How to Extrude Cuts in Fusion [Update 2025]

Extrude cuts is one of the most powerful and versatile modeling techniques in Fusion. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your workflow, knowing how to use every extrude cut option will enhance your productivity and give you more design flexibility.

What is the extrude cut tool?

The extrude tool in Fusion isn’t just for adding material—it’s essential for removing it, too. By selecting a profile (usually from a sketch), you can cut through bodies and create complex features, holes, or clearance spaces within your designs.

Extrude cuts in Fusion

Let’s take a look at the most important settings and techniques you should know:

1. Start condition: Where your cut begins

• Default (sketch plane): The extrude normally starts from the sketch you select.
• Offset plane: If you want the cut to begin at a specific distance away from your sketch, use offset plane. This tool can be a a lifesaver if you sketched on the wrong face.
• From object: Start extruding from any face, point, construction plane, or even curved surfaces. You can set an offset from this reference for added control.

2. End condition: Where your cut ends

• Distance: Specify a measurement for the cut’s depth.
• To Object: Cut precisely up to another body or component. This is essential for parametric designs—if the referenced object changes size, your cut updates automatically.
• All: Cut through everything in your design in the extrude direction. Useful for splitting bodies or making sure your cut always clears the model.

3. Bodies to cut: Target exactly what you want

• In complex assemblies, you might want to cut only certain bodies and leave others untouched.
• Objects to cut lets you select which bodies receive the cut, helping you avoid damaging critical geometry or unwanted areas.

Workflow example

Let’s walk through a multi-body part as an example:

1. Initiate the extrude tool: Press “S” to pull up shortcuts and choose Extrude.
2. Select the profiles: Pick the sketch geometry you want to cut.
3. Set your start condition: Use Offset Plane or From Object if you need more control.
4. Specify the end condition: Choose “To Object” for parametric designs.
5. Select bodies to cut: Make sure only the desired bodies are affected.
6. Complete cut: Review in section analysis to verify the result, adjusting if necessary.

Advanced extrude cut tips

• Make construction geometry: Simplifies sketches, especially for fillets or offsets.
• Iterate and parametrize: Change sketch sizes or referenced objects later—your cuts update automatically.
• Mix solids and cuts: Use the same sketch for extruding solids and cuts to speed up your workflow.

When to use extrude cuts?

• Creating clearance holes or slots in assemblies.
• Removing material in top-down design workflows.
• Splitting bodies for manufacturing or multi-part designs.
• Making precise parametric features that need to adapt to changes elsewhere in your model.

Extrude cuts are not “just” about removing material—they’re the core of flexible, adaptive CAD design. By mastering start conditions, end conditions, and body selections, you’ll transform your workflow in Autodesk Fusion.