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Convert Edges to Faces

In one sentence: Build planar faces from closed edge loops in selected Part::Feature objects, recovering 2-D geometry as proper face objects.

Overview

Workbench: OpenSCAD
Menu: OpenSCAD → Convert Edges to Faces
Shortcut: none

Analyses the edges of selected Part objects, detects closed edge loops that enclose a planar region, and constructs faces from them. Used to recover 2-D planar geometry (a set of edges that enclose a region but have no face) as proper Part::Face objects suitable for extrusion or further CAD operations.

Intuition

Sometimes imported geometry (from DXF, IGES, or badly-exported STEP) contains only edge loops with no faces — like a wire frame drawing rather than a solid. Convert Edges to Faces fills in those loops with flat faces, turning the wire frame into proper surface geometry.

When to use it

  • An imported DXF or IGES file contains only edges (no faces) and you need faces to extrude or work with the geometry.
  • A boolean operation left behind edge loops that are now isolated from any face and you need to recover them as faces.

When NOT to use it

  • Non-planar edge loops — the tool can only create flat (planar) faces from closed loops that lie in a single plane.

Step-by-step

  1. Select one or more Part::Feature objects whose edges form closed planar loops.
  2. Choose OpenSCAD → Convert Edges to Faces.
  3. FreeCAD creates a new Part::Feature with the faces filled in.

Parameters

No task panel — operates automatically on selected objects.

Common mistakes and pitfalls

Non-planar loops produce no faces

Cause: The algorithm can only fill loops that lie in a single plane. 3-D loops (like the edges of a curved face) cannot be converted.
Fix: Use the Surface workbench Filling tool to fill non-planar loops.

Python API

import FreeCADGui as Gui
Gui.doCommand("Gui.runCommand('OpenSCAD_Edgestofaces', 0)")

See also