Extrude covers most modeling, but four other profile-driven operations unlock everything else. All follow the same pattern — draw a closed profile, then define a path or axis — and all are available in OpenShape3D with live previews.
Revolve: turned parts
Spin a profile around an axis. This is the operation for anything you'd make on a lathe: bottles, knobs, pulleys, vases, wheels.
- Sketch half the cross-section next to a straight axis line (a construction line is ideal — it's preferred as the revolve axis and won't fill).
- Arm the profile, choose Revolve, tap the axis.
- Drag or type the angle — 360° for a full solid, less for wedges and cutaways.
Sweep: profiles along a path
Push a profile along a curve: tubes, handles, cable channels, molding. Sketch the cross-section (say, a circle) on a plane perpendicular to the start of your path, then chain the path segments — lines and arcs, even across different sketch planes. Keep bend radii larger than the profile's width or the sweep will self-intersect.
Loft: morphing between sections
Blend through two or more cross-sections on different planes: a square base flowing into a round top, boat hulls, ergonomic grips. Draw each section on its own (offset) plane, then collect them in order. Sections must sit on different planes — a loft needs distance to travel — and similar segment counts between sections give cleaner surfaces.
Helix: springs and threads
Sweep a profile along a helical spine defined by radius, pitch, and turns. A small circle makes a spring; a triangular profile against a cylinder makes a (decorative) thread. For 3D-printed threads, keep pitch generous — fine threads rarely survive layer lines.
All four respect booleans
Like extrude, each operation commits through the automatic-boolean pipeline: revolve a groove into a body to cut it, loft between faces to bridge two solids, and override with New Body/Union/Subtract/Intersect when you need explicit control.
Which one do I need?
| You're modeling… | Use |
|---|---|
| Bottle, knob, pulley, rim | Revolve |
| Pipe, handle, wire, rail | Sweep |
| Duct adapter, hull, grip | Loft |
| Spring, thread, spiral | Helix |