep is created in both directions, for the length of the sweep path.

For best results, the profile and the path should touch.

  1. Click Sweep feature tool icon to open the Sweep dialog box:

    Screenshot of the Sweep dialog Surface section

  2. Select Thin creation type.

    Screenshot of the Sweep dialog Solid section

    3. Onshape remembers the selection (Solid, Surface, or Thin) and opens the dialog with the last selected option in subsequent operations.

  3. Select a Result operation type:  
    • New - Create a new thin sweep
    • Add- Add to an existing solid
    • Remove- Subtract from an existing solid
    • Intersect- Keep the intersection of two (or more) solids
  4. Select the face, single line, sketch region, and/or sketch profile to sweep.
  5. Do one of the following:
    • To create a sweep with a symmetric thickness, check the Mid plane option and then enter the Thickness value.
    • To specify individual wall thicknesses, uncheck the Mid plane option. Then, enter the Thickness 1 wall value and Thickness 2 wall value. Click the Flip wall arrow to flip Thickness 1 with Thickness 2.
  6. Click to make the Sweep path field active. Select a line segment or curve on the sketch or an edge on the part.
  7. Select a Profile control type:
    • None - No profile control (maintain the profile relationship with the global plane).
    • Keep profile orientation - Maintain the profile relationship along the sweep path.

      • Example using the Sweep tool with Keep profile orientation

      An example of Sweep with Keep profile orientation selected (above).

      Example using the Sweep tool without Keep profile orientation

      An example of Sweep without Keep profile orientation selected (above).

    • Lock profile faces - Lock the selected profile face or faces of the sweep into place.

    • Lock profile direction - Lock the profile direction of the sweep into place. (Select the direction to lock.)

  8. Optionally, select the Twist checkbox and choose a Twist type from the dropdown: 
    • Turns - Allows you to specify how many total rotations the profile should make before the end of the sweep path.
    • Angle - Allows you to specify the angle in which the profile should rotate at the end of the sweep path.
    • Pitch - Allows you to specify the frequency in which the profile should make a full revolution around the path.
  9. Optionally, select the Scale checkbox and enter a Scale factor. This allows you to transform the overall size of the sweep profile proportionally at the end of the sweep.
  10. Check the Trim ends option to start and terminate the sweep at the endpoint of the sweep path. Uncheck it to create end faces tangent to the sweep path.

    Example of a Thin sweep with Trim ends option uncheckedThin sweep with Trim ends option unchecked

    An example of a sweep with the Trim ends option unchecked.

    Example of a Thin sweep with Trim ends option checkedThin sweep with Trim ends option checked

    An example of a sweep with the Trim ends option checked.

  11. If necessary, select a Merge scope (or Merge with all) to select parts with which to merge the new (additional) part.
  12. Click Accept checkmark icon.

    Example creating a new material that results in a new part

If the sweep feature references a face or sketch region that is along the sweep path (not at an end), the path is broken where the profile plane touches it, and the sweep is created in both directions, for the length of the sweep path.

For best results, the profile and the path should touch.

New - Create new material that results in a new part:

Example creating a new material that results in a new part Example creating a new material that results in a new part

Add - Add material to the existing material:

Example adding new material to existing material

When adding material, you have the option to merge that material with other parts that touch or intersect its geometry:

  • If the geometry touches or intersects with only one part then that part is automatically added to the merge scope.
  • If multiple parts touch or intersect the geometry, then there is ambiguity and you must select which parts to merge with (the merge scope).
  • A shortcut to selecting multiple touching or intersecting parts, you can check Merge with all to add all touching or intersecting parts to the merge scope.

If the Boolean is set to Add, Remove, or Intersect and nothing is set in the merge scope, the feature will result in an error. For New, no merge scope is available since New does not boolean the result.

Remove material from existing material; not available for surfaces.

Example of removing material from existing material

Leave material only where geometry intersects; not available for surfaces.

Example of leaving material only where geometry intersects

Merge scope is available with parts and surfaces and allows you to select the specific part or surface with which to merge the newly created part or surface. By default, Merge all is selected. You are able to uncheck that box to access the Merge scope field, then select the part or surface with which to merge. Surfaces must be merged with surfaces and parts with parts.

Example of Merge scope Merge scope field Example of Merge scope result

Merge scope: with all

Merge with all parts the new part intersects:

Example of Merge scope: with all

Merge scope: particular part

Select a specific part with which to merge:

Example of Merge scope: particular part

  1. Tap the Sweep tool icon ().

    Screenshot of the Android Sweep dialog

    The above image shows the Sweep dialog box on an Android mobile device. Note that iOS users will have the same dialog box and options but with a slightly different style.

