The Part Extrude command extends a shape by a specified distance, in a specified direction. The output shape type will vary depending on the input shape type and the options selected.
In most common scenarios, the following lists the expected output shape type from a given input shape type,
Extruding a Vertex (point) will produce a straight Edge (Line)
Extruding an open edge (e.g. line, arc) will produce an open face (e.g. plane)
Extruding a closed edge (e.g. circle) will optionally produce a closed face (e.g. an open-ended cylinder) or if the parameter "solid" is "true" will produce a solid (e.g. a closed solid cylinder)
Extruding an open Wire (e.g. a Draft Wire) will produce an open shell (several joined faces)
Extruding a closed Wire (e.g. a Draft Wire) will optionally produce a shell (several joined faces) or if the parameter "solid" is "true" will produce a solid
Extruding a face (e.g. plane) will produce a solid (e.g. Cuboid)
Extruding a Draft ShapeString will produce a compound of solids (the string is a compound of the letters which are each a solid)
Extruding a shell of faces will produce a Compsolid.
Examples of extrusion
Usage
Optionally select one or more shapes in the 3D View or in the Tree View.
Optionally click on an item in the Shape list to (re-) select a shape.
Optionally keep Shift pressed and click on an item in the Shape list to either add the shape to the selection, or to remove it from the selection.
Set the direction and length and optionally other parameters (see Properties for more details).
Press OK to close the task panel.
One Extrude object will be created for each selected shape.
Each input shape is placed underneath its Extrude object.
Task panel
OK button creates the extrusion, and closes the panel.
Close button closes the panel, without doing anything.
Apply button creates the extrusion, but does not close the panel. You can then select another shape from the list at the bottom and create more extrusions.
Direction radio buttons: sets the way the extrusion direction is computed.
Reversed checkbox: reverses the extrusion direction.
Select button: click it, and then pick an edge in the 3D View. That edge will appear in text field next to the button, in the format "ObjectName:EdgeN". You can also type the link manually or erase it. The values X, Y, Z will be filled according to the edge direction.
X, Y, Z buttons: Click a button to set extrusion direction to the positive axis. Click it again to set it to the negative axis.
X, Y, Z input fields: set or display the direction vector of extrusion. If both lengths are zero, the length of this vector sets the length of extrusion, and values are always in mm, regardless of unit preferences.
Length fields: set the length of the extrusion. These input fields have unit support.
Symmetric: spreads out the extrusion into both directions, so that the profile remains in the middle.
Taper angle along: draft angle for the along direction. Positive angle means profile is expanded at other end of extrusion.
Taper angle against: idem for the against direction.
Create solid checkbox: if checked, extruding a closed wire or edge will yield a solid. It is checked by default, if a closed wire was preselected before invoking Part Extrude.
Shape list: here you select which shapes to extrude. If multiple objects are selected, multiple Extrude objects are created.
Notes
App Link objects linked to the appropriate object types and App Part containers with the appropriate visible objects inside can also be used as profiles and to specify the direction.
The task panel does not offer a preview, yet. Apply will create an extrusion object every time you click it, which can be useful as preview; however, they will remain and yet another one will be created as you click OK. Undo can be useful to clean them up before clicking OK.
Comparison with PartDesign Pad
PartDesign Pad is also an extrusion feature, but there are important differences:
Part Extrude always creates a standalone shape. PartDesign Pad fuses the extrusion result to the rest of the Body.
Part Extrude can be placed anywhere in the model tree. PartDesign Pad can only be placed inside a PartDesign Body.
Part Extrude can extrude any object that has a Part geometry (OpenCASCADE shape), except for solids and CompSolids.
Part Extrude can extrude individual faces of other objects. PartDesign Pad will only accept either Sketch or faces of PartDesign objects as a profile.
A Part Extude object is derived from a Part Feature object and inherits all its properties. It also has the following additional properties:
Data
Extrude
DataBase (Link): The shape to extrude.
DataDir (Vector): The extrusion direction. If DataDir Mode is Custom you can edit this property, otherwise it is read-only.
DataDir Mode (Enumeration): Sets how DataDir is controlled. Custom means DataDir is editable. Edge means DataDir is obtained from an edge (line) linked by DataDir Link. Normal means DataDir is perpendicular to the plane of the input shape.
DataDir Link (LinkSub): Parametric link to an edge (line) that sets the extrusion direction.
DataLength Fwd (Distance): Length of extrusion along direction. If both DataLength Fwd and DataLength Rev are zero, the length of the DataDir vector is used.
DataLength Rev (Distance): Length of additional extrusion, against direction.
DataSolid (Bool): If true, extruding a closed edge or a closed wire will yield a solid. If False, a shell will result.
DataReversed (Bool): Reverses the extrusion direction.
DataSymmetric (Bool): If true, extrusion is centered at the input shape, and the total length is DataLength Fwd. DataLength Rev is ignored.
DataTaper Angle (Angle): Applies an angle to the extrusion, so that sides of the extrusion are drafted by the specified angle. Positive angle means the cross-section expands. Inner structures receive the opposite taper angle. This is done to facilitate the design of molds and molded parts.
DataTaper Angle Rev (Angle): Sets the taper for the reversed part of the extrusion (the part from DataLength Rev).
Data (Hidden)Face Maker Class (String): Superseded by DataFace Make Mode (read-only).
DataFace Make Mode (Enumeration): If DataSolid is true, the facemaker class to use when converting wires to faces, otherwise ignored. The options are Simple, Cheese, Extrusion and Bullseye (default).