Create, add to, subtract from, or intersect parts by revolving sketch regions or planar faces about a central axis, or surfaces by revolving lines and curves about a central axis.

Shortcut: Shift+w

The Revolve feature allows you to create, add to, subtract from, or intersect parts by revolving sketch regions or planar faces about a central axis, or surfaces by revolving lines and curves about a central axis.

Click the Revolve feature on the feature toolbar. Select the Faces and sketch regions to revolve. Here, the circle on Plane 1 is selected. Click the Revolve axis field in the dialog and select a line or curve in the graphics area. You can also select an implicit or explicit Mate connector's Z axis. Click the Mate connector icon in the dialog and select or create a Mate connector in the graphics area.

By default, the New type is selected, which creates a new part. Select Add to add the revolved part to the parts that intersect the revolve path. If multiple parts exist, the Merge scope field in the dialog has focus. Select a part in the graphics area to use as a merge scope, or check Merge with all to merge with all parts intersecting the revolve path. Select Remove to remove the revolve from the existing parts in the merge scope, or Intersect to keep only the intersection of the revolve and the parts in the merge scope.

Select a Revolve type. Full revolves 360 degrees about the axis. One direction revolves in one direction for a specified number of degrees. Enter the degrees in the dialog or use the arrow in the graphics area. Click the arrow icon in the dialog to flip the revolve in the opposite direction. Symmetric revolves in both directions for a specified number of degrees. Two directions revolve in both directions for the same or different numbers of degrees. Enter a Second revolve angle or use the double-headed arrow in the graphics area to adjust the second revolve angle.

Click the checkmark to accept the new Revolve feature.

From the Sketch or Feature toolbar:

  1. Click Revolve feature tool icon.

    Revolve dialog

  2. Select the tab for the Solid Creation type:

    When Solid is selected at the time a sketch is open, Onshape automatically selects all the closed regions in the sketch.

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

  3. Select a line, cylindrical edge, or arc to revolve around an axis, or Mate connector (implicit or explicit).
  4. Activate the Revolve axis field, then click the axis or click Mate point connector icon to select an implicit Mate connector about which to revolve.

    Once a Mate connector is selected, click the Mate connector icon in the dialog field (see red arrow below) to open a dialog with which to edit the Mate connector:

    Revolve and Mate connector dialogs

    Click the Mate connector icon to create an implicit Mate connector in the graphics area

  5. Choose whether you want to:
    • 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
  6. By default, Full revolve is selected, which revolves the selection about the axis 360 degrees. To specify a different revolve end type, deselect the Full revolve checkbox and make your changes. See End type examples for details.
  7. If necessary, select a Merge scope (or Merge with all) to select parts or surfaces with which to merge the new (additional) part or surface. See Merge scope for details.
  8. Click Accept checkmark icon.

From the Sketch or Feature toolbar:

  1. Click Revolve tool icon.
  2. Select the Surface creation type:

    Revolve dialog with Surface creation type selected

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

  3. Choose whether you want to:
    • New - Create a new surface
    • Add - Add to an existing surface
  4. Select edges or a sketch to revolve.
  5. Activate the Revolve axis field, then click the axis or Mate connector (implicit or explicit) about which to revolve.

    Once a Mate connector is selected, click the Mate connector icon in the dialog field (see red arrow below) to open a dialog with which to edit the Mate connector:

    Click the mate connector icon to open the Mate connector edit dialog

  6. By default, Full revolve is selected, which revolves the selection about the axis 360 degrees. To specify a different revolve end type, deselect the Full revolve checkbox and make your changes. See End type examples for details.

  7. If necessary, select a Merge scope (or Merge with all) to select surfaces with which to merge the new (additional) surface. See Merge scope below for details.
  8. Click Accept checkmark icon.

Revolve mate example

From the Sketch or Feature toolbar:

  1. Click Revolve tool icon.
  2. Select the Thin creation type:

    Revolve dialog with Thin creation type selected

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

  3. Choose whether you want to:
    • 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 faces or sketch region to revolve.
  5. Do one of the following:
    • To create a revolve 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. Activate the Revolve axis field, then click the axis or Mate connector (implicit or explicit) about which to revolve.

