How Do You Make a 3D Cylinder in SketchUp?

To make a 3D cylinder in SketchUp, the most common method involves creating a 2D circular base and then extending it into a three-dimensional shape using the Push/Pull tool.

Here's a breakdown of the process:

Steps to Create a 3D Cylinder

Creating a cylinder in SketchUp is a straightforward process using fundamental tools.

1. Select the Circle Tool: Find the Circle tool in your toolbar or press the C key.
2. Draw the Base Circle: Click once in your drawing area to set the center point of the circle. Move your mouse outwards to define the radius. Click a second time to finish drawing the circle, or type a specific radius value (e.g., 10cm, 5') and press Enter. This creates your 2D base.
3. Activate the Push/Pull Tool: Select the Push/Pull tool from your toolbar or press the P key.
4. Extrude the Circle: As highlighted in the reference, you click on the push-pull tool and then hover over your 2d base. Click and release the mouse button on the circle's surface. Begin moving your mouse upwards. SketchUp creates a cylinder following your mouse. As you move upwards, the 2D circle is extruded into a 3D form.
5. Set the Height: You can simply click a second time to set the height visually. Alternatively, while moving the mouse upwards (or downwards), you can type a specific height dimension (e.g., 20cm, 10') and press Enter to set the exact height of your cylinder.

Essential Tools Used

Tool	Function	Shortcut Key
Circle	Draws 2D circles (the base of the cylinder)	C
Push/Pull	Extrudes 2D faces into 3D volumes (adds height)	P

Using the Push/Pull tool is key to transforming the initial 2D circle into a solid 3D cylinder. Simply selecting the tool, clicking the base, and dragging it upwards gives the cylinder its height.

Tips for Working with Cylinders

• Segments: When using the Circle tool, you can adjust the number of segments before drawing the circle by typing a number (e.g., 24s) followed by 's' and pressing Enter. More segments result in a smoother-looking curve.
• Smoothing: Sometimes the sides of the cylinder might appear faceted. You can smooth these edges using the Eraser tool while holding down the Ctrl key (Windows) or Option key (Mac) and clicking on the edges.
• Orientation: Ensure you are drawing your initial circle on the desired plane (e.g., the ground plane, or aligned with another face) before using the Push/Pull tool.

Creating a cylinder in SketchUp is a foundational skill, relying on the powerful Push/Pull feature to add depth to a simple 2D shape.