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Copy / Clone / Move

In one sentence: Duplicate selected sketch geometry as an independent copy (Copy), as a constraint-linked clone (Clone), or move it to a new position (Move) — without creating an array.

Overview

Workbench: Sketcher · Menu: Sketch → Sketcher tools → Copy / Clone / Move
Toolbar: Sketcher Tools (CompCopy dropdown) · Shortcut: none

Tool Description
Copy Create an independent duplicate of selected geometry (constraints are not linked)
Clone Create a duplicate whose geometry is linked to the original via Equal constraints
Move Reposition selected geometry to a new location (no copy made)

These are the non-array single-copy/move tools. For grids or polar arrays, use Move / Array Transform or Rotate / Polar Transform.

Note

FreeCAD also exposes Copy Elements, Cut Elements, and Paste Elements clipboard commands (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+X, Ctrl+V) for copying geometry between sketches via the system clipboard.

Intuition

Copy is "duplicate and forget": the new geometry starts at the same position as the original but has no ongoing relationship with it. Change the original, and the copy is unaffected.

Clone is "duplicate and remember": FreeCAD automatically adds Equal constraints between corresponding edges and Coincident-relative constraints so the clone always has the same shape as the original. Move the original, and the clone stays put but keeps the same shape.

Move has no copy involved — it picks up the geometry and places it elsewhere.

When to use them

  • Copy: You need an identical shape at a different position in the sketch but want to constrain each independently (e.g. two holes with different positions but same size — use Equal for size, position each separately).
  • Clone: You need multiple features that must always have the same shape (a row of identical connector tabs). Changing the shape of one automatically updates all clones.
  • Move: You drew geometry in the wrong place and want to relocate it. (Also see Move / Array Transform for move with array support.)

When NOT to use them

  • You need a full array (multiple copies at regular spacing) — use Move / Array Transform or Rotate / Polar Transform.
  • You need the copy to be parametrically driven from a spreadsheet — use a formula-driven constraint instead; Copy/Clone provides only geometric linking.

Step-by-step walkthrough

Copy

  1. Select geometry to copy.
  2. Activate Copy from the CompCopy dropdown or menu.
  3. Click a base point (the reference point for the copy offset).
  4. Click the destination (where the base point should land in the copy).
  5. The copy appears. Its geometry is independent; add constraints as needed.

Clone

  1. Select geometry to clone.
  2. Activate Clone from the dropdown.
  3. Click base and destination as with Copy.
  4. The clone appears. Equal constraints are automatically added between original and clone edges. Changing the original's shape updates the clone.

Move

  1. Select geometry to move.
  2. Activate Move from the dropdown.
  3. Click base and destination to set the translation.
  4. The geometry relocates. Existing constraints may need adjustment.

Parameters

Parameter Type Description
Base point 2-D coordinate The reference point on the original geometry
Destination point 2-D coordinate Where the base point moves to (copy/clone) or final position (move)

Common mistakes and pitfalls

Clone constraints make the sketch over-constrained

Cause: Clone adds Equal constraints for all corresponding edges; if those edges already have independent dimensional constraints, conflicts arise.
Fix: Before cloning, remove individual dimensional constraints from the elements you plan to clone. Set dimensions on the original only; the clone will match via Equal.

Move leaves geometry under-constrained

Cause: Move relocates geometry but does not add constraints to the new position.
Fix: After moving, apply Lock Position or Coincident to fix the moved geometry at its new location.

Python API

import FreeCAD as App

doc = App.activeDocument()
sketch = doc.getObject("Sketch")

# Copy geometry element 0 with offset (20, 10, 0)
# The result is new geometry at the offset position.
# TODO: verify exact method signature for copy in SketchObject
print("Use the Copy/Clone/Move tools interactively for now.")

See also