# Trying to create alignment pins and holes for split body

**URL:** <https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/trying-to-create-alignment-pins-and-holes-for-split-body/41088>\
**Category:** 3D Printing\
**Created:** [June 18, 2026, 11:11pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/trying-to-create-alignment-pins-and-holes-for-split-body/41088 "2026-06-18T23:11:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 17\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![gstanden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/87869e/32.png) [@gstanden](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/gstanden)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 11:11pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/trying-to-create-alignment-pins-and-holes-for-split-body/41088/1 "2026-06-18T23:11:40Z")

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I split the body and created pins per instructions and made sure pins were separated bodies. When I select the face to create the holes for the pins on the other half of the body, then select the pin, I don’t get a “Done” icon to commit the change and create the hole for the alignment pin. What am I doing wrong ?

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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:** [June 19, 2026, 5:01am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/trying-to-create-alignment-pins-and-holes-for-split-body/41088/2 "2026-06-19T05:01:05Z")

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Don’t select the face, select the split bodies themselves to subtract the pins.

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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:** [June 19, 2026, 5:09am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/trying-to-create-alignment-pins-and-holes-for-split-body/41088/3 "2026-06-19T05:09:20Z")

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![Screenshot 2026-06-18 220842](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/0/b/0b08ff8b51497bafc9d1590a7386e61f07c583d9.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![gstanden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/87869e/32.png) [@gstanden](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/gstanden)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2026, 4:32pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/trying-to-create-alignment-pins-and-holes-for-split-body/41088/4 "2026-06-19T16:32:58Z")

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Do you know if there are tutors I can pay to teach how to do this? I just cannot seem to get this to work.

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**Author:** ![Xdrakosha](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/xdrakosha/32/24881_2.png) [@Xdrakosha](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Xdrakosha)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2026, 4:50pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/trying-to-create-alignment-pins-and-holes-for-split-body/41088/5 "2026-06-19T16:50:49Z")

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> [@gstanden](#):
>
> Do you know if there are tutors

You can write me in DM and I’ll make a video for you.

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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:** [June 19, 2026, 9:14pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/trying-to-create-alignment-pins-and-holes-for-split-body/41088/6 "2026-06-19T21:14:37Z")

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Take Xdrakosha up on his offer.

Also note some 3d printer slicers have the ability built in.

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**Author:** ![gstanden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/87869e/32.png) [@gstanden](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/gstanden)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2026, 10:24pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/trying-to-create-alignment-pins-and-holes-for-split-body/41088/7 "2026-06-19T22:24:08Z")

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Ok so I made some progress undoubtedly very clugy but what I did:

Create a cube

Split body don’t keep original

Separated the halves

Drew a circle in the center of the right half facing the other half body

Drew circle in center of right half and extruded pin (new body)

Align tool -put the halves back together to make a cube

Subtract tool subtract pin from left half (this creates the hole for the pin, but frustratingly the pin disappears - of course)

Separate the bodies again

Draw a new circle in the exact same center as the first pin, then extrude the circle to make pin, and this pin is NOT a new body.

Now I have a pin and a hole for the pin that match.

Very clunky way that in practice would be kinda unworkable due to needing to draw a second circle on the same center as the pin used for the subtract.

Clearly there must be easier way.

But, progress !

I’m at work but later once at home I will definitely dm for the video.

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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:** [June 19, 2026, 11:40pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/trying-to-create-alignment-pins-and-holes-for-split-body/41088/8 "2026-06-19T23:40:44Z")

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There my body I want to split and 2 dowels to join them.

 ![Screenshot 2026-06-19 163947](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/1/5/15dabf18ed4a28018656525d8a0a325c0af61905.jpeg)

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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:** [June 19, 2026, 11:42pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/trying-to-create-alignment-pins-and-holes-for-split-body/41088/9 "2026-06-19T23:42:23Z")

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Now I split my body.

 ![Screenshot 2026-06-19 164152](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/7/0/70fe0bfa7c93b96afe3303f1944348abfbb7b6f8.jpeg)

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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:** [June 19, 2026, 11:44pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/trying-to-create-alignment-pins-and-holes-for-split-body/41088/10 "2026-06-19T23:44:19Z")

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Now I change to “Xray” view in the view menu. Then move my dowels where I want them

 ![Screenshot 2026-06-19 164254](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/6/9/69d1fab5898b2fe27b77638236f7f2808f05428f.jpeg)

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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:** [June 19, 2026, 11:48pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/trying-to-create-alignment-pins-and-holes-for-split-body/41088/11 "2026-06-19T23:48:27Z")

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Then I subtract one dowel at a time (Shapr wouldn’t let me select both 🤷‍♂️ ). I keep all bodies cuz it’s gets confusing and just later delete what I do not need. And that’s about it.

 ![Screenshot 2026-06-19 164639](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/9/9/996fe2c006082cfec339ccbdd5ce6d6a387502ba.jpeg)

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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:** [June 19, 2026, 11:53pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/trying-to-create-alignment-pins-and-holes-for-split-body/41088/12 "2026-06-19T23:53:39Z")

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![Screenshot 2026-06-19 165314](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/c/5/c539653756c6c2465637460b7bf7edb5e3dbb033.jpeg)

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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:** [June 19, 2026, 11:54pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/trying-to-create-alignment-pins-and-holes-for-split-body/41088/13 "2026-06-19T23:54:51Z")

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Use your items bar for selecting things buried internally in Xray mode

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Xdrakosha](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/xdrakosha/32/24881_2.png) [@Xdrakosha](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Xdrakosha)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2026, 7:38am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/trying-to-create-alignment-pins-and-holes-for-split-body/41088/14 "2026-06-20T07:38:26Z")

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> [@gstanden](#):
>
> Ok so I made some progress undoubtedly very clugy

If you have a specific model you need to split, share it and I’ll show you how to handle it.

P.S. And when I say DM, I mean a direct private message, not just a mention. I believe that if someone wants to pay for something, it shouldn’t be publicly disclosed by me.

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**Author:** ![Phil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@Phil](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Phil)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 7:48am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/trying-to-create-alignment-pins-and-holes-for-split-body/41088/15 "2026-06-21T07:48:59Z")

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hi @gstanden ,

The best advice I could give when drawing most things is start at the centre , sketch from the middle out , then use the mirror command

[ScreenRecording\_06-21-2026 08-35-21\_1.zip](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/uploads/short-url/hiYrxNWZ05UVqObwJ9QhsDD7HVg.zip) (16.6 MB)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Phil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@Phil](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Phil)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 7:54am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/trying-to-create-alignment-pins-and-holes-for-split-body/41088/16 "2026-06-21T07:54:20Z")

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hi @gstanden ,

The best advice I could give when drawing most things is start at the centre , sketch from the middle out , then use the mirror command

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**Author:** ![gstanden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/87869e/32.png) [@gstanden](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/gstanden)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 9:49pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/trying-to-create-alignment-pins-and-holes-for-split-body/41088/18 "2026-07-11T21:49:13Z")

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Thanks all for help!! his is how I created my pins and matching holes: [https://youtu.be/JPXYlsY16Z8?si=gUqu\_83IPo\_l-qHK](https://youtu.be/JPXYlsY16Z8?si=gUqu_83IPo_l-qHK)