How to Rotate Sketch Elements in FreeCAD

Rotating geometry around a specific center point in FreeCAD’s Sketcher workbench allows you to quickly reorient 2D profiles without redrawing them. This guide explains how to select your sketch elements, define an exact center of rotation, and apply the rotation angle using FreeCAD's built-in Sketcher tools.

Step 1: Open the Sketch and Select the Geometry

  1. Double-click your sketch in the Tree View to open the Sketcher workbench.
  2. Select all the geometry (lines, arcs, circles, or constraints) that you want to rotate. You can drag a selection box around the elements or hold Ctrl (or Cmd on macOS) while clicking each element.

Step 2: Activate the Rotate Tool

With the elements highlighted in green (selected):

  1. Go to the top menu and select Sketch → Sketcher tools → Rotate, or click the Rotate icon in the Sketcher toolbar.
  2. The cursor will change to indicate that the tool is active, and the status bar at the bottom left will guide you through the required clicks.

Step 3: Set the Center Point of Rotation

  1. Click on the location in the sketch where you want the rotation axis to be.
  2. To use a specific point—such as the sketch origin, a grid intersection, or an existing vertex—hover your cursor over it until the point highlights (often with a point-on-point snap symbol) and click. This sets the fixed pivot point.

Step 4: Define the Rotation Angle

  1. Pick the reference starting point: Click any point to define the base angle line from the center point. Snapping to an existing edge or horizontal axis helps maintain accurate alignment.
  2. Set the rotation: Move your mouse around the center point. You will see a preview of the geometry rotating. Click to place the rotated geometry at your desired angle.
  3. If the Rotate parameters dialog box opens, you can manually type the exact angle and specify whether to delete the original geometry or keep it as a copy. Click OK to confirm.

Step 5: Constrain the Rotated Elements

Rotating geometry automatically converts some existing constraints. To ensure your sketch remains fully constrained:

  • Add horizontal, vertical, or dimensional constraints to fix the rotated geometry relative to the sketch origin or other fixed geometry.
  • If you need an exact angle relative to another line, use the Angle Constraint tool between a reference line and the newly rotated element.