Part face annotations are added to the face of a single part — a panel or board inside a product.
Good to know: Part face annotations are where machining lives. Unlike product face annotations, they don’t stretch when the product is resized — they represent real cut positions on the part. |
Open a part face
1. In the model space, right-click a part face and choose Elevate.
2. Set Context to Annotations.
Annotate the face
Use the Draw and Modify tools as in any other view to add dimensions, notes, and shapes.
Turn an annotation into a CAM operation
This is what makes part face mode special — any shape you draw can become a machining operation sent to the shop.
1. Draw the shape — a line or polyline for cuts, a circle for a hole.
2. Select it, then open the CAM section in the Properties panel.
3. Set the Type to the operation you want.
Type | Use | Draw with |
Route | A toolpath cut along a shape | Line / polyline / rectangle / circle |
Dado | A groove along a line | Single line |
Blind Dado | A groove that stops short | Polyline / rectangle |
Line Bore | A row of holes | Polyline / rectangle |
Hole | A single bore | Circle |
Annotation | A plain drawing, no machining | Any shape |
Note: See the Connector CAM Operations article for the full list of CAM settings — Machine on, Depth, Tool, and the rest. |
System-generated machining
Some machining appears automatically from your construction schedule, such as shelf-pin bores. Suppress an individual one with its Deleted toggle, or click Unlock material operations to copy them into your editable annotations so you can move or resize them. Revert material operations puts them back.
Reshape the part
On a Front or Back part face, the Part Shape Tools panel turns a drawn outline into the part’s actual shape. Draw a closed polyline or rectangle, select it, and choose Save annotation as part shape to cut the part to that outline — useful for a diagonal or notched panel. Reset part shape returns it to the default.
Note: Some actions (such as creating a sheet) aren’t available from Part Face view. |
Quick checklist
• Right-click a part face and choose Elevate; set Context to Annotations.
• Draw a shape, then set its CAM Type to make it a machining operation.
• Use Deleted, Unlock, or Revert to manage system-generated machining.
• Use Part Shape Tools to cut a part to a custom outline.