Tools menu: Chamfer tool

What is the Chamfer tool?

You can use the Chamfer tool to replace sharp edges of a 3D body with angled, beveled faces. Chamfers are useful for removing sharp corners, creating lead-in edges for assembly, and refining the appearance of a model.

Chamfer creates beveled edges with flat transitions between adjacent faces, while Fillet creates rounded transitions. You can apply chamfers to one or more selected body edges and control the setback distances. To learn more, visit Tools menu: Fillet tool.

Chamfer	Fillet

How to use the Chamfer tool

Using the Chamfer tool

To create a chamfer:

1. Go to Tools > Chamfer.
   For other ways to open the tool, visit Accessing tools.
2. Select the body edge or edges you want to chamfer.
3. Drag the arrow to adjust the chamfer, or enter a value in the dimension field.
4. Optional: To change the chamfer type or review other settings, select Chamfer again while the tool is active to open its parameter card.
5. To finish and exit the tool, click anywhere in an empty area of the modeling space.

Chamfer and Fillet in direct modeling

When you select a body edge directly in the modeling space, you can create either a chamfer or a fillet by dragging the arrow in different directions:

• Chamfer: Drag the arrow toward the body to create a beveled edge.
• Fillet: Drag the arrow away from the body to create a rounded edge.

Once you start creating a chamfer or fillet, Shapr3D activates the corresponding tool. You can continue adjusting its parameters, but you can no longer switch between Chamfer and Fillet within the same operation.

Chamfer types

Use the Type setting to choose how the bevel is measured. Chamfer supports two types:

Equal Distance

Equal Distance creates a bevel with the same setback distance on both adjacent faces. For an edge formed by two perpendicular faces, equal setbacks produce a 45° bevel. Enter the desired setback in the Distance field.

Two-Distance

Two-Distance lets you set different setbacks on the two adjacent faces. Use Distance #1 and Distance #2 to control each side independently. This is useful when the bevel needs an asymmetric profile.

Parameter Card and History Settings

Shapr3D records the tools you use as steps in History, allowing you to revisit and modify them later. Each History step stores its parameters, which you can access through the parameter card. You can adjust these parameters while using the tool or reopen the parameter card from History after completing the step.

Adjust Chamfer parameters

While Chamfer is active, select Chamfer again to open the parameter card. The available settings are:

• Edge – Review or change the body edges selected for the chamfer.
• Type – Switch between Equal Distance and Two-Distance.
• Distance – For Equal Distance, set the setback applied to both adjacent faces.
• Distance #1 and Distance #2 – For Two-Distance, set the setback on each side of the selected edge independently.
• Include Tangent Edges – Turn on to include connected tangent edges in the chamfer operation. Turn off to limit the operation to the selected edges.

To learn more about parameter cards, visit Parameter Cards.

Edit Chamfer in History

To modify a chamfer after completing the operation:

1. Open the History sidebar.
2. Select the Chamfer step you want to edit to open its parameter card.
3. Change the selected edges, chamfer type, distances, or tangent-edge inclusion as needed.
4. To finish editing, click anywhere in the modeling space.

To learn more about editing modeling steps, visit History.

When to use the Chamfer tool

Common Chamfer use cases

• Remove sharp edges – Add a flat bevel to exposed edges of a part.
• Create assembly lead-ins – Bevel an entrance edge to help guide mating parts into position.
• Refine a model's appearance – Use consistent chamfers to add deliberate edge details.
• Create asymmetric bevels – Use Two-Distance when each side needs a different setback.

Chamfer vs. Fillet

Both tools modify existing body edges, but they produce different transitions:

• Chamfer creates a flat, angled face between neighboring faces.
• Fillet creates a rounded transition, with additional controls for continuity and corner blending.

To learn more about rounded edge transitions, visit Tools menu: Fillet tool.

Best practices and troubleshooting

Best practices

• Start with a small distance – Increase the setback gradually when working near narrow faces or other features.
• Choose the appropriate type – Use Equal Distance for symmetric bevels and Two-Distance for independent setbacks.
• Review tangent-edge inclusion – Check whether connected tangent edges should be included in the same operation.
• Use History for revisions – Edit an existing Chamfer step when you need to refine its dimensions or edge selection.

Troubleshooting common issues