Useful first: Turn a sketch into a solid · Draw connected lines
Revolve uses a closed profile and a straight Line in the same sketch. The line defines an infinite rotation axis. A full 360-degree turn closes the body; a partial turn has end caps. The profile can touch the axis but cannot cross it.
Try it in Cadivari
Draw the radial section
Start a separate practice project. Choose Sketch and the Front plane. Draw a rectangle, then use Select and Properties to set X to 20, Y to 0, Width to 20 and Height to 60 mm.
Add a straight axis
In that same sketch, press L and draw a separate line. Press Enter to finish it, then select it and set X1 to 0, Y1 to −10, X2 to 0 and Y2 to 70 mm. This places the axis beside the profile.
Select the profile and axis
Return to 3D and click Revolve. Click inside the rectangle to choose its closed face, then click the separate line as the axis. Choose New body.
Compare full and partial turns
Preview an Angle of 360 degrees, then try 180. Compare Positive, Negative and Symmetric direction. Start angle locates a one-sided turn; Symmetric uses Centre angle.
Create the full body
Return to 360 degrees, Positive direction and a Start angle of 0. Inspect the valid preview and click Create Revolve body. Reopen the linked sketch to see that the profile and axis remain editable.
A small exercise
Revolve the 20 × 60 mm rectangle around the line 20 mm from its nearest side. Compare the 180-degree preview with a completed 360-degree New body.
What you should see
The full result is a 60 mm long tube with a 40 mm inner diameter and an 80 mm outer diameter. The opening comes from the gap between the axis and the profile.
Things to look out for
- A line in another sketch cannot serve as this profile’s axis. Keep both in one sketch.
- A profile that crosses the infinite axis is rejected. Revolve Cut is not currently available.
Check your understandingWhy does this exercise leave a hole through the middle
The nearest profile edge stays 20 mm from the axis during the entire turn. That empty radius becomes a 40 mm diameter central opening.
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Go deeper in the knowledge base
Instructions checked against the Cadivari 0.3.0 source and knowledge base on 2026-09-16. Lesson revision 1.