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Learn/Drafting/Solid Modeling Tools

Boolean Operations

At a glance

  • Combine: fuse two bodies into one (union)
  • Cut: subtract one body from another (difference)
  • Available inline on every profile tool — no separate step required
  • Multi-body components: keep independent solids in the same file

Boolean operations combine solid bodies, and JetCad3 exposes them two ways: inline on every profile tool, and as standalone Combine and Cut tools for bodies that already exist. Both paths write an ordinary feature into the history, so a boolean stays as editable as anything else.

Inline: Cut / Join / New Body

Extrude, Revolve, Sweep, Helix, and Pipe all watch their preview — the moment it intersects an existing body, an Operation dropdown appears with Cut (subtract), Join (fuse), and New Body (keep independent). JetCad3 pre-selects the likely intent (a profile pushed clean through a plate reads as a through-hole and defaults to Cut) and remembers your last choice per tool. Most day-to-day boolean work happens right here without a separate step.

Standalone: Combine and Cut

For two bodies that already exist, Combine fuses them into one and Cut subtracts a tool body from an operation body. Pick the operation body and the picker chains straight into picking the tool body; a live preview shows the result before OK. The tool body is consumed by the feature — it leaves the browser panel, and editing the feature brings it back for re-picking. Both bodies must live in the same component.

Multi-body components

New Body is what makes multi-body design work: one component can hold any number of independent solids — a weldment's tubes, a fixture and its clamp — each listed in the browser panel with its own visibility and export. Combine them at the end, or never.