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The Extrude feature is one of the most common features in SolidWorks. An Extrude is used to convert a 2D Sketch into a 3D object. In this tutorial I’ll show you how the Extrude feature works.

Open a new part with model units set to millimeters

Go to: File > New > Part 

Create a 2D sketch

Select the Top Plane in the feature tree (menu at the left side) and create a sketch by clicking on the 2D Sketch icon. 

The display changes so the Top plane faces you.

Create a Center Rectangle

Go to Tools > Sketch Entities > Center Rectangle or click at the center rectangle icon 

Create a sketch which starts at the Origin. 

Change the dimensions of the rectangle into 100 and 150 mm by clicking at the dimension button 

Create an Extruded Boss/Base

Go to: Insert > Boss/Base > Extrude or click at the Extrude icon 

The Boss-Extrude menu appears

Direction 1 is set to Blind. When you use the Blind feature you’ll get a solid extrude.

The yellow preview shows the extrusion of the rectangle.

By clicking at the Reverse button  you can change the direction of the extrude.

Click a few times at the Reverse button and notice the differences.

With   you can change the Depth of the extrude.

Change the Depth of the extrusion into 100 mm.

Besides the Blind direction there are a few other Direction Options:

Trough All: Extrude a feature through all the other bodies in the model (this feature is only available when you’ve other bodies into your part)

Up To Vertex: You can use this to extrude a feature to a specific point or edge of another shape.

Up To Surface: Use this option if you want to extrude a shape until a specific surface

Offset From Surface: With this option it’s possible to extrude a shape until a distance from another surface.

Up to Body: You can use this to Extrude a feature to a specific body. This feature is only available when you’ve other bodies into your part. When you get the Rebuild Error:  “Unable to extrude up to selected body” you have to make sure that the next body is bigger as your extrude.

Mid Plane: Extrude a sketch to two equal directions.

Up To Next: Extrude the sketch up to the next body. When you get the Rebuild Error: “Unable to extrude up to selected body” you have to make sure that the next body is bigger as your extrude.

Besides the different options for the direction of the extrude it’s also possible to immediately add a draft to the extrude.

Click at the Draft  icon

Change the draft size into 5 degrees

With the Draft outward option it’s possible to change the direction of the draft.

With the Direction 2 option you can add a second direction to the extrude.

You can also add a second draft to this direction as shown in the picture.

Change the Draft angle into 30 degrees.

Beside the Direction 1 and Direction 2 options there’s also a Thin Feature option

With this feature you can create a Thin Extrude

You can use the  option to change the thickness of the extrusion edge

Change T1 to 10 mm as shown in the picture.

When you check the Cap ends option you can close the top and bottom of the extrusion to get a hollow extrude (all within one single feature!)

When you’ve multiple figures in one sketch you can use the Selected Contours  option to pick only the figures you want to extrude.

Click OK   to apply your Extrude

Well, that’s all for now. Hopefully you’ve learned something from my post about the Extrude feature.

Do you still have questions about it or want to add something? Feel free to leave a comment below.