# Draw / Modify STL files

**URL:** <https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/draw-modify-stl-files/28518>\
**Category:** Modeling Questions\
**Created:** [October 21, 2023, 3:39pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/draw-modify-stl-files/28518 "2023-10-21T15:39:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ChrisWilmshurst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@ChrisWilmshurst](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/ChrisWilmshurst)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 3:39pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/draw-modify-stl-files/28518/1 "2023-10-21T15:39:50Z")

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Hi all,

I’ve been really enjoying using Shapr3d for creating random bits for around my house etc. However, I have also been using STL files from popular websites. I’ve seen that its possible to modify these someone with a competing service. is this something thats possible on Shapr3d?

The video I’m referring to is… [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm\_uuB9\_2yg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm_uuB9_2yg)

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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**Author:** ![TheBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@TheBum](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/TheBum)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 7:45pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/draw-modify-stl-files/28518/2 "2023-10-21T19:45:41Z")

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Grab the free version of Fusion 360 and use it to convert the STLs to solid bodies. Then export the bodies as STEP files and import them into Shapr3D.

Another option is one of the online conversion utilities, such as [STL to STEP Converter Online - AnyConv](https://anyconv.com/stl-to-step-converter/)

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**Author:** ![ChrisWilmshurst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@ChrisWilmshurst](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/ChrisWilmshurst)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2023, 2:56pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/draw-modify-stl-files/28518/3 "2023-10-22T14:56:26Z")

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Thanks, I’ll give it a try! It’s a long work around, but hopefully its integrated into shapr3d!

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**Author:** ![Istvan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/istvan/32/23668_2.png) [@Istvan](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Istvan)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2023, 2:57pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/draw-modify-stl-files/28518/4 "2023-10-22T14:57:44Z")

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Hi @ChrisWilmshurst , STL-brep conversion is not in the scope of our development. If you want to work with STL files, a 3D graphics program like Blender is probably a better fit to your workflow than a CAD system.

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**Author:** ![NathanD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/dec6dc/32.png) [@NathanD](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/NathanD)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2023, 4:26pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/draw-modify-stl-files/28518/5 "2023-10-22T16:26:35Z")

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However, STL is very useful in Shapr3D as a reference, so you can model things in/around an imported mesh part or scan and use that to aid design.

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**Author:** ![TheBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@TheBum](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/TheBum)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2023, 7:33pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/draw-modify-stl-files/28518/6 "2023-10-22T19:33:39Z")

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I don’t find that to be the case because you cannot project a mesh surface onto a plane. Also, any Boolean operations between a mesh and a solid body result in a mesh.