File, New Part
File, New, Part starts a part from nothing. You pick a plane, sketch, and build the part feature by feature, with no file to open first.
When to Use It
- Design a part of your own instead of opening one
- Make several parts side by side, then bring them together in an assembly
- Start fresh without losing the part you are working on
Step by Step
- Click File, point to New (or click it), then click Part. New is the first item of the menu. Part comes with the paid plans that include modeling.
- The Top, Front and Right planes are offered, as they are when nothing is open. Click the plane you want to sketch on. See Planes and Faces.
- Draw your outline with the sketch tools, then build it with Extrude and Cut or another feature.
- Save the part with File, Save. The first time, the Save to my account window asks for a name and a folder. See File, Save.
What Happens to the File You Had Open
- Nothing open yet: the new part starts right where you are.
- A part is open and new tabs are available: the new part opens in a new tab. Your first part stays exactly as it was in its own tab, and the viewer does not ask about unsaved changes because nothing in that tab changes. See Tabs: Several Files at Once.
- An assembly is open and new tabs are available: the new part opens in a new tab and the assembly stays open, so you can build an assembly from parts you make.
- New tabs are not available on the page you are using: the new part starts in this window instead, after asking about unsaved changes. A message says so.
- The device cannot open another tab: the message reads "Too many tabs are open for this device, so the new part starts in this window. Close a tab to use a new one."
Tips and What to Expect
- The new tab is named New tab until the first feature makes the part, then it is named New part.step.
- Anyone can open a file. Starting a part from nothing needs a paid account, and a free account sees the message "Starting a part from nothing needs a paid account. Anyone can open a file."
- New Part in Assembly is a different command. It adds a new part inside an open assembly. See Assemblies: Start and Insert.
Common Problems
- I do not see New part. It shows for paid accounts only. Sign in, and check your plan on the account page.
- Nothing happened when I clicked it twice. The second click inside a second and a half is ignored so you do not get two tabs.
- My other part disappeared. It did not. It is in its own tab. Click that tab to go back.