  2. Select Creation type:
    • Solid - Create parts or modify existing parts by sweeping a sketch region along a path.
    • Surface - Create a surface by sweeping a sketch curve along a path.
    • Thin - Create or modify thin parts by sweeping a sketch along a path
  3. If you select to create a solid, also select a result body operation type:
    • New - Create a new solid.
    • Add - Add to an existing solid.
    • Remove - Subtract from an existing solid.
    • Intersect - Keep the intersection of two (or more) solids.
  4. Select the faces and sketch regions to sweep.
  5. Specify the sweep path (select a line segment or curve on the sketch or an edge on the part).
  6. Select a Profile control type:  
  • None - No profile control (maintain the profile relationship with the global plane).
  • Keep profile orientation - Maintain the profile relationship along the sweep path.

  • Lock profile faces - Lock the selected profile face or faces of the sweep into place.

  • Lock profile direction - Lock the profile direction of the sweep into place. (Select the direction to lock.)

  1. Optionally, toggle the Twist option and choose a Twist type: 
    • Turns - Allows you to specify how many total rotations the profile should make before the end of the sweep path.
    • Angle - Allows you to specify the angle in which the profile should rotate at the end of the sweep path.
    • Pitch - Allows you to specify the frequency in which the profile should make a full revolution around the path.

    If Twist is toggled on, optionally select the Opposite direction option.

  2. Optionally, toggle the Scale option and enter a Scale factor. This allows you to transform the overall size of the sweep profile proportionally at the end of the sweep.
  3. If necessary, select a Merge scope (or Merge with all) to select parts with which to merge the new (additional) part.
  4. Tap the checkmark.

New - Create new material that results in a new part

Example of Sweep new material

Add - Create material and add to the existing material

Example of Sweep add material

When adding material, you have the option to merge that material with other parts that touch or intersect its geometry:

  • If the geometry touches or intersects with only one part then that part is automatically added to the merge scope.
  • If multiple parts touch or intersect the geometry, then there is ambiguity and you must select which parts to merge with (the merge scope).

  • A shortcut to selecting multiple touching or intersecting parts, check Merge with all to add all touching or intersecting parts to the merge scope.

If the Boolean is set to Add, Remove, or Intersect and nothing is set in the merge scope, the feature will result in an error. For New, no merge scope is available since New does not boolean the result.

Remove - Take material away

Example of Sweep remove

Intersect - Leave material only where intersections exist

Example of Sweep intersect

Create a surface by sweeping a sketch curve along a path.

Example of Sweep surface

  1. Tap Sweep tool.

    Sweep feature tool icon

    Screenshot of the Android Sweep dialog

  2. Select Creation type:
    • Solid - Create parts or modify existing parts by sweeping a sketch region along a path.
    • Surface - Create a surface by sweeping a sketch curve along a path.
    • Thin - Create or modify thin parts by sweeping a sketch along a path
  3. If you select to create a solid, also select a result body operation type:
    • New - Create a new solid.
    • Add - Add to an existing solid.
    • Remove - Subtract from an existing solid.
    • Intersect - Keep the intersection of two (or more) solids.
  4. Select the face or edge to sweep.
  5. Specify the sweep path (select a line segment or curve on the sketch or an edge on the part).
  6. Select a Profile control type:  
  • None - No profile control (maintain the profile relationship with the global plane).
  • Keep profile orientation - Maintain the profile relationship along the sweep path.

  • Lock profile faces - Lock the selected profile face or faces of the sweep into place.

  • Lock profile direction - Lock the profile direction of the sweep into place. (Select the direction to lock.)

  1. Optionally, toggle the Twist option and choose a Twist type: 
    • Turns - Allows you to specify how many total rotations the profile should make before the end of the sweep path.
    • Angle - Allows you to specify the angle in which the profile should rotate at the end of the sweep path.
    • Pitch - Allows you to specify the frequency in which the profile should make a full revolution around the path.

    If Twist is toggled on, optionally toggle the Opposite direction option.

  2. Optionally, toggle the Scale option and enter a Scale factor. This allows you to transform the overall size of the sweep profile proportionally at the end of the sweep.
  3. If necessary, select a Merge scope (or Merge with all) to select parts with which to merge the new (additional) part.
  4. Tap the checkmark.

New - Create new material that results in a new part

Example of Sweep: new material

Add - Create material and add to the existing material

Example of Sweep: add material

When adding material, you have the option to merge that material with other parts that touch or intersect its geometry:

  • If the geometry touches or intersects with only one part then that part is automatically added to the merge scope.
  • If multiple parts touch or intersect the geometry, then there is ambiguity and you must select which parts to merge with (the merge scope).

  • A shortcut to selecting multiple touching or intersecting parts, you can check Merge with all to add all touching or intersecting parts to the merge scope.

If the Boolean is set to Add, Remove, or Intersect and nothing is set in the merge scope, the feature will result in an error. For New, no merge scope is available since New does not boolean the result.

Remove - take material away

Example of Sweep: remove

Intersect - Leave material only where intersections exist

Example of Sweep: intersect

Create a surface by sweeping a sketch curve along a path.

Example of Sweep: surface