Meshmixer is a free tool from AutoDesk for making 3D stuff without too much hassle.
This tutorial created by Todd Blatt, Maker and one of MakerBot's amazing 3D Modelers demonstrates how to create holes with Meshmixer.
What's the tutorial?
Holes
PC Version
If you don't have Meshmixer installed, download it from meshmixer.com and install it. Oh, and by the way Meshmixer08 became available on October 24th!
Start with an STL or OBJ file. You can find a variety of different stl files on . Once you have your STL or OBJ file, click on Import and navigate to your file:
Press S to change to select mode.
Left+Click to paint the area where you'd like the hole to be.
Press W to turn wireframe mode on. You should see that your hole has jagged edges.
Press B to select Smooth Boundary which will smooth out the edges
If you're happy with the way the new faces will look and where the hole will be indicated by the blue line, then press A to accept.
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Repeat the process of painting to select where you'd like a hole on the other side of the model:.
Under the Edit menu, select Bridge / Handle, and then press A to accept:
There will be a smooth hole punched through the model for you to thread a necklace cord or key chain.
To be sure your model has a flat base for when you print, select the Plane Cut option from the Edit menu.
Use the arcs to rotate the cutting plane, holding shift to snap to 90º angles, and drag the arrows to move the plane. (If this is slow, your model has a high resolution, a large number of polygons and vertices.
Press Ato accept and your file is ready for exporting using Export in the File Menu or Export (Ctrl-E) as a new stl for a necklace!
Slice and print. Open the model up in ReplicatorG or MakerWare and GO!
Mac Version
If you don't have Meshmixer installed, download it from meshmixer.com and install it. Oh, and by the way Meshmixer08 became available on October 24th!
Start with an STL or OBJ file. You can find a variety of different STL or OBJ files on .Once you have your STL or OBJ file, click on Import and navigate to your file:
MAC
Press S to change to select mode.
Left+Click to paint the area where you'd like the hole to be.
Press W to turn wireframe mode on. You should see that your hole has jagged edges.
Press B to select Smooth Boundary which will smooth out the edges
If you're happy with the way the new faces will look and where the hole will be indicated by the blue line, then press A to accept.
Repeat the process of painting to select where you'd like a hole on the other side of the model:.
Under the Edit menu, select Bridge / Handle, and then press A to accept:
There will be a smooth hole punched through the model for you to thread a necklace cord or key chain.
To be sure your model has a flat base for when you print, select the Plane Cut option from the Edit menu.
Use the arcs to rotate the cutting plane, holding shift to snap to 90º angles, and drag the arrows to move the plane. (If this is slow, your model has a high resolution, a large number of polygons and vertices.
Press Ato accept and your file is ready for exporting using Export in the File Menu or Export (Ctrl-E) as a new stl for a necklace!
Slice and print. Open the model up in ReplicatorG or MakerWare and GO!
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