You can use the Split Body tool to divide a solid body into multiple parts without removing material. Create precise cuts with construction planes, grid planes, sketch profiles, faces, imported images, or even one of the body’s own faces to separate it into distinct solids.
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How to split bodies
- Go to Tools > Split Body.
For other methods of accessing this tool, see Accessing tools. - Select the bodies that you want to split. Selected bodies appear in blue and are marked with the Split Body badge.
- Select a construction plane, grid plane, sketch profile, face, or image for the splitting tool.
Note: Select the badges in the workspace to redefine or toggle selections. - Optional: Adjust the Keep Originals settings.
- To finish, select Done.
Split Body settings
When using the Split Body tool, you can adjust the Keep Originals settings to control whether the original body is retained after the operation. These settings are also available in the History settings after completing the operation.
- Keep Originals: Off – Only the resulting bodies remain; the original body is removed (default).
- Keep Originals: On – The split results are created as new bodies, and the original body is retained.
Splitting tools
Splitting tools define how and where a body is divided. When you select a splitting tool, it’s projected through the selected bodies, so it doesn’t need to be in direct contact. You can select multiple splitting tools at once to create several cuts in a single operation.
You can use any of the following as splitting tools:
- Construction or grid planes – Ideal for precise, planar cuts across a body.
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Sketch profiles – Useful for custom or curved cuts. Multiple connecting sketches in the same plane merge into one splitting surface.
Note: If the splitting sketches are not connected, they will not merge and will instead create separate simultaneous cuts. - Body faces and edges – You can use the faces or coplanar edges of another body as a splitting surface.
- Body’s own face – Split a body using one of its own faces to create separate solids.
Splitting tools are projected through the selected bodies, so they don’t need to be in direct contact.
History settings
To manage history settings for the Split Body action, find the step for your specific split body and then view or modify the following:
- Bodies to Split – Click/tap Edit… or Select… to choose a different body you want to split and then select Done to finish.
- Split With – Click/tap Edit… or Select… to choose a different sketch, face, plane, edge, or plane you want to use as the splitting tool and then select Done to finish.
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Keep Originals – Toggle the slider to turn on or off the original body.