    Once a Mate connector is selected, click the Mate connector icon in the dialog field (see red arrow below) to open a dialog with which to edit the Mate connector:

    Click the Mate connector icon in the Revolve dialog to open the Mate connector edit dialog

  7. By default, Full revolve is selected, which revolves the selection about the axis 360 degrees. To specify a different revolve end type, deselect the Full revolve checkbox and make your changes. See End type examples for details.

  8. If necessary, select a Merge scope (or Merge with all) to select solids with which to merge the new (additional) solid. See Merge scope for details.
  9. Click Accept checkmark icon.

Thin revolve example

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

Example of creating new material resulting in a new part

Add - Create material and add to the existing material.

Example of creating material and adding to the 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 have the ability to 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.

Take material away:

Example of taking material away

Leave material only where intersections exist:

Revolve intersect

Full revolve

Revolve about the axis 360 degrees:

Full revolve example

Blind

Revolve in one direction for a specified angle:

Blind revolve example

Blind, Symmetric

Revolve in both directions for the same angle:

Symmetric blind revolve example

Project a selected region or planar face about an axis or Mate connector (implicit or explicit). Create a new part or modify an existing one by adding or removing material, or intersecting parts in its path. You also have the ability to create parts or surfaces.

Up to Entity

Revolves up to a face, vertex, mate connector, part, or the next entity.

Up to entity revolve example

Offset

Offset the end by the specified distance. Available for Up to Entity end types.

Ofset revolve example

Second end position

Revolve in two directions for specific angles. Available for Blind and Up to Entity end types.

Revolve example with a second end position

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.

Merge scope example Merge scope field Merge scope example

Merge scope: with all

Merge with all parts that touch or intersect the geometry being created:

Merge scope: with all example

Merge scope: with specific part

Merge with selected part:

Merge scope: with specific part example

  1. Tap Revolve tool.

    Revolve tool icon

    Revolve dialog

  2. Select Creation type:
    • Solid - Create parts or modify existing parts by revolving a sketch region or face about an axis.
    • Surface - Create a surface by revolving a sketch curve or edge about an axis.
    • Thin - Create a thin revolve along a sketch region or face.
  3. Select a Result body operation type:
    • New - Create new material.
    • Add - Create material and add to the existing material.
    • Remove - Take material away.
    • Intersect - Leave material only where intersections exist.
  4. Select Faces and sketch regions to revolve.
  5. Select an axis about which to revolve. Tap to activate the Revolve axis field, then click the axis or tap the Mate connector icon in order to select or create implicit Mate connectors about which to revolve.

  6. By default, Full revolve type is selected, which revolves the selection about the axis 360 degrees. To specify a different revolve end type, tap Full revolve type and make your changes. See End type examples for details.

  7. Tap checkmark.

New - Create new material that results in a new part

Example of Revolve: new material

Add - Create material and add to the existing material

Example of Revolve: 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 is 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 Revolve remove

Intersect - Leave material only where intersections exist

Example of Revolve intersect

Create a surface along a sketch curve.

Example of Revolve surface

By default, Full revolve type is selected, which revolves the selection about the axis 360 degrees. To specify a different revolve end type, tap Full revolve type and make your changes. See End type examples for details.

  1. Tap the Revolve tool icon ().

    Revolve dialog

  2. Select Creation type:
    • Solid - Create parts or modify existing parts by revolving a sketch region or face about an axis.
    • Surface - Create a surface by revolving a sketch curve or edge about an axis.
    • Thin - Create a thin revolve along a sketch region or face.
  3. Select a Result body operation type:
    • New - Create new material.
    • Add - Create material and add to the existing material.
    • Remove - Take material away.
    • Intersect - Leave material only where intersections exist.
  4. Select Faces and sketch regions to revolve.
  5. Select an axis about which to revolve.

  6. By default, Full revolve type is selected, which revolves the selection about the axis 360 degrees. To specify a different revolve end type, tap Full revolve type and make your changes. See End type examples for details.

  7. Tap checkmark.

New - Create new material that results in a new part

Example of Revolve new material

Add - Create material and add to the existing material

Example of Revolve 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 is 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 Revolve remove

Intersect - Leave material only where intersections exist:

Example of Revolve intersect

Create a surface along a sketch curve:

Example of Revolve surface

By default, Full revolve type is selected, which revolves the selection about the axis 360 degrees. To specify a different revolve end type, tap Full revolve type and make your changes. See End type examples for details.