<p>I figured out how to do it by using the make solid tool.</p>

<p>Edit: I selected the whole model using control and selected make solid. Set the mode from fast to accurate. I set the solid accuracy and mesh density to anywhere from 300 to 500. Then I slowly increase offset distance until the holes are sealed. I leave the minimum thickness at 0 because it doesn't appear to help much. When I'm satisfied, I click accept. I usually use the reduce feature to make the file smaller, but it isn't required. Sorry about leaving an unhelpful answer. Hope this helps people.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-14T17:41:58.363Z
Please consider elaborating so that others with similar issues can learn as well.
tbm0115
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-22T22:53:50.333Z
The answer is low quality, but I don't think deleting it would help anybody, as the solution may really be as easy as to click on "make solid" somewhere on the interface... deleting this answer would remove the only valuable clue on how to solve the problem.
mac
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-27T19:07:37.577Z
This doesn't help anybody who might have the same question in the future. Self-answering questions is encouraged if you figure out the answer yourself, but please explain your solution in more detail so others can replicate what you've done.
Tom van der Zanden
CC BY-SA 4.0
2017-12-21T01:39:29.010Z
2018-06-25T20:19:59.177Z
2018-06-25T20:19:59.177Z
Brendan Smith
<p>Only today, I learned of a solution for this sort of objective, but it uses Fusion 360 rather than Meshmixer  or Meshlab. As your question does not include that program, I'll toss the Meshmixer method.</p>

<p>This image is of the model prior to modification:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/XsIS5.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/XsIS5.jpg" alt="untouched model"></a></p>

<p>When you load your STL file into MM, use Edit, Generate Face Groups. This will cause the surfaces to change color. Click Accept.</p>

<p>With face groups created:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/W5gZL.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/W5gZL.jpg" alt="face groups created"></a></p>

<p>If you can be assured of all one surface, use Select, then double click on the interior. This should turn the entire interior red. If you discover unselected surfaces, simply click on those surfaces until all is completed. If you select a surface in error, use Shift-Click to clear that one surface.</p>

<p>Once selected, the select menu gives you a new edit menu. 
Use Edit, Offset for yet another menu. As you make changes in the menu settings, you'll see the results on the model. Ideally, you won't have an overly complex model with too many facets/triangles, as it can really bog a machine down.</p>

<p>This particular model has a nearly uniform interior. Double clicking on the inside surface caused the full cylinder (not the bottom) to be selected (turning red).</p>

<p>Low accuracy offset, with surfaces still selected:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/54Lv0.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/54Lv0.jpg" alt="low accuracy"></a></p>

<p>For smoothest results, keep the accuracy high. Any protruberance in the interior will give very strange results.</p>

<p>High accuracy results, surfaces selected:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/vLrMk.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/vLrMk.jpg" alt="high accuracy"></a></p>

<p>Experiment with the settings, aim for the best result and click accept. As long as you don't export the model over your original, all experimentation is a learning experience and not a destructive one.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-03T20:21:30.417Z
I will try this as soon as I can and will post about how it goes. It may not be soon, though. I have finals coming up and I have been and will be doing quite a bit of studying.
Brendan Smith
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-05T18:29:55.310Z
If the Facegroup is decent, try using "Extrude - Normal direction" . That has worked well for me.
Carl Witthoft
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-05T18:31:19.710Z
@BrendanSmith  "finals..."  ha ha ha us old folks don't have to take exams :-)
Carl Witthoft
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-05T21:12:06.137Z
I tried it out earlier today, but it didn't work. It fixed a small bit of the model, but I may have made a mistake. I will see if I have time to post pictures of what the model looks like if I have time later tonight. I'm less busy, but still have studying to do.
Brendan Smith
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-05T21:18:27.403Z
If it's not proprietary, consider to attach the stl file here. I'd be happy to take a shot at it, but also would then provide the steps which worked.
fred_dot_u
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-01T22:38:41.473Z
2017-12-01T22:38:41.473Z
fred_dot_u
<p>I have been working at converting game files into 3d files that can be printed, but many of the models have very thin or walls. I was wondering if there was a way to increase the thickness of the walls using meshmixer or meshlab.</p>

<3d-models>
How to make walls thicker using meshmixer or meshlab
Brendan Smith
# How to make walls thicker using meshmixer or meshlab

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-12-01)

I have been working at converting game files into 3d files that can be printed, but many of the models have very thin or walls. I was wondering if there was a way to increase the thickness of the walls using meshmixer or meshlab.

