# Is there any way I can cutout a USB C port hole using an STL?

**URL:** <https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/is-there-any-way-i-can-cutout-a-usb-c-port-hole-using-an-stl/39295>\
**Category:** Modeling Questions\
**Created:** [August 30, 2025, 9:08pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/is-there-any-way-i-can-cutout-a-usb-c-port-hole-using-an-stl/39295 "2025-08-30T21:08:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 10\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mkhan231](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6f9a4e/32.png) [@mkhan231](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/mkhan231)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2025, 9:08pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/is-there-any-way-i-can-cutout-a-usb-c-port-hole-using-an-stl/39295/1 "2025-08-30T21:08:56Z")

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Hi, I am new to Shapr3D and CAD as a whole as a hobbyist and I wanted to try and make some DIY things since I just got a 3D printer. I am almost done with the design of a gadget I’ve been working on and am doing finishing touches, but I can’t figure out how to get this USB C port to be cut out precisely out of my object. I imported an STL of the USB C female port but I can’t get it to subtract and make a whole without deleting the whole square I’ve made. I’ve attached a screenshot of what I’m seeing and a link to the USB C port STL [here](https://www.snapeda.com/parts/USB4145-03-0070-C/Global%2520Connector%2520Technology/view-part/?company=myself&ref=search&t=usb+c+female&ab_test_case=b#). Any help is appreciated! Thank you.

 ![Screenshot 2025-08-30 at 5.04.32 PM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/f/3/f31e2dbfb620f68ff67867b093a53c7305774b9d.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![SCALEMODEL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@SCALEMODEL](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/SCALEMODEL)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2025, 12:36am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/is-there-any-way-i-can-cutout-a-usb-c-port-hole-using-an-stl/39295/2 "2025-08-31T00:36:42Z")

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You need to get the STL converted to a common CAD format like STEP, or IGES, in order to use the boolean tool on the model you created with Shapr.

Shapr can’t convert it unfortunately, you will need to use another tool for that like Fusion 360 or Freecad to convert Mesh to Solid Body.

Right now in Shapr you can only use the STL as visual reference like a 3d picture you can use to redraw.

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**Author:** ![mkhan231](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6f9a4e/32.png) [@mkhan231](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/mkhan231)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2025, 1:33am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/is-there-any-way-i-can-cutout-a-usb-c-port-hole-using-an-stl/39295/3 "2025-08-31T01:33:15Z")

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Hi, thank you for that answer! I’ll go ahead and try that out

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**Author:** ![SCALEMODEL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@SCALEMODEL](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/SCALEMODEL)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2025, 6:07am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/is-there-any-way-i-can-cutout-a-usb-c-port-hole-using-an-stl/39295/4 "2025-08-31T06:07:40Z")

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Out of curiosity I went to McMasters to see if they have STEP files. They have it.

> **[McMaster-Carr](https://www.mcmaster.com/products/usb/electrical-connection~usb-c/electrical-adapters-1~/)**
>
> McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/9/d/9dabd8a407324ccf3a52c42f901edde59268b087.jpeg)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mkhan231](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6f9a4e/32.png) [@mkhan231](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/mkhan231)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2025, 4:08pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/is-there-any-way-i-can-cutout-a-usb-c-port-hole-using-an-stl/39295/5 "2025-08-31T16:08:54Z")

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I did try downloading and using STEP files from multiple sources, but anytime I plug the STEP into my project it becomes incredibly small and the dimensions aren’t correct

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**Author:** ![Oregonerd](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/oregonerd/32/8012_2.png) [@Oregonerd](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Oregonerd)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2025, 4:12pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/is-there-any-way-i-can-cutout-a-usb-c-port-hole-using-an-stl/39295/6 "2025-08-31T16:12:39Z")

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Make sure you are sett to mm in the project.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mkhan231](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6f9a4e/32.png) [@mkhan231](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/mkhan231)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2025, 4:31pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/is-there-any-way-i-can-cutout-a-usb-c-port-hole-using-an-stl/39295/7 "2025-08-31T16:31:36Z")

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Thank you for the heads up. I did change my project to mm but the step file i downloaded for the usb c port still comes out incredibly tiny

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mkhan231](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6f9a4e/32.png) [@mkhan231](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/mkhan231)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2025, 4:45pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/is-there-any-way-i-can-cutout-a-usb-c-port-hole-using-an-stl/39295/8 "2025-08-31T16:45:10Z")

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Hi, thank you for letting me know the issue. My entire project was done in imperial instead of metric, so it’ll be fun to fix all that. Appreciate the help though!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![SCALEMODEL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@SCALEMODEL](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/SCALEMODEL)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2025, 6:12pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/is-there-any-way-i-can-cutout-a-usb-c-port-hole-using-an-stl/39295/9 "2025-08-31T18:12:59Z")

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Ones from Mcmaster are in correct size, if you import it as Inches or MM.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Oregonerd](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/oregonerd/32/8012_2.png) [@Oregonerd](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Oregonerd)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2025, 9:16pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/is-there-any-way-i-can-cutout-a-usb-c-port-hole-using-an-stl/39295/10 "2025-09-05T21:16:35Z")

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I have mostly stopped using imperial. I simple remember 26mm is close enough to an inch for internal computing/conversion purposes.

And no need to convert… just change units in the project and change to mm to import and then back to imperial if you want. Shapr handles it.