<h1>Make solid requires an enclosed volume</h1>
<p>To run the make solid operation, the selected parts need to enclose a volume. In case the volume is not fully enclosed, the program tries to solve a solution that closes the open surface.</p>
<p>The black layer is most likely failing to compute because its normals are flipped. This means it does not enclose a surface, it excludes anything between the surfaces from being inside the body defined by it - it is <strong>everything but</strong>. This is solved as &quot;this surface does not enclose anything, so I cut it out&quot; but for where it creates a valid solution in the area of the white surface before the operation.</p>
<p>This leaves you with the white retained part after the operation.</p>
<h1>To fix this is an in-depth project</h1>
<p>Fixing such errors is quite involved. You will need to do the following steps, depending on your program to alter:</p>
<ul>
<li>flip the surfaces so that it shows outside</li>
<li>make sure that the body is closed, possibly by adding missing surfaces</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-06-22T13:09:31.890Z
How can I enclose volume?
Inuraghe
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-06-22T10:25:32.737Z
2022-06-22T14:08:40.310Z
2022-06-22T14:08:40.310Z
Trish
<p>I have this .stl that I downloaded and I need to create a solid of this 3D. However, if I click &quot;Make solid&quot;, it doesn't work.</p>
<p>How can I do? I think the problem is the black layer but I don't know how to resolve.</p>
<p>Before make solid:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/s9eI2.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Screenshot of Meshmixer - before make solid"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/s9eI2.png" alt="Screenshot of Meshmixer - before make solid" title="Screenshot of Meshmixer - before make solid" /></a></p>
<p>After make solid:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/fvygD.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Screenshot of Meshmixer - after make solid"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/fvygD.png" alt="Screenshot of Meshmixer - after make solid" title="Screenshot of Meshmixer - after make solid" /></a></p>
<p>I need to make solid and the black layer is deleted when I do it.</p>
<p><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g-YaF1k_X5FU1Y-SgWiGCXC4k_nADohk/view?usp=sharing" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g-YaF1k_X5FU1Y-SgWiGCXC4k_nADohk/view?usp=sharing</a></p>
<p>PS: The other object are different item, so if they are there or not is the same</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-06-19T13:39:18.323Z
Hi and welcome. We *may* require more information, please [edit] and add more details.
Greenonline
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-06-19T14:46:32.627Z
Other? I have download the file, I don't much more but I need to make solid and the black layer is deleted when I do it
Inuraghe
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-06-19T17:44:28.633Z
Do you have a link to where you downloaded the `.stl` file from? If we can reproduce the issue, then maybe a solution can be found. Please [edit] and add the link to your answer (don't add info in the comments).
Greenonline
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-06-19T18:08:47.183Z
Your object browser shows three objects in the first image, only one in the second. Are the missing pieces those of the other two items in the first image?
fred_dot_u
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-06-22T07:01:19.243Z
The other two objects are different item
Inuraghe
<3d-models><3d-design><meshmixer>
Meshmixer create solid
Inuraghe
# Meshmixer create solid

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-06-19)

I have this .stl that I downloaded and I need to create a solid of this 3D. However, if I click "Make solid", it doesn't work.

How can I do? I think the problem is the black layer but I don't know how to resolve.

Before make solid:

[![Screenshot of Meshmixer - before make solid](https://i.sstatic.net/s9eI2.png "Screenshot of Meshmixer - before make solid")](https://i.sstatic.net/s9eI2.png "Screenshot of Meshmixer - before make solid")

After make solid:

[![Screenshot of Meshmixer - after make solid](https://i.sstatic.net/fvygD.png "Screenshot of Meshmixer - after make solid")](https://i.sstatic.net/fvygD.png "Screenshot of Meshmixer - after make solid")

I need to make solid and the black layer is deleted when I do it.

<https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g-YaF1k_X5FU1Y-SgWiGCXC4k_nADohk/view?usp=sharing>

PS: The other object are different item, so if they are there or not is the same

**Tags:** 3d-models, 3d-design, meshmixer

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Hi and welcome. We *may* require more information, please [edit] and add more details.  
> **username_0**: Other? I have download the file, I don't much more but I need to make solid and the black layer is deleted when I do it  
> **username_1**: Do you have a link to where you downloaded the `.stl` file from? If we can reproduce the issue, then maybe a solution can be found. Please [edit] and add the link to your answer (don't add info in the comments).  
> **username_2**: Your object browser shows three objects in the first image, only one in the second. Are the missing pieces those of the other two items in the first image?  
> **username_0**: The other two objects are different item  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2022-06-22. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

# Make solid requires an enclosed volume

To run the make solid operation, the selected parts need to enclose a volume. In case the volume is not fully enclosed, the program tries to solve a solution that closes the open surface.

The black layer is most likely failing to compute because its normals are flipped. This means it does not enclose a surface, it excludes anything between the surfaces from being inside the body defined by it - it is **everything but**. This is solved as "this surface does not enclose anything, so I cut it out" but for where it creates a valid solution in the area of the white surface before the operation.

This leaves you with the white retained part after the operation.

# To fix this is an in-depth project

Fixing such errors is quite involved. You will need to do the following steps, depending on your program to alter:

* flip the surfaces so that it shows outside
* make sure that the body is closed, possibly by adding missing surfaces

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: How can I enclose volume?  

---