**Tags:** 3d-models


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_0 on 2017-12-21. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

I figured out how to do it by using the make solid tool.

Edit: I selected the whole model using control and selected make solid. Set the mode from fast to accurate. I set the solid accuracy and mesh density to anywhere from 300 to 500. Then I slowly increase offset distance until the holes are sealed. I leave the minimum thickness at 0 because it doesn't appear to help much. When I'm satisfied, I click accept. I usually use the reduce feature to make the file smaller, but it isn't required. Sorry about leaving an unhelpful answer. Hope this helps people.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: This doesn't help anybody who might have the same question in the future. Self-answering questions is encouraged if you figure out the answer yourself, but please explain your solution in more detail so others can replicate what you've done.  
> **username_1**: Please consider elaborating so that others with similar issues can learn as well.  
> **username_2**: The answer is low quality, but I don't think deleting it would help anybody, as the solution may really be as easy as to click on "make solid" somewhere on the interface... deleting this answer would remove the only valuable clue on how to solve the problem.  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2017-12-01. Score: 4

Only today, I learned of a solution for this sort of objective, but it uses Fusion 360 rather than Meshmixer or Meshlab. As your question does not include that program, I'll toss the Meshmixer method.

This image is of the model prior to modification:

[![untouched model](https://i.sstatic.net/XsIS5.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/XsIS5.jpg)

When you load your STL file into MM, use Edit, Generate Face Groups. This will cause the surfaces to change color. Click Accept.

With face groups created:

[![face groups created](https://i.sstatic.net/W5gZL.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/W5gZL.jpg)

If you can be assured of all one surface, use Select, then double click on the interior. This should turn the entire interior red. If you discover unselected surfaces, simply click on those surfaces until all is completed. If you select a surface in error, use Shift-Click to clear that one surface.

Once selected, the select menu gives you a new edit menu.
Use Edit, Offset for yet another menu. As you make changes in the menu settings, you'll see the results on the model. Ideally, you won't have an overly complex model with too many facets/triangles, as it can really bog a machine down.

This particular model has a nearly uniform interior. Double clicking on the inside surface caused the full cylinder (not the bottom) to be selected (turning red).

Low accuracy offset, with surfaces still selected:

[![low accuracy](https://i.sstatic.net/54Lv0.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/54Lv0.jpg)

For smoothest results, keep the accuracy high. Any protruberance in the interior will give very strange results.

High accuracy results, surfaces selected:

[![high accuracy](https://i.sstatic.net/vLrMk.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/vLrMk.jpg)

Experiment with the settings, aim for the best result and click accept. As long as you don't export the model over your original, all experimentation is a learning experience and not a destructive one.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I will try this as soon as I can and will post about how it goes. It may not be soon, though. I have finals coming up and I have been and will be doing quite a bit of studying.  
> **username_5**: If the Facegroup is decent, try using "Extrude - Normal direction" . That has worked well for me.  
> **username_5**: @username_0  "finals..."  ha ha ha us old folks don't have to take exams :-)  
> **username_0**: I tried it out earlier today, but it didn't work. It fixed a small bit of the model, but I may have made a mistake. I will see if I have time to post pictures of what the model looks like if I have time later tonight. I'm less busy, but still have studying to do.  
> **username_4**: If it's not proprietary, consider to attach the stl file here. I'd be happy to take a shot at it, but also would then provide the steps which worked.  

---

