What is a ʼRevolved Boss/Baseʼ in SolidWorks?

Short Answer

A Revolved Boss/Base in SolidWorks is a 3D feature that creates solid geometry by revolving a 2D sketch profile around a centerline or axis. The standard professional method uses the Revolved Boss/Base command from the Features tab. It works best for fully defined, closed profiles. One limitation: self-intersecting or open profiles will fail.

What You Need to Know Before

Warning: If your sketch crosses the axis of revolution incorrectly or creates self-intersecting geometry, the feature may fail or generate invalid solid bodies. A very common mistake is using an open contour when SolidWorks expects a closed profile for a solid revolve.

How to Create a Revolved Boss/Base in SolidWorks

Command: Revolved Boss/Base
Shortcut: No default keyboard shortcut
Quick Steps:
1. Create a 2D sketch on a plane, then draw a closed profile and a construction centerline to use as the axis. Go to the Features tab on the CommandManager.
2. Click Revolved Boss/Base, then in the PropertyManager select the sketch centerline, model edge, or temporary axis as the Axis of Revolution.
3. Set the Angle value, usually 360° for a full revolve, and confirm options like Mid-Plane or Thin Feature if needed, then click the green checkmark.

Variables & Settings

Key Setting: Thin Feature
Expert Setting: This option lets you revolve an open sketch to create a thin-walled solid instead of a fully closed solid. It is useful for cups, covers, and shells, but incorrect thickness direction or excessive thickness can cause rebuild errors.

Why it Fails

Cause 1 (Geometry): The sketch profile is open, self-intersecting, or touches the axis in a way that creates zero-thickness geometry.
Cause 2 (layers/Locks): The sketch or selected axis may be in an inactive or hidden state, or the centerline was not created as construction geometry, making axis selection unreliable.
Cause 3 (Command/Logic): The wrong contour is selected, or the revolve angle and direction create overlapping solid geometry that SolidWorks cannot solve.

Best Practice

Quick Fix: Edit the sketch, fully define the profile, convert the axis to a construction centerline, and use Tools > Sketch Tools > Check Sketch for Feature before running Revolved Boss/Base again.
Manager’s Verdict: Use Revolved Boss/Base for shafts, knobs, pulleys, bottles, and any axisymmetric part. Avoid it when the part is not truly rotational, because extrudes or sweeps are usually easier to edit and more stable.