FAQ

What is the Extrude command and how does it differ from Presspull in AutoCAD? (Answered)

Many users learning 3D in AutoCAD ask how the Extrude and Presspull commands differ and when to use each. This guide explains both commands step‑by‑step, shows common workflows, covers errors and fixes, offers practical tips, and includes a short FAQ.

Intro — Why this matters

Creating and editing 3D geometry efficiently is essential for modeling in AutoCAD. The Extrude and Presspull commands both produce 3D forms from 2D geometry or modify existing solids, but they behave differently and are optimized for different tasks. Understanding those differences helps you model faster and avoid common errors (open boundaries, wrong UCS, visual style issues).

Explications — What each command does

Extrude (EXTRUDE)

  • Purpose: Create a 3D solid or surface by extending a closed 2D object (closed polyline, circle, region, hatch converted to region) perpendicular to its plane.
  • Typical inputs: Closed curves (polylines, circles, regions), hatches converted to regions.
  • Options you’ll commonly use: entering a numeric height, specifying a direction, supplying a taper angle (makes the extrusion conical), and choosing whether the result is a solid or surface.
  • Behavior: Operates on the selected object(s) and produces a new 3D object. It does not modify an existing 3D solid face (except when used with surfaces).

Presspull (PRESSPULL)

  • Purpose: Create 3D geometry by clicking inside a closed boundary or edit an existing solid by pushing/pulling a face.
  • Typical inputs: Click inside a closed area (a bounded region) or click on a face of a 3D solid.
  • Behavior: Intelligent region selection — you click the area rather than selecting the boundary objects. If you click inside a closed 2D region, it will extrude that region; if you click a face of a 3D solid, it will push or pull that face, creating or removing material (can produce cuts or add volume).

When to use which

  • Use Extrude when you want precise control over extrusion height and taper from a selected closed object, or when you want to create solids from 2D drawings as a discrete step in a modeling workflow.
  • Use Presspull when you want a quick, interactive way to create an extrusion by clicking inside a bounded area or when you want to modify faces of existing solids (push/pull) quickly without pre-selecting boundary objects.

Step‑by‑step: How to use Extrude

  1. Switch to a 3D workspace or ensure you have a 3D visual style (use SEIsolate/Visual Styles if needed).
  2. Create a closed 2D shape (rectangle polyline, circle, polygon). Ensure the boundary is closed.
  3. Run command EXTRUDE (type EXTRUDE or select from Modeling panel).
  4. Select the closed object(s) and press Enter.
  5. Specify the height by:
    • Typing a numeric value and Enter (e.g., 50),
    • Or clicking a point in the drawing to define direction and length.
  6. (Optional) Enter a taper angle if prompted (positive or negative angle).
  7. The command creates a 3D solid or surface depending on your selection and options.

Practical tip: To extrude multiple closed regions to different heights in one go, select them and enter heights as needed (or extrude them individually for different heights).

Step‑by‑step: How to use Presspull

  1. Ensure you are in a 3D‑capable workspace and a 2D area is bounded or you have a 3D solid with faces visible.
  2. Type PRESSPULL or select the Presspull tool.
  3. Click inside a closed 2D area (not on the boundary) or click a face of an existing solid.
  4. Move the pointer to pull the region/faces in the desired direction and click, or type a numeric value for a precise distance and press Enter.
  5. To create a hole, click inside a closed region overlapping an existing solid and pull inward (negative value or inward direction) — Presspull will subtract material when appropriate.

Practical tip: Presspull is very fast for interactive edits; use it to make quick adjustments without converting boundaries to regions manually.

Alternative methods and related commands

  • SWEEP: Follow a curve/path to create a profile extruded along a path — use when extrusion must follow a route.
  • REVOLVE: Create solids by revolving a profile around an axis.
  • LOFT: Create complex transitions between multiple profiles.
  • REGION / BOUNDARY: Convert complex enclosed areas (hatches, overlapping lines) into a closed region usable by Extrude.
  • HATCH + REGION: Hatch an area then convert the hatch to a region if the boundary is irregular.
  • PRESSPULL vs. EXTRUDE in combination: Use Extrude to make initial solids from 2D layouts and then Presspull to adjust faces or create pockets/holes quickly.
  • SOLIDEDIT / PRESSPULL face editing: For face operations beyond simple pull/push, use SOLIDEDIT (face) to move/offset faces with additional options.

