Tech Tip: Speed Up Sketching with Extrude and Revolve Keyboard Shortcuts

All Onshape models, unless they are imported, begin with a sketch followed by a solid or surface feature.

This Tech Tip shows you how to accelerate your workflow when using Extrude or Revolve features.

Keyboard Shortcuts Are the Key

Onshape’s built-in keyboard shortcuts can be single keystrokes or combinations like shift+e. In this Tech Tip, we’ll see how these combinations make quick work out of creating sketches, and the features that follow.

In this example, we start by selecting the sketch plane, then press shift+s to start a sketch.

Next, optionally tap the N key to view normal to the sketch plane. Then tap the G key to sketch a rectangle.

To quickly create a Revolve feature, while still in the sketch, press Shift+w to complete the sketch and immediately open the Revolve tool. The sketch is already selected. Tap the Tab key to activate the Revolve axis field, then click the revolve axis in the sketch.

Tap Enter and you’re done!

Using this method takes less time to create a revolved sketch or surface than it does to read this Tech Tip! The same procedure is used to accelerate the creation of extruded parts or surfaces. Just use Shift+e to open the Extrude tool.

This Tech Tip helped you learn how to accelerate your Extrude or Revolve workflows. For more learning materials, explore the Onshape Learning Center.