How to modify an STL or mesh - 3D design for 3D printing pt7

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Published 2022-09-02

To get the best out of 3D printing, it helps if you can design your own parts. In this tutorial series, we will learn to use a free 3D CAD program to do just that.

In this episode, we look at situations where a model has already been designed that we want to modify, but the author has not made source CAD available, so all we have is an STL. Onshape has improved its functionality and it’s now possible to add and subtract geometry from STLs and other meshes. We also briefly look at working with a 3D scanned mesh.

0:00 Introduction
3D design for 3D printing Onshape playlist: • 3D design for 3D printing tutorials
Direct link to create a free account: www.onshape.com/en/products/free
Source CAD for tutorials: cad.onshape.com/documents/b5475ccd1f83733e348c59b0…

0:46 What we are designing/modifying
Ender 3 electronics case video: • Ender 3 upgrades: EZR to direct drive...
Ender 3 electronics case on Printables: www.printables.com/model/180138-ender-3-all-in-one…

1:46 Taking measurements
Digital calipers on Amazon : amzn.to/3Bu6yjN

2:01 Importing STLs into Onshape

3:24 Taking measurements from the STL

4:23 Sketching on the STL snapping to vertices

6:24 Removing portions from the STL

7:10 Adding parts to the STL

8:18 Limitations and workarounds

9:57 Slicing, and test print

10:38 Modifying a more difficult shape - electronics case
Mesh friendly boolean FeatureScript by mbartlett21: cad.onshape.com/documents/84d939daceef6a928b8abcba…

12:36 Working with a 3D scanned mesh
Thanks to Andy for providing the 3D scan.

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All Comments (21)

@HansWilms 1 year ago

I've been wanting to edit stl files in onshape for so long. Your videos are amazing.
@AerialWaviator 1 year ago

Great content. This "How to customize an STL or mesh" tutorial is so much more than basic design modifications. It's an enabler to making real custom designed parts.
@yettifpv4866 1 year ago

these tutorials are amazing. you are super easy to follow along with and explain things very well
@ChaneyGoldstein 1 year ago

Time for the Thingiverse remixes...
@NeilWNC 3 months ago

For years I've tried (and failed) at bringing STL files into Solidworks. Meanwhile in another corner of the universe, Tinkercad quietly makes editing STL files natural and easy. No more fussing with long imports that simply don't work, or that produce non-editable surface-only models. In Tinkercad you simply import the STL and in a few seconds you've got a nice model ready to cut, add-to or resize. No goofy triangles here, just solids the way you like it: clean, visual and full detail. As a CAD product, Tinkercad is a toy, but for this specific job it's absolutely amazing. And FREE!
@livewiya 1 year ago

Thank you for a very useful tutorial! I have no prior CAD experience but was able to follow along and modify an STL of a tool carriage to adapt it to my machine.
@dannybush6131 1 year ago

Thanks once again for the awesome help in getting away from 360 and making a maker's life a little easier to navigate.
@Da-Real-Gigachad 1 year ago

I love the tutorials, keep up the good work!! ❤️
@MCsCreations 1 year ago

Fantastic, Michael! Thanks a lot for the tutorial! 😃 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊
@ejon 1 month ago

One is fortunate to stumble upon your channel🎉
@chaponesupergalaxy5169 1 year ago

this is the wonderful cad series tutorial I ever watched
@ajhartmanaero 1 year ago

Thanks for this. I've recently been playing with my Pop2 and working with stl's has been tricky but I got some good tips from this video.
@donslattery8608 1 year ago

I love this channel. I needed to do this yesterday and here it is.
@rallykungensbrorsa 3 months ago

Thanks a lot for all tutorials. You make my life a fair bit more easy! 10/10 Keep up the good work.
@davidgelinas8460 1 year ago

Thanks so much for all your tutorials ! Very easy to to follow !
@johndevires5911 1 year ago

I do it all the time with SketchUp also. A nice thing is that you can edit the whole stl, every aspect.Takes time, but can also save time. Good video as usual.😉👍
@terryclair2914 1 year ago

Thanks for all of these videos Michael they are a big help!
@steviewonder9209 8 months ago

Where have you been all my life LOL! I'm just getting started with onshape, and I've learned quite a bit from your other tutorials- but this one is something I've been looking for for quite some time: how to easily convert/modify STL into new models. I've cobbled together a few really painful techniques on my own, but this vid might very likely save my sanity. Well done, mate!
@ilmawi 1 year ago

I was just looking for this and this was posted 8minutes ago! All is good!
@M3di3valG 6 months ago

Fantastic Video Michael! Just what I needed 👍