Post #2096142

2026-02-07 21:30 UTC

I see lots of new #FreeCAD users expressing frustration about the process of importing and converting mesh files (like STLs) to be inconvenient and/or unintuitive. While I have my own opinions about whether you should be trying to modify STL files in the first place, I have found myself doing it from time to time because of the nature of the #3dprinting file-sharing ecosystem. That said, even though I don’t particularly find the process of conversion to be particularly difficult, I decided to try and help FreeCAD users perform all of the operations with one click. You can download my macro here: https://codeberg.org/chrishuck/Mesh_to_Solid Import a mesh, select it, and run the macro. There are some options you can choose from, mostly for clean-up. I turned them on by default because I figured most people would just want to see the final object at the end. Let me know if there are any issues or if you find it useful. #DoingBetterTogether

Replies (5)

@chrishuck@hachyderm.io 2026-02-08 13:50

I should clarify that this macro doesn’t do anything beyond automating the conversion steps to get from a mesh to a solid. Then, if desired, automating deletion of the source mesh object and an intermediate shape object after the conversion given that they’re no longer needed. There is nothing magical that will repair bad meshes or any other errors. After you’ve run the macro, you’ll have a solid that you can use for Boolean operations or you can drag it into an existing Part Design body to become a base feature for further modification. For best results, make sure your mesh is manifold, or repair it by other means before attempting conversion. #FreeCAD

Open ##2678256
@kboyd@phpc.social 2026-02-08 01:38

@chrishuck@hachyderm.io @trevorflowers@hachyderm.io thanks! This will be very helpful for me.

Open ##2678258
@axel@hsnl.social 2026-02-08 08:02

@chrishuck@hachyderm.io Most of the time I want to adapt a design from one of the 3D print websites, and the resulting object model —if you can call it that— after a conversion from STL contains many holes and artifacts. MeshMixer does a pretty good job, but tweaking is still necessary. Am looking forward to using your FreeCad macro next time.

Open ##2678260
@kbob@chaos.social 2026-02-08 12:18

@chrishuck@hachyderm.io I have been known to import a mesh and use it as a template to sketch and model a duplicate of the thingie. It's faster than re-modeling from scratch.

Open ##2678261
@sdwilsh@social.ridetrans.it 2026-02-08 15:56

@chrishuck@hachyderm.io Do you know about https://github.com/DesignWeaver3D/Detessellate? I recently found it and have been using it for this very thing. It has a few other features that can be helpful as well.

Open ##2678264