Boolean with wireframe on mesh

Question

I have a mesh, then I copy the mesh and put the wireframe modifier on it. Then I select my original mesh and set boolean modifier with the wireframed mesh with the "difference" option. I then hide the wireframe mesh.

Here I expect the wireframe mesh to "carve into" my original mesh at the edge lines. However, this is not working.

1. When I use the difference option it just acts as a union, the two meshes are merged together (See first image)
2. When I use Union the wireframe does "carve into" my original mesh, but it makes holes in it (see image). I want the mesh to still be "watertight". (See second image)

Does anyone know a good way to get the effect that I want?

Answer 1

If this is something like what you're after...

• Select all edges, CtrlB bevel, by width, with a moderate even number of segments (here,6)
• CtrlKeypad - reduce the selection back to the original latitudes and longitudes
• O turn on proportional editing, Connected, Sphere fall-off, small radius
• AltS scale along normals.
• Select the smallest 'large' face, ShiftG select similar by area > 'Greater Than' to select all the large faces, and I inset them a little..

• With Autosmooth switched on, maybe have a play with the new Weighted Normal modifier, by face area, to get the look you want without subdivision.

Answer 2

Or, if you wish to use Boolean modifier apply it to the original sphere, using the wireframe one to modify.

Select the non-wireframe sphere. Set Carve, Difference and select the other sphere in the modifier panel. Apply. Delete the wireframe sphere.

Then use Shift+G to remove undesired faces shown.