Fusion 360 Shell Tool Tutorial - Creating Hollow Objects with the Shell Tool!

In this video, we’re going to talk about how to use the shell tool inside of Autodesk Fusion 360 to create hollow objects!
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Remember that most of what we’ve talked about when working with Fusion 360 has been working with solid models. These are models that are completely enclosed with no holes. If we were to inspect these objects, for example, you’d see a simple, solid fill inside of them.
However, sometimes, you want to take a solid and remove the material on the inside, either to make it lighter, or to save on material, or sometimes this is just what the object needs to be, like a cup or a vase.
This tool will remove the central material of an object to create a shell from the geometry you have selected.
This can work in a few different ways. The first, and probably the easiest, is to activate the tool and select the faces from which you’d like to create a shell.
For example - with our cylinder, if we select the top face, then run the shell tool, it will remove your top face and create a shell of a thickness you dictate with the rest of your object. If we inspect this, you can see that it creates a solid shape with a thickness with the remaining walls.
If you were to select the top and bottom of the cylinder, this would shell out just the cylinder walls.
This works for more complex shapes as well, like this vase shape, simply by selecting the top face.
Notice that the tool can thicken inward, outward, or both.
Notice that this works a bit differently depending on how you model your shapes. For example - one of these objects was modeled using the extrude tool in join mode, while the other was modeled with the thickened portion being a new body.
Notice that the thicken tool will give you a smooth hole all the way through with the one where the thickened portion is a separate body, while the other will shell based on the whole object, meaning you don’t get a smooth transition.
As a general rule, I find this tool works the best when you have an object with “ends” that you can select - this allows you to quickly create a shell. If you select one end, you make a shape almost like a cup, but if you select both, you make an object with a hole that travels fully through.

[@TheFusionEssentials]

Hi everyone! Let me know if you have any questions about the shell tool in the comments below! :)

[@22sammybo]

Hello! How could you use this command to hollow out a solid object without removing the top or bottom of the object? For instance, a ball.

[@MyLife4Truth]

@@22sammybo select the whole body

[@V7I-theseventhsector]

how do i do this but. . the exact opposite? i have a mesh that i ripped out of a game but when i tried using the "thicken" tool it gives me errors

[@AlanColon1979]

Something to note and this video helped me realize it. I used Loft to connect two faces made from sketches. I then used Fillet to give it some nice rounded edges on both ends and THEN tried to Shell it and instead of removing the face I wanted, it would remove the inside and make the inside a uniform thickness without removing any faces. Thankfully I rolled back the history to remove the Fillets and used Shell first which worked, and then I added the fillet command. So for anyone out there confused by what's going on, use Shell before Fillet :P I'm way too new at this :/

[@jahtibacollins9454]

Your comment, "construct it differently" solved my issue. I have a solid revolved body with extruded rings on the outer surface but combined them several steps ago; the shell command was giving me results that I did not desire. I will go back and now join them after performing the shell command on just the main revolved body. Thanks!

[@jmize]

Using the shell tool on different bodies that were constructed differently is a GREAT way of showing how construction plays a huge role in whether a given tool will do what you expect it to (or want it to). This was hugely helpful to me.

[@BrockPlaysFortnite]

thanks!

[@HollyPixels]

Thank you! Was trying to make a mini lamp shade this was just what I needed!

[@alaintuor]

Great for a starter, haven't used this function before, just started a small project with the need for it, thanks for this quick Shell Tool tutorial

[@PaulDesmondimakewoodthings]

Thank you for this. Made it really simple.

[@RC-Flight]

Man your videos are so helpful! Just the right amount of detail with out all of the exes blabber that some other videos have!

[@wolvesgaming8973]

Love this helped me to easily to this within a few min

[@belu6914]

Helped me a lot. Thank you!

[@miguelquiroz1550]

Perfect!. Thanks.

[@nevinleiby]

omg....so helpful. Ive been struggling to figure out how to do this via extrusion/cuts for a rounded surface. Thanks so much!

[@AW_DIY_garage]

Thank you, very useful for me.

