Part Workbench
Introduction
The Part Workbench provides a traditional constructive solid geometry (CSG) workflow. In this workflow each object is an independent solid. The Part Workbench can create them from parametrically defined sketches using tools like Extrude, Revolve, Loft, etc. In addition, basic primitive solids like Cube, Cylinder, etc. can be created as well. These objects can be combined, through Boolean operations, to create more complex solids.
The Part Workbench can also create objects that are not solids, such as faces, shells, and objects with only edges or vertices. It also provides a variety of general purpose tools for geometry manipulation, geometry validation, and making copies.
The PartDesign Workbench uses an alternative workflow for creating solids. For a detailed discussion of the Part Workbench versus the Part Design Workbench see Part and Part Design.
Tools
Solids toolbar
Box: Creates a box.
Cylinder: Creates a cylinder.
Sphere: Creates a sphere.
Cone: Creates a cone.
Torus: Creates a torus.
Tube: Creates a tube.
Create primitives...: A tool to create one of the following primitives:
Plane: Creates a plane.
Ellipsoid: Creates a ellipsoid.
Prism: Creates a prism.
Wedge: Creates a wedge.
Helix: Creates a helix.
Spiral: Creates a spiral.
Circle: Creates a circular arc.
Ellipse: Creates an elliptical arc.
Point: Creates a point.
Line: Creates a line.
Regular polygon: Creates a regular polygon.
Shape builder...: Creates shapes from various primitives.
Part tools toolbar
Create sketch: Creates a new sketch and opens the Sketcher Dialog to edit it.
Extrude: Extrudes planar faces.
Revolve: Creates a solid by revolving an object (not a solid) around an axis.
Mirror: Mirrors the selected object across a mirror plane.
Scale: Scales one or more shapes. introduced in version 1.0
Fillet: Fillets (rounds) edges of an object.
Chamfer: Chamfers edges of an object.
Make face from wires: Makes a face from a set of wires (contours).
Ruled Surface: Creates a ruled surface.
Loft: Lofts from one profile to another.
Sweep: Sweeps one or more profiles along a path.
Section: Creates a section by intersecting an object with a section plane.
Cross sections...: Creates one or more cross-sections through an object.
3D Offset: Constructs a parallel shape at a certain distance from an original.
2D Offset: Constructs a parallel wire at certain distance from an original, or enlarges/shrinks a planar face.
Thickness: Hollows out a solid.
Projection on surface: Projects a logo, text or any face, wire or edge onto a surface.
Color per face: Assigns colors to individual faces of objects.
Boolean toolbar
Make compound: Creates a compound from the selected objects.
Explode compound: Splits up compounds.
Compound Filter: Extracts the individual pieces from compounds.
Boolean: Performs boolean operations on two objects.
Cut: Cuts one object from another.
Union: Fuses two or more objects.
Intersection: Extracts the common part of two objects.
Connect objects: Connects interiors of walled objects.
Embed object: Embeds a walled object into another walled object.
Cutout for object: Creates a cutout in a wall of an object for another walled object.
Boolean fragments: Creates all pieces obtained from Boolean operations.
Slice apart: Slices and splits an object by intersecting it with other objects.
Slice to compound: Slices an object by intersecting it with other objects.
Boolean XOR: Removes space shared by an even number of objects.
Check geometry: Checks the geometry of selected objects for errors.
Defeaturing: Removes features from an object.
Other tools
Import CAD file...: Imports from *.IGES, *.STEP, or *.BREP files.
Export CAD file...: Exports to *.IGES, *.STEP, or *.BREP files.
Box selection: Selects faces from a rectangular area.
Create shape from mesh: Creates shapes from mesh objects.
Create points object from geometry: Creates points objects from geometric objects.
Convert to solid: Creates solids from shape objects.
Reverse shapes: Creates parametric copies with reversed face normals from selected objects.
- Create a copy:
Create simple copy: Creates non-parametric copies of objects.
Create transformed copy: Creates non-parametric copies of objects. It is intended for objects nested in containers.
Create shape element copy: Creates non-parametric copies of subelements: vertices, edges and faces.
Refine shape: Creates parametric copies with a refined shape from selected objects. It removes unnecessary edges from planar and cylindrical faces.
Attachment...: Attaches an object to one or more other objects.
Obsolete tools
Measure
The Std Measure tool replaces the tools listed below. introduced in version 1.0
Measure Linear: Creates a linear measurement. Not available in version 1.0 and above.
Measure Angular: Creates an angular measurement. Not available in version 1.0 and above.
Measure Refresh: Updates all measurements. Not available in version 1.0 and above.
Clear All and View Measure Clear All: Clears all measurements. Not available in version 1.0 and above.
Toggle All and View Measure Toggle All: Shows or hides all measurements. Not available in version 1.0 and above.
Toggle 3D: Shows or hides 3D measurements. Not available in version 1.0 and above.
Toggle Delta: Shows or hides delta measurements. Not available in version 1.0 and above.
Preferences
Preferences: Preferences for the Part Workbench.
Import Export Preferences: Preferences for importing from and exporting to different file formats.
- Fine-tuning: Some extra parameters to fine-tune Part behavior.
Scripting
See Part scripting.
Tutorials
- Import from STL or OBJ: How to import STL/OBJ files in FreeCAD
- Export to STL or OBJ: How to export STL/OBJ files from FreeCAD
- Whiffle Ball tutorial: How to use the Part Workbench
- Primitives: Box, Cylinder, Sphere, Cone, Torus, Tube, Create primitives, Shape builder
- Creation and modification: Create sketch, Extrude, Revolve, Mirror, Scale, Fillet, Chamfer, Make face from wires, Ruled Surface, Loft, Sweep, Section, Cross sections, 3D Offset, 2D Offset, Thickness, Projection on surface, Color per face
- Boolean: Make compound, Explode compound, Compound Filter, Boolean, Cut, Union, Intersection, Connect objects, Embed object, Cutout for object, Boolean fragments, Slice apart, Slice to compound, Boolean XOR, Check geometry, Defeaturing
- Other tools: Import CAD file, Export CAD file, Box selection, Create shape from mesh, Create points object from geometry, Convert to solid, Reverse shapes, Create simple copy, Create transformed copy, Create shape element copy, Refine shape, Attachment
- Preferences: Preferences, Fine tuning

- Getting started
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- Help: Tutorials, Video tutorials
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