How Do I Delete Internal Features Resulting from Merging Subtools?

[artmaker]

(moved from Core forum)
How Do I Delete Internal Features Resulting from Merging Subtools?
For example, if I merge two overlapping spheres, how to I get rid of the internal overlapping mesh sections that are now inside the model?

I haven’t figured out how to make these sections their own polygroups. I tried creating separate polygroups via masking, but even with backface mask, I am unable to separate “outer” and “inner” mask sections – the masking penetrates the interior portions of the mesh (see photos of exterior and interior after masking).

I prefer not to use dynamesh. I’ve tried panel loops and also extract with no success.
I need to clean out the inside before adding a thickness for 3d printing.
Is there a technique for this?
I would really appreciate it.
Thank you.

Attachments

[dillster]

You could just Dynamesh it. Or, Group by Normals which should give the outer shell its own group. The you can hide and delete the inner unwanted groups.

[artmaker]

Dynamesh just cleaned out the internal features, which is great, but really messed up the hard surface edges (first photo). My real model is fairly large with several precise edge surfaces.

When using Group by Normals, the polygroups still continued inside the model (second photo).

Help appreciated!

after dynamesh: eliminated unwanted internal mesh sections, but messed up the hard surface topology.

group by normals did not separate interior and exterior mesh surfaces

[beta_channel]

After you dynamesh to the two meshes together you’ll probably want to use zremesher to generate a new clean mesh. Guides might help as well.

[artmaker]

Thank you. I appreciate the suggestions. I might do that in the future when the mesh is not so developed.
I was expecting to hear that their was a simple trick for external masking or something.
I’ll just do it like I saw in a Ryan Kittleson Lynda.com video, where he splits the sub tool into parts and then, with transparency on, masks and deletes internal sections one by one. For what I am doing, that will be fine.
But if anyone does has a simpler solution, I would appreciate hearing it.