Two Easy Ways to Edit STL Files For 3D Printing 

You're welcome. Glad you found it useful. RG

Thank you very much. I appreciate that. RG

Hi Phil...I'm glad you find my videos helpful in your 3D printing journey. Interestingly I've been thinking of doing a video on setting up a slicer profile and which slicer I like to use. I started with Cura and now I use both Cura and PrusaSlicer. I will be working on a video on Slicers soon. RG

Hi Randy...I'm sorry you're having issues. As I mentioned in the video, the technique I'm using unfortunately doesn't always work well with every model. Converting an STL to an editable object does sometimes fail. If you give me a link to the STL I'll be happy to try it on my end to see if I can get it to work. RG

@@CreatewithTech Thanks for your rapid response, with this being a 7-month-old video, one can never be certain of the response. I understand your "Disclaimer" - with greater complexity the chances of success diminish. That being said, I see this as a rather simple file from Thingiverse - it's an extension bracket to relocate the filament reel on a Creality 3 V2 printer. I simply wanted to widen the base for greater stability and easier access to the hardware, Thanks in advance from a fellow Canuk. The Thingiverse file is posted below. Ender_3_Filament_Spool_Holder_Adaptor_v01_2948891

Hi @tonyp4894...as far as I know this can't be done. The only way you'd be able to get a sketch is by bringing the STL into FreeCAD and tracing it. Depending on the model this can be a bit of a task, but not impossible. But generating a parametric sketch out of an STL isn't really possible as far as I know. That would be quite an amazing feature though. RG

Did you PAD the text after applying it to the model? If you put the text on the body, but didn't PAD it you won't be able to see it when bringing it into CURA. RG

@@CreatewithTech I extruded the text in PART. I didn't pad the text in part designer.

@@CreatewithTech I did.. I did the PAD after applying it to the model.. So what should be the correct sequence/operation to apply text to a model I imported as an STL?

@@charlesdix4831 You would apply the text after you create a body...so after this point in the video: 11:50

@@CreatewithTech Thank you.. One more question please.. If I have a STEP file of the object do I follow the same process you have indicated for adding text?

Did you follow the instructions step by step? Where in the process did it give you the error?

Hi Sandra...thank you for your kind words. It's appreciated. I'm sorry that the video didn't help you much. Which part were you having an issue with? If you encountered a problem converting an STL into a solid the truth is it doesn't always work well, regardless of the CAD application. Whether it works or not depends on the complexity of the STL. The simpler the model the better. Also, which version of FreeCAD were you using? In the video I believe I was using the Realthunder version which is optimized more for this kind of stuff, although the official release should be able to do it as well. Anyway, hopefully you'll find a way to accomplish what you need to. Thanks. RG

Yes, I can do that. I'll set that up shortly. Thanks. RG

My apologies for taking some time to post the stl files. Trying to figure out the best way to do this on RU-vid. Thanks. RG

No problem 👍 Tis just that the kids also have seen your hanger and they liked it so much, that i promised it. ☺️🤗

Hello @dennisbartlett7005...I'm sorry about the confusion. FreeCAD is set up with different work benches, depending on what you want to design. When you first download and open the application it will open with the "Start" work bench. You can see this at the very top field where it says "Start". The field is a pull down menu that reveals all the other work benches available to you. If you're designing for 3D printing you'll typically be using the "Part Design" work bench. Choose that and you'll see how the menu changes and you'll get all the icons. At this point you can go to File>New and choose that. At this point you'll see the option in the panel below to Create body and then Create sketch. I hope this helps. RG

Ok

Thanks for the comment. I very clearly show how to go from Part Design to Part by going to the Workbench pull down menu and changing from one Workbench to the other. I'm not sure how I could have been clearer. I do agree that I didn't go into a detailed explanation of how FreeCAD is made up of different Workbenches, but that was beyond the scope of this particular video. RG

Excellent tutorial 👏. Do you have the link to the wire organizer stl? Searched printables and thingiverse without fibding the stl .

@@CreatewithTech you didn't show it. Reply again with a time so I can see, please

@@Joeteck Hi there....you can find the place where I move from Part Design to Part at 9:42

Not everyone has $$$$$$

I understand that you're frustrated, but that's no reason to be mean and negative. In this video I try to be as helpful and honest as I can about what can and can't be done. Unfortunately converting an STL to an editable body is hit and miss at the best of time. There are many factors at play and as you've discovered it often doesn't work well. In general, the more complex the model, the less likely it is to succeed. Again, there's no reason to be on the attack, as this video is not clickbait nor am I trying to deceive you in any way. I'm trying my best to add something of value to the maker community. Mangojelly is incredibly knowledgeable (I learn a lot from him myself) so if you can find a better solution to the problem on his channel I encourage you to do so. Thanks!

@@CreatewithTech I am sorry. I was way too hostile. I have spent hours to get a recipe on how to import stl into freecad. No video tried to give a complete answer to this. After the 10th video 99% of the video was redundant. I had to pick up bits and pieces. So I came to the decision, that they either can not compile this information, or they do not want it. First is incompetence, second is intellectual dick-swinging. And you were the 32th of them. So all that came to you. So far I have come up with what I can try. Import the stl. On mesh wb analyze /repair On mesh wb split apart. create shell make solid refine shape union the components Except for the first, every step failed for me at least once or distort the model. Mangojelly tried to import a real stl. Not to find one that is easy. Your video is not about importing and editing it, but editing it if you can import it. It is like a video on "how to get rich, and spend money".

@@tarhelytarhely5662 I understand. What kind of STL model are you trying to convert? Can you show it to me? The reason RU-vid videos typically use simple STL files as examples is because it's virtually impossible to get complex ones to work. Anyway, if you have a link to the STL file you're working with I'd like to see it. RG