<p>It's possible to close over a hole using Meshmixer. I've done exactly that recently, although the "hole" was a depression, the process would be the same. As you've discovered, Meshmixer can be considered somewhat imprecise.</p>

<p>Fusion 360 will import the model you wish to modify. You would then turn off edit history, convert the model to BREP, then perform the edits you require.</p>

<p>Once you are satisfied with the results, it's an easy matter to export the model as an STL file.</p>

<p>I've summarized the steps, which are almost as easy as my description. You'd have to combine Google-Fu with the summary for the detailed portions, but it's something I've done in the past. </p>

<p><a href="https://www.autodesk.com/campaigns/fusion-360-for-hobbyists" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Fusion 360</a> is free for hobbyists, renewable each year. There are many YouTube tutorials and text-referenced solutions for the steps required to accomplish your edit.</p>

<p>Some will consider <a href="https://www.blender.org/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Blender</a> to be an alternative method and I agree that it's a viable option, but it's not quite as intuitive as Fusion 360 and was more challenging for me to embrace.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-14T23:26:06.310Z
Done! Thanks for your advice. Fusion 360 looks very similar to SolidWorks. (I apparently can't upvote until I have 15 reputations, but you have my upvote :-bd)
Blade
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-15T19:26:36.647Z
For those who stick with Meshmixer: you can do some "interesting" things by duplicating an object, or a sliced portion of the object, moving that duplicated piece in one axis, and doing a Combination.  That avoids surface mismatches.  Or, to duplicate one of the hex-countersunk holes, slice out and copy that chunk, do a Make Solid on both parts, and do a Boolean Intersection.
Carl Witthoft
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-13T23:36:55.787Z
2019-05-13T23:36:55.787Z
fred_dot_u
<p>I am trying to do some edits on an STL file. I am trying to use meshmixer for this. I am essentially trying to move a hole in the following picture 
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/zMAYk.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/zMAYk.png" alt="enter image description here"></a>
and widen the hole on the bottom of the part. I was playing around with meshmixer and it seems that it can do this by sculpting rather than precise measures. I would appreciate comments if my observation is correct and if so, what other STL editor would you suggest to do these edits. Thanks!</p>

<stl><meshmixer>
precise transformation using meshmixer
Blade
# precise transformation using meshmixer

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-05-13)

I am trying to do some edits on an STL file. I am trying to use meshmixer for this. I am essentially trying to move a hole in the following picture
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/zMAYk.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/zMAYk.png)
and widen the hole on the bottom of the part. I was playing around with meshmixer and it seems that it can do this by sculpting rather than precise measures. I would appreciate comments if my observation is correct and if so, what other STL editor would you suggest to do these edits. Thanks!

**Tags:** stl, meshmixer


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-05-13. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

It's possible to close over a hole using Meshmixer. I've done exactly that recently, although the "hole" was a depression, the process would be the same. As you've discovered, Meshmixer can be considered somewhat imprecise.

Fusion 360 will import the model you wish to modify. You would then turn off edit history, convert the model to BREP, then perform the edits you require.

Once you are satisfied with the results, it's an easy matter to export the model as an STL file.

I've summarized the steps, which are almost as easy as my description. You'd have to combine Google-Fu with the summary for the detailed portions, but it's something I've done in the past.

[Fusion 360](https://www.autodesk.com/campaigns/fusion-360-for-hobbyists) is free for hobbyists, renewable each year. There are many YouTube tutorials and text-referenced solutions for the steps required to accomplish your edit.

Some will consider [Blender](https://www.blender.org/) to be an alternative method and I agree that it's a viable option, but it's not quite as intuitive as Fusion 360 and was more challenging for me to embrace.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Done! Thanks for your advice. Fusion 360 looks very similar to SolidWorks. (I apparently can't upvote until I have 15 reputations, but you have my upvote :-bd)  
> **username_2**: For those who stick with Meshmixer: you can do some "interesting" things by duplicating an object, or a sliced portion of the object, moving that duplicated piece in one axis, and doing a Combination.  That avoids surface mismatches.  Or, to duplicate one of the hex-countersunk holes, slice out and copy that chunk, do a Make Solid on both parts, and do a Boolean Intersection.  

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