# How do I modify STL objects?

**URL:** <https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-do-i-modify-stl-objects/15291>\
**Category:** Modeling Questions\
**Created:** [October 11, 2021, 6:42pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-do-i-modify-stl-objects/15291 "2021-10-11T18:42:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![MediaBaron](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/mediabaron/32/10568_2.png) [@MediaBaron](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/MediaBaron)\
**Post date:** [October 11, 2021, 6:42pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-do-i-modify-stl-objects/15291/1 "2021-10-11T18:42:12Z")

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I’m stumped on modifying an STL object I imported into Shapr3D. I imported the STL fine, and I want to cut-away part of the model. I drew an ellipse, I extruded it so that its body intersected with the STL part, I tried to use the Subtract tool but nothing happened. Is this not possible? I have images of what it looks like at [Index of /shapr3d](http://mediabaron.com/shapr3d) of what I did.

I’m doing this to put a notch in an existing phone/tablet stand to allow touches to the bottom center of the screen.

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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 11, 2021, 7:56pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-do-i-modify-stl-objects/15291/2 "2021-10-11T19:56:01Z")

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Shapr3D has very limited support for STLs. Basically, they can only be used as bodies with which to perform Boolean operations on other objects. While that may seem useful, unfortunately the resulting body after such an operation is always an STL.

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**Author:** ![stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@stone](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/stone)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2024, 2:04am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-do-i-modify-stl-objects/15291/3 "2024-09-02T02:04:50Z")

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Is this message about STLs still all true?

I am trying to modify a thingverse STL.

There’s lots of neat stuff on thingverse,  
it sure would be nice if you could convert  
an STL into a useful shapr3d body.

I guess I could put the thing on a work plane  
and trace around it.

Is this the most you can get out of importing an STL?

Thanks.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TheBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@TheBum](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/TheBum)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2024, 12:04am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-do-i-modify-stl-objects/15291/4 "2024-09-10T00:04:06Z")

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Grab the free version of Fusion 360 and use its mesh conversion tools to convert the STL mesh to a solid body. You can then export than body as a STEP file and import into Shapr3D for modification.