28

How do I make a hole in an object?

I need to put a hole in the selected face.

Duarte Farrajota Ramos
  • 59,425
  • 39
  • 130
  • 187
Vlad Ivanescu
  • 687
  • 3
  • 8
  • 10
  • It's not entirely clear to me exactly what you're asking. Is this for use in a game situation, or in an animated film? My first impression is that you want the (moving) pick head to create a hole in the tube object during an animated sequence. If that's not what you intend, perhaps you can edit your question to make things clearer. – brasshat Sep 09 '14 at 16:05
  • 2
    Watch this video: http://www.blendernation.com/2013/07/14/8-methods-of-cutting-holes/ –  Sep 09 '14 at 21:06

4 Answers4

61

You could use a couple different methods:

Boolean modifier:

  1. Add a boolean modifier on the object you want to cut a hole in,

  2. Create an object to "subtract" from the main object

  3. Set that object in the boolean modifier. You can press E while hovering over the object selection field to set the field by clicking on an object in the 3D view.

enter image description here

knife project tool:

  1. Add a circle or some other object to define the outline of the hole

  2. With the circle selected, ⇧ Shift select the object you want to cut a hole in and enter edit mode (↹ Tab)

  3. Select the faces you want to cut, then click knife project in the tool shelf. If you want to cut all the way through the mesh, enable Cut through in the redo panel (F6)

  4. Then select the newly cut edges with ⎇ Alt⇧ ShiftRMB RMB and press W> Bridge edge loops to connect the ends of the hole.

enter image description here

Face intersect tool:

This feature will be added in 2.72, but until then you can use it in the latest development builds.

This is essentially like the boolean modifier, except it works in edit mode.

enter image description here

Here is a nice video made by the author of this feature, explaining how it works.

Community
  • 1
gandalf3
  • 157,169
  • 58
  • 601
  • 1,133
  • 1
    It seems like your reputation has gone up 20,000k in just a few months... that amuses me. – MarcClintDion Sep 10 '14 at 22:34
  • @gandalf3 +1 Never new about the intersect tool! – GiantCowFilms Jan 26 '15 at 14:05
  • @gandalf3 I try to understand your booelan method. But I don't understand what you mean with "You can press E while hovering over the object selection field to set the field by clicking on an object in the 3D view." ?? –  Sep 24 '15 at 11:22
  • @JanScherders By "object selection field" I was referring to the place were the Cylinder object is specified in the boolean modifier. You don't have to specify the object by pressing E, but with many objects in can be easier. – gandalf3 Sep 24 '15 at 20:00
  • I thought "E" was for extrusion ? –  Sep 24 '15 at 20:04
  • @JanScherders In edit mode yes, but this is in the panel. Here's gif: http://pasteall.org/pic/93475. There's now a little eye-dropper icon which you can click to get the same effect (this answer was written before that was added). – gandalf3 Sep 24 '15 at 20:06
  • For the knife, on point 1 the cutting object has to be a manifold one (has no face). For instance it cannot be the wood part. Worked for me: Select the cutting object > Edit mode > 'a' (select everything) > 'x' (delete) > Remove only faces. Then use it with Knife Projection – FloFu Mar 06 '18 at 10:41
0

For 2.8 join the two object together then in Edit Mode select the object you want to make the cut (hover object and press L ) Face Menu > Intersect, should be half way down the menu

Duarte Farrajota Ramos
  • 59,425
  • 39
  • 130
  • 187
FrostedZaibatsu
  • 1
0

As of Blender 3.5.1:

Punching holes in Objects: In Object mode, Select hole shape object and move into place on main object. enter image description hereenter image description here Select Main object. Add Modifier (wrench icon) - Hit Down arrow/Generate/Boolean/Difference. enter image description here Select little square next to where it says Object. enter image description here Choose mesh for cutting hole. Click Down arrow on Boolean line. Apply. enter image description here Select punched object (G) and move out of hole. enter image description here

implaxis
  • 1
  • 1
  • As it’s currently written, your answer is unclear. Please [edit] to add additional details that will help others understand how this addresses the question asked. You can find more information on how to write good answers in the help center. – Community May 15 '23 at 07:05
-3

You can also use curves for modelling the base mesh.then use the curve with edit mode then add a bezier circle to make a hole.

Parthi
  • 15
  • 1
  • 10
    Sorry for bumping, but those steps are indescriptive, unclear, and mainly wrong. Fix them. Where on Earth would adding a Bézier circle create a hole instead of just adding.... a circle? :P – wallabra Aug 26 '16 at 22:08