Is there a way to make extrusions permanent?

steven_abiuso

Perhaps its a workflow issue on my end since I have only been using OnShape now for about 5 hours, but what is really throwing me off is that extrusions are not permanent per se. I like that I can modify them for future changes, but when sketching on a different plane, if I don't select the "Finaly" button none of my previous extrusions show up.

Perhaps I went about this the wrong way, but I am designing a bolt carrier for an airsoft gun. I sketched out all the detail I could on the front face and extruded backwards for depth on the part. Then to make the cuts and recess's I needed I created a new plane and sketch on the left face and started sketching there, Is that not how to do it?

Here is my model I am working on: https://cad.onshape.com/documents/10e9fb7205f6f00dd15179ae/w/3d6ebf2930172dc1a18adbaf/e/d4a41209be244bd16109bfb3 

Please if there are any tips anyone can offer please do so. Like I mentioned earlier I have very limited experience in CAD as I am coming over from Sketchup. 

NeilCooke

steven_abiuso said:

NeilCooke said:

The final button displays features created after the feature you are editing. The feature list is a history or recipe of how the model was built. When you edit an earlier feature the later ones don't yet exist. The final button displays them for you (but you cannot reference them).

Hi Neil, thank you for the answer. I have a followup question for you though; If I need to reference the extruded geometry for a different sketch(my fillet and extrusions above that)do I need to start a sketch past all the extrusion commands on the feature list? I think the way I have it now Sketch 2 is before Extrude 14 thus not letting me select vertices or lines from that extrusion, am I correct here?

Yes you are correct - you can only reference features that exist before the feature you are editing.

daniel_splawski

One thing that might help.  You don't have to create a new plane just to make a sketch.  Instead you can just use any flat surface as the sketch plane, which will keep the sketches in the correct location even if you modify an earlier extrusion. In general your model looks fairly good.  

NeilCooke

The final button displays features created after the feature you are editing. The feature list is a history or recipe of how the model was built. When you edit an earlier feature the later ones don't yet exist. The final button displays them for you (but you cannot reference them).

steven_abiuso

NeilCooke said:

The final button displays features created after the feature you are editing. The feature list is a history or recipe of how the model was built. When you edit an earlier feature the later ones don't yet exist. The final button displays them for you (but you cannot reference them).

Hi Neil, thank you for the answer. I have a followup question for you though; If I need to reference the extruded geometry for a different sketch(my fillet and extrusions above that)do I need to start a sketch past all the extrusion commands on the feature list? I think the way I have it now Sketch 2 is before Extrude 14 thus not letting me select vertices or lines from that extrusion, am I correct here?

steven_abiuso

daniel_splawski said:

One thing that might help.  You don't have to create a new plane just to make a sketch.  Instead you can just use any flat surface as the sketch plane, which will keep the sketches in the correct location even if you modify an earlier extrusion. In general your model looks fairly good.  

Thanks Daniel! very helpful tip for a new user.

NeilCooke

steven_abiuso said:

NeilCooke said:

The final button displays features created after the feature you are editing. The feature list is a history or recipe of how the model was built. When you edit an earlier feature the later ones don't yet exist. The final button displays them for you (but you cannot reference them).

Hi Neil, thank you for the answer. I have a followup question for you though; If I need to reference the extruded geometry for a different sketch(my fillet and extrusions above that)do I need to start a sketch past all the extrusion commands on the feature list? I think the way I have it now Sketch 2 is before Extrude 14 thus not letting me select vertices or lines from that extrusion, am I correct here?

Yes you are correct - you can only reference features that exist before the feature you are editing.