Tutorial 5: Shell Settings — Creating Hollow Objects
By default, the Mesh Sculptor creates a single-surface mesh — like a paper-thin shell. For printing real objects, you usually need walls with thickness. The Shell settings let you create hollow objects with an inner wall, control the wall thickness, and decide whether the interior surface follows the outer effects. This tutorial covers everything about making your designs printable and hollow.
What you'll learn
- What the Shell settings do and why they matter
- How to enable the inner wall
- How to set wall thickness
- The "Inner Follows Effects" toggle and when to use each setting
- How shell settings affect export and slicing
Prerequisites
- Completion of Mesh Sculptor Tutorials 1–4.
- A Mesh Sculptor project with a shaped profile (add at least one effect for the later steps).
Step 1: Find the Shell settings
Step 1
Locate the Shell card
In the Sculpt tab, scroll to the Shell card (usually at the bottom). You will see three controls:
- Inner Wall Enabled — checkbox
- Wall Thickness — numeric field (mm)
- Inner Follows Effects — checkbox
Step 2: Enable the inner wall
Step 2
Turn on the inner wall
Check the Inner Wall Enabled checkbox. The 3D preview immediately changes — the mesh now has two surfaces: an outer wall and an inner wall, with space between them. The object is now hollow.
Without the inner wall, the mesh is a single open surface. Slicers may struggle with this because it is not a proper solid. With the inner wall enabled, the mesh becomes a watertight solid — two walls connected at the top and bottom by cap geometry. This is what slicers need for reliable printing.
Step 3: Set the wall thickness
Step 3
Adjust the thickness
Change the Wall Thickness value. The range is 0.4–20 mm:
- 0.4 mm — extremely thin. Only works with a 0.4 mm nozzle and single-perimeter slicing.
- 1.2 mm — about 3 nozzle widths (for a 0.4 mm nozzle). Good default for decorative objects.
- 3.0 mm — sturdy walls for functional objects.
- 10–20 mm — very thick walls for structural parts or solid-looking objects.
Use the Z clipping slider to slice through the mesh and see the wall thickness in cross-section. You should see two concentric shapes (outer and inner wall) with the configured gap between them.
Step 4: Understand Inner Follows Effects
This is the most important shell setting for design quality. It controls whether the inner wall mirrors the effects from the outer surface.
Inner Follows Effects: ON
Step 4
Enable Inner Follows Effects
Check Inner Follows Effects. Now add a visible effect like Surface Waves with depth around 2 mm. Look at the mesh from the inside (orbit below the rim and look up):
- The inner wall has the same wave pattern as the outer wall
- The wall thickness is consistent — both walls move together
When to use ON:
- When you want the interior to match the exterior (e.g., a bowl where the inside pattern matters)
- When consistent wall thickness is important everywhere
Inner Follows Effects: OFF
Step 5
Disable Inner Follows Effects
Uncheck Inner Follows Effects. With the same Surface Waves effect:
- The outer wall has the wave pattern
- The inner wall is smooth — it follows only the base profile shape
- The wall thickness varies: thicker at the wave peaks, thinner at the valleys
When to use OFF:
- When you want a smooth interior (easier to print, easier to clean)
- When the surface effects are decorative and should not affect the interior
- When your slicer produces cleaner results with a smooth inner surface
Step 5: Shell and the Bottom Cap
Step 6
Add a Bottom Cap effect
Switch to the Effects tab. Add a Bottom Cap effect from the Utility category. This closes the bottom of the object with cap geometry:
- The cap connects the inner and outer walls at the base
- You can control cap thickness
- An optional central hole can be added
Without the Bottom Cap, the bottom of the object is open (inner and outer walls just end). With it, you get a closed, watertight bottom.
Step 6: Visual inspection workflow
Step 7
Inspect the shell thoroughly
Use this checklist when setting up shell:
1. Enable inner wall — verify in the Z clip view that both walls are visible
2. Set thickness — Z clip to mid-height and check the gap between walls
3. Toggle Inner Follows Effects — orbit inside the object and compare smooth vs textured interior
4. Add Bottom Cap — Z clip to the very bottom and verify the cap closes the base
5. Check for intersections — if effects push the outer wall inward past the inner wall, increase thickness or reduce effect depth
Step 7: Practical thickness guidelines
| Object Type | Recommended Thickness |
|---|---|
| Decorative vase (PLA) | 1.2–2.0 mm |
| Functional container | 2.0–4.0 mm |
| Lamp shade | 0.8–1.2 mm |
| Sturdy planter | 3.0–5.0 mm |
| Heavy-duty structural | 5.0–10.0 mm |
Outcome
You now understand how to make printable, hollow Mesh Sculptor designs:
- Inner Wall creates a watertight solid for reliable slicing
- Wall Thickness controls the gap between inner and outer surfaces
- Inner Follows Effects ON — textured interior, consistent thickness
- Inner Follows Effects OFF — smooth interior, easier to print
- Bottom Cap closes the base for a fully sealed object
What's Next
Tutorial 6: The Effects Stack — Adding Your First Effect — Learn how to add displacement effects to your mesh, understand how they work, and manage the effects stack.