Recommended test
Compare the same overlapping box preview with the four operation choices.
- Create a box with New body and Apply it.
- Draw a second box that overlaps the first and fix its depth.
- Choose Join, Subtract and Intersect in turn, with the first box as Target body, and inspect each preview.
- Choose the intended operation and Apply; use Undo to compare with the starting body.
Choose the operation in the tool panel
The operation buttons appear inside Box, Cylinder, Prism, sketch Push/Pull, Revolve, Sweep and Loft. Each has an icon and label. These choices share the same meaning across the tools.
| Choice | What it does |
|---|---|
| New body | Keeps the newly created shape as a separate body. |
| Join | Adds the new shape to the chosen target. It must overlap or share a usable face. |
| Subtract | Removes the new shape’s overlap from the target. |
| Intersect | Keeps only the volume shared by the new shape and target. |
The combining choices reveal Target body. Select a current solid body from the list, or use the panel’s Pick control where available. A face-based workflow can suggest the receiving body; still check it before applying.
Keep direction separate from operation
Signed depth or distance sets the direction of a shape relative to its plane. It does not change Join into Subtract.
For a pocket, select Subtract, point the extrusion into the target and use a depth smaller than the local thickness. For a through-hole, extend it beyond the opposite face and inspect both sides.
Read the correct preview
Primitive, Revolve, Sweep and Loft panels show their pending solid result. Sketch Push/Pull first shows a lightweight moving outline; fix the distance before expecting the calculated Boolean result.
Apply becomes available when the operation has a current valid result. If the shapes do not overlap, only touch at an edge or would leave an unsupported result, adjust the geometry or choose a different operation. The error message describes what prevented the current operation.
Apply and continue
Apply changes the chosen target or creates the new body. Combining operations retain the target’s appearance. Source sketches remain available independently.
These controls combine a newly drawn or generated shape with its target. They do not turn arbitrary building framing, an imported display mesh or an older Custom Solid object into a current OCCT body. Use the appropriate source workflow for those objects and keep a .strek checkpoint before substantial edits.