Common errors and fixes

  • Problem: “Object is not closed” / cannot extrude
    • Fixes: Use PEDIT > Join, JOIN command, or REGION to combine segments; use BOUNDARY or create a closed polyline. Check for tiny gaps and overlaps; use ZOOM and OSNAP to inspect.
  • Problem: Presspull won’t select inside area
    • Fixes: Ensure your click is actually inside a closed boundary and that the boundary lies on the current UCS plane. If needed, run BOUNDARY to create a region first.
  • Problem: Extrusion appears in wrong direction or orientation
    • Fixes: Adjust the UCS (use UCS or PLAN) so the 2D profile lies on the XY plane; enter negative height to reverse direction.
  • Problem: Extruded object is a surface, not a solid
    • Fixes: Make sure the profile is a closed region and the thickness/settings allow creation of a solid. Use EXTRUDE options to specify solid output or use THICKNESS property on a 2D object to convert it to a 3D object.
  • Problem: Face edits with Presspull are unintentionally splitting geometry
    • Fixes: Ensure faces are planar and that the presspull selection is limited to the intended bounded region. Sometimes small gaps or intersecting geometry cause unexpected splits; use UNION or SUBTRACT appropriately after the edit.
  • Problem: No 3D effect visible — still looks 2D
    • Fixes: Switch visual style to Realistic or Shaded or turn on 3DORBIT to view from another angle; ensure the workspace is set to a 3D workspace.

Best practices and tips

  • Always verify your UCS—extrusions are perpendicular to the UCS XY plane. Use PLAN to align view and UCS.
  • For consistent modeling, create regions from complex 2D shapes using REGION or BOUNDARY before extruding.
  • Use numeric input for precise control (type the height instead of dragging).
  • Use negative values to extrude in the opposite direction.
  • Use taper angle in EXTRUDE for draft on molded parts.
  • Use Presspull for quick face edits and simple pocket/cut creation inside solids.
  • Combine EXTRUDE with UNION, SUBTRACT, and INTERSECT to build complex solids.
  • If you need a path-based extrusion, use SWEEP. Don’t try to make Extrude follow a curve — Sweep is the intended tool.
  • To extrude multiple layers or patterns, consider creating a block and editing instances, or use dynamic arrays for repeated shapes.
  • Turn on dynamic input (F12) to see immediate measurement prompts while pulling.
  • Use ISOLATE to hide other geometry and make selection of boundaries easier.

FAQ

What is the minimum type of 2D object required for EXTRUDE?

For a solid extrusion, you need a closed 2D object such as a closed polyline, circle, or a REGION. Open polylines or lines must be joined/closed first.

Can EXTRUDE create a hole through an existing solid?

Not directly. Presspull or boolean operations (SUBTRACT) are better for cutting holes. You can extrude a region and then use SUBTRACT to remove material from an existing solid.

Does Presspull work on hatches and text areas?

Presspull can operate on closed hatched areas if they are converted to regions. For filled text (TrueType) you may need to convert to geometry or use boundary extraction.

How do I extrude along a curve or path?

Use SWEEP (profile along a path). Extrude creates linear thickness perpendicular to the profile plane; it does not follow arbitrary paths.

Why is my extrusion creating a surface instead of a solid?

This happens when the profile is not recognized as forming an area solid (e.g., self‑intersecting curves or not truly closed). Convert to a REGION, fix overlaps, or use BOUNDARY to generate a valid region.

Can I use Presspull to add material (union) instead of removing it?

Yes — pressing outward from a face or region generally adds material; pressing inward can cut. Result depends on intersection with other solids and on whether the geometry is set to combine automatically.

How do I precisely control taper in Extrude?

When prompted, enter a taper angle (positive to narrow, negative to flare) or specify the Taper Angle option in the EXTRUDE command before entering height.

Keyboard shortcuts to speed workflow?

  • EXTRUDE → type EXTRUDE (or create an alias like EXT).
  • PRESSPULL → type PRESSPULL.
  • Toggle Dynamic Input with F12.
  • Use 3DORBIT to inspect results quickly.

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