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Shape Element Copy

In one sentence: Copy a single selected face, edge, or vertex from a shape into a new standalone Part feature.

Overview

Workbench: Part
Menu: Part → Create a Copy → Shape Element Copy
Shortcut: none

Extracts one topological sub-element — a single face, edge, or vertex — from the selected shape and creates it as an independent Part::Feature.

Intuition

Sometimes you don't need the whole solid — just one face to project onto, or one edge to use as a sweep spine. Shape Element Copy lifts that sub-element out of the solid so it becomes its own object that other tools can reference.

Think of it as using a scalpel to remove exactly the piece of geometry you need, rather than working with the entire body.

When to use it

  • You need a specific face as a standalone surface (e.g., as a datum plane reference or as a target for Part → Project on Surface).
  • You need a particular edge as the spine of a Part Sweep.
  • You want to inspect or measure a single face in isolation.
  • You need a vertex as a reference point for another operation.

When NOT to use it

  • Don't use it to copy the whole shape — use Simple Copy instead.
  • Don't use it for PartDesign features — PartDesign uses sketch-based features with datum planes; Shape Element Copy is a Part workbench concept.

Step-by-step

  1. Select the parent solid in the model tree.
  2. In the 3D viewport, click the face, edge, or vertex you want. (For edges and vertices, you may need to Ctrl+click after selecting the solid, or pre-select the sub-element via the 3D view before invoking the tool.)
  3. Choose Part → Create a Copy → Shape Element Copy.
  4. A new Part::Feature containing only that sub-element appears in the tree.

Parameters

This tool has no task panel. The sub-element must be selected before invoking the command.

Common mistakes and pitfalls

Must have a sub-element selected

If only the parent solid is selected (no face/edge/vertex highlighted), the tool copies the entire shape rather than a sub-element. Ensure the correct sub-element is highlighted in the 3D view before activating the tool.

The copy is static

The extracted sub-element does not update if the parent solid changes. Re-run the tool if the parent is modified.

Face indices can change

If you later add features to the parent solid, the face that was extracted may acquire a different index. Always verify the sub-element is still correct after topology changes.

Python API

import FreeCAD as App

doc = App.newDocument()
box = doc.addObject("Part::Box", "Box")
doc.recompute()

# Extract the top face (index 5 for the top of a default Part::Box)
# Use the interactive tool for reliable sub-element selection.
# For scripting, access sub-elements directly:
top_face = box.Shape.Faces[5]
feat = doc.addObject("Part::Feature", "TopFace")
feat.Shape = top_face
doc.recompute()

print(f"Extracted: {feat.Shape.ShapeType}")   # Face

See also