[@lucass7141]

Love your tutorials. To the point and well explained...thank you!

[@elvicentefernandez]

Very good video, right to the point and quick, take my like.

[@baili8654]

Thank you, really useful!

[@GrieveIV]

Does this tool also just hollow it? I’d rather not have it create a hole in addition to making it hollow. Would that require selecting the whole body rather than a single face?

[@MrCodemonkey2003]

Thank you for explaining this. Great video.

[@samykamkar]

Thanks!

[@zaid6142]

You saved my life dude 🙏

[@viveksharma9564]

You are my saviour. No-nonsense guy. Thanks

[@T3chDad]

Love the video! Thank you! Saved me hours...

[@paulscarrestorations5466]

spot on!

[@cranfktubner7677]

Very good 👍🏼 tyvm

[@2danshepherd]

Very helpful Justin. Thanks.

[@TheFusionEssentials]

Glad it was helpful!

[@sausage5849]

Nice tut!

[@rosierings4200]

New to Fusion.What if I want hollow spaces in a rectangle or cubic shape with no opening? I want to add a magnet to an object while printing.

[@cjtoombs7473]

I’ve used this tool extensively, but didn’t know you could select more than 1 surface. Thanks.

[@jimstuntman897]

perfect!

[@tzmsteve]

Hello. I am creating an object that requires me to have one wall that is thicker than the rest. Is there a way to select and modify the thickness of one wall after 'shelling' out a solid?

[@Rhine23singh]

thanks budd .. I tried the 30 day trail with inventor ... seemed to have been a little more complex...shelling that is

[@anurajms]

thank you

[@JustJustinRobotics]

What do i do if i want to hollow out a box. I want to keep all 4 sides of the box but hollow out the inside rather than leaving one edge hollowed out. Thanks!

[@kentorh5036]

the shape most to the right are both constructed as joined extrudes and not 2 separate bodies right?

[@andystadi]

great tutorial, that helps a lot! instant sub!!! :)

[@TheFusionEssentials]

:)

[@stuartnoneya4533]

How could you use this with fonts to hollow out to put lights inside but leave tabs for a back to fit I side if thst makes any sense

[@mcdopig]

Hey there. I am a beginner with fusion360 and have a hard time trying to convert a stl. object into a shell. I try to follow your instructions but I am not able to select the model. I can click on it or use the select tool. It won't be selected for the hollowing.

[@user-my4pe1xs1g]

If I used the shell tool to hollow out a cube to form an open top box, Is there a way to come back and change the thickness of only the base of the box? If so how?

[@thejunkboxcollective]

I was curious. When I create a cube and shell on face. It always takes away that face and hollows the inside. Is there a way to hollow the body without removing the face?

[@k4qdex]

how to make hollow while keeping all walls?

[@tgntech7414]

How do you shell out the interior only and not the face?

[@RogerBotelli]

if your rotating a profile line why cant you select more than 1 face. also if you rotate less than 360 the shell doesn't allow you to select the end faces. any suggestions as to why.

[@karlfimm]

OK, I never noticed you could use the shell command to thicken. Haven't quite worked out the use case for that one, though.

[@handersonbarros7203]

how can creat a surface to cover the bottom?

[@getfastfish5020]

I think everyone needs a video on how to shell bodies made from splines as they always seem to give an error

[@damiencutrupi4411]

👍🏼

[@codename_viper2723]

bro out there looking like the clone of mark zuckerburg

[@SoCalHapa]

How do I hallow out a cylinder without having an opening on either side?

[@dancono1]

Look on the left of the screen under browser and select the body you want to shell rather than any faces and it will shell the inside, leaving all faces intact

[@tgntech7414]

This is what I needed thank you!

[@georgeb9256]

How do you hollow out something like an enclosed object? Such as a box with leaving all walls intact at say 5 mm? AAHH ! Just saw the reply above, cheers

[@burvie1660]

intro scared the shit out of me loaded the video at max volume lol

[@abdulwahabayinde5519]

You just saved me from using some not so good work around.

[@georgegalindo8616]

why is your face in the video?