Tools menu: Project as Edge tool

What is the Project as Edge tool?

You can use the Project as Edge tool to project sketch profiles, faces, edges, or curves onto the faces of a body. The projection becomes part of the body's geometry, creating edges that follow the selected surface, including curved or non-planar faces.

Project as Edge is useful for:

• Dividing a face – Create separate regions on an existing surface without removing material.
• Following curved surfaces – Transfer a shape onto a cylindrical or other non-planar face.
• Creating references for other tools – Use projected edges when adding details such as grooves, ridges, or patterned features.

To create sketch geometry instead, visit Sketch menu: Project as Sketch tool.

How to use the Project as Edge tool

Using the Project as Edge tool

1. Go to Tools > Project as Edge. 
   For other ways to access the tool, visit Accessing tools.
2. Under Items to Project, select the sketch profiles, faces, edges, or curves you want to project.
3. Under Project Onto, select the face or faces that should receive the projection. Preview the resulting edges on the selected surfaces.
4. To finish, select Done.

Understanding edge projections

An edge projection becomes part of the receiving body's geometry rather than a separate sketch. It can divide a face into selectable regions and remains visible with the body even when sketches are hidden.

• Source geometry – Select sketch profiles, faces, edges, or curves as the items to project.
• Receiving faces – Select planar or non-planar body faces. The projected edges follow the shape of those faces.
• Linked changes – Edge projections retain a relationship with their source geometry, so changes to the source can update the projected result.

Example: Create grooves on a cylinder

Project a rectangular shape onto a cylindrical face to create edges that define a groove. You can then use other modeling tools to shape the groove and repeat the feature around the cylinder.

Example: Create a ridge on a curved surface

Project a circular shape onto a curved face to create an edge that follows its contour. You can use the projected edge as a path for Sweep to create a raised ridge.

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 Project as Edge parameters

The Project as Edge parameter card includes:

• Items to Project – Select the sketch profiles, faces, edges, or curves to project.
• Project Onto – Select the body faces that should receive the projected edges.

Edit Project as Edge in History

To modify a completed projection, find the corresponding step in History and review its selections:

• Items to Project – Change the source geometry used for the projection.
• Projection Surface – Change the face or faces receiving the projected edges. This is labeled Project Onto in the current parameter card.

When to use the Project as Edge tool

Use Project as Edge when you want to transfer existing geometry onto a body's surface and use the result as part of that body. Common situations include:

• Adding surface details – Outline grooves, ridges, or other features directly on a body.
• Working with curved faces – Create edges that follow a cylinder or another curved surface.
• Preparing geometry for other tools – Use projected edges as references for further modeling operations.
• Choosing between edge and sketch projections – Edge projections become part of the body, while sketch projections create sketch geometry that can be edited or hidden separately.

Best practices and troubleshooting

• Check the receiving faces – Select every face that should receive the projected edges, particularly when projecting across a curved or multi-face surface.
• Review the preview – Confirm that the projected edges appear on the intended part of the body before finishing.
• Keep source geometry easy to identify – Clearly defined sketches and edges make projections easier to revise in History.