Hole Tool

Launch the Tool

Circular Holes

1. Change the diameter to set the size of the hole
2. Segments is the number of divisions around the circular hole. More segments results in a smoother looking hole.
3. Adjust the placement point of the hole profile.
4. Set the depth of the hole or enable full depth to punch through the target object.

Rectangular Holes

1. Set the horizontal length of the hole.
2. Set the vertical width of the hole.
3. Adjust the placement point of the hole profile.
4. Set the depth of the hole or enable full depth to punch through the target object.

Custom Profile Holes

1. Click this button to use a hole Profile from an existing Profile Member in your model.
2. Click this button to create or edit a custom hole profile. The Profile dialog will open.
3. You can select a face in your model and use it as the hole Profile.
4. If you click the 'New Profile' button, you can use the selected face as the hole Profile.
5. Click the 'OK' button to finish editing the custom hole Profile.

Note: Material, Layer, Junctions, and Extrude Mode settings are not used for custom hole Profiles.

Adding Holes to Objects

Zoom

The hole tool will cut through the selected group or component. It is recommended (but not required) to first select the objects you want to cut before using this tool.

1. Select a group or component for cutting (recommended)
2. Click the 'Add Holes' button to launch the tool.
3. Move the mouse over a reference point and press the CTRL key to place a reference point (optional).
4. Set the position of the hole with the mouse or key-in a distance value from the reference point.
5. Click or press 'ENTER' or 'RETURN' to create the hole.

TIP: Use the SHIFT key to lock inferencing when positioning the hole.

If the object is not cut as expected, make sure that the object to be cut is selected. You might not realize that another object off-screen is actually selected and being cut.

If you have cut a hole and the sides do NOT close this may be because the hole tool has different behavior for non-solids and solids. 

Congratulations! You just created a hole!

Cut through Nested Groups and Components

The hole tool can create holes through nested geometry (including assemblies).

Holes in Profile Members are Parametric

Zoom

If you create a hole in a Profile Member object, the hole will be maintained even if the Profile Member is edited later with any of the Profile Builder tools.

Note: Profile Builder will attempt to maintain the holes when the Profile Member is edited, but it is not always possible. Sometimes, holes will need to be re-added after making edits.

Holes are only parametric for Profile Members (objects created using the Profile Builder dialog 'build' tools). Holes in basic Groups and Components are not parametric.

Removing Holes

Zoom

Holes can be removed from Profile Members only. This is because Profile Members are parametric and Profile Builder always knows how to re-generate them if they have been edited with the Profile Builder tools.

1. Click the 'Remove Hole' button to launch the tool.
2. Click the edges of a hole in a Profile Member to remove the entire hole.

Note: You must be able to select the Profile Member with the SketchUp Select tool in order to remove a hole. If the Profile Member with the hole is contained within a parent group, first double-click the parent group and then you should be able to remove the holes from the Profile Member.

If you try to remove a hole from a non-Profile Member, you will see an error message.