diff --git a/parametric_cad/__init__.py b/parametric_cad/__init__.py
index 0085201..1404854 100644
--- a/parametric_cad/__init__.py
+++ b/parametric_cad/__init__.py
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 """Consolidated parametric_cad package."""
 
-from .core import tm
+from .core import tm, safe_difference
 from .primitives.box import Box
 from .primitives.gear import SpurGear
 from .mechanisms.butthinge import ButtHinge
 from .export.stl import STLExporter
 
-__all__ = ["tm", "Box", "SpurGear", "ButtHinge", "STLExporter"]
+__all__ = ["tm", "safe_difference", "Box", "SpurGear", "ButtHinge", "STLExporter"]
diff --git a/parametric_cad/core.py b/parametric_cad/core.py
index 92f0204..00404f8 100644
--- a/parametric_cad/core.py
+++ b/parametric_cad/core.py
@@ -8,8 +8,38 @@ wrapper allows the backend to be swapped or mocked easily.
 
 import trimesh as _trimesh
 
+
+def safe_difference(mesh, other, *, engine="scad"):
+    """Perform a boolean difference with graceful fallback.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    mesh : _trimesh.Trimesh
+        Base mesh to subtract from.
+    other : _trimesh.Trimesh or list
+        Mesh or list of meshes to subtract.
+    engine : str or None, optional
+        Preferred boolean engine. ``"scad"`` is tried by default.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    _trimesh.Trimesh
+        Resulting mesh if the operation succeeds, otherwise the original
+        ``mesh`` if all boolean attempts fail.
+    """
+
+    try:
+        if engine:
+            return mesh.difference(other, engine=engine)
+        return mesh.difference(other)
+    except Exception:
+        try:
+            return mesh.difference(other)
+        except Exception:
+            return mesh
+
 # Public alias so that other modules can use the backend without
 # importing ``trimesh`` themselves.
 tm = _trimesh
 
-__all__ = ["tm"]
+__all__ = ["tm", "safe_difference"]
diff --git a/parametric_cad/examples/hollow_box.py b/parametric_cad/examples/hollow_box.py
index 8ca7535..73f2e83 100644
--- a/parametric_cad/examples/hollow_box.py
+++ b/parametric_cad/examples/hollow_box.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from parametric_cad.primitives.box import Box
 from parametric_cad.export.stl import STLExporter
+from parametric_cad.core import safe_difference
 
 outer = Box(100, 60, 40).at(0, 0, 0)
 inner = Box(90, 50, 30).at(5, 5, 5)
@@ -7,13 +8,7 @@ inner = Box(90, 50, 30).at(5, 5, 5)
 # Create hollow box by subtracting inner from outer
 outer_mesh = outer.mesh()
 inner_mesh = inner.mesh()
-try:
-    hollow_box = outer_mesh.difference(inner_mesh, engine='scad')
-except Exception:
-    try:
-        hollow_box = outer_mesh.difference(inner_mesh)
-    except Exception:
-        hollow_box = outer_mesh
+hollow_box = safe_difference(outer_mesh, inner_mesh)
 
 exporter = STLExporter(output_dir="output/hollow_box_output")
 exporter.export_mesh(hollow_box, "hollow_box")
diff --git a/parametric_cad/primitives/gear.py b/parametric_cad/primitives/gear.py
index 45e46ad..dad44ab 100644
--- a/parametric_cad/primitives/gear.py
+++ b/parametric_cad/primitives/gear.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import numpy as np
-from parametric_cad.core import tm
+from parametric_cad.core import tm, safe_difference
 from shapely.geometry import Polygon
 from math import pi, sin, cos, tan
 import logging
@@ -91,14 +91,7 @@ class SpurGear:
 
         bore = tm.creation.cylinder(radius=self.bore_diameter / 2, height=self.width + 0.1)
         bore.apply_translation([0, 0, self.width / 2])
-        try:
-            gear = gear_body.difference(bore, engine='scad')
-        except Exception:
-            try:
-                gear = gear_body.difference(bore)
-            except Exception:
-                logging.warning("Boolean difference not available, skipping bore subtraction")
-                gear = gear_body
+        gear = safe_difference(gear_body, bore)
         logging.debug(f"Subtracted bore, resulting mesh has {len(gear.vertices)} vertices")
 
         if self.hole_count > 0:
@@ -112,13 +105,7 @@ class SpurGear:
                 if not hole.is_volume:
                     hole = hole.convex_hull
                 hole_cylinders.append(hole)
-            try:
-                gear = gear.difference(hole_cylinders, engine='scad')
-            except Exception:
-                try:
-                    gear = gear.difference(hole_cylinders)
-                except Exception:
-                    logging.warning("Boolean difference not available, skipping hole subtraction")
+            gear = safe_difference(gear, hole_cylinders)
             logging.debug(f"Subtracted {self.hole_count} holes, resulting mesh has {len(gear.vertices)} vertices")
 
         if not gear.is_watertight:
diff --git a/tests/test_primitives.py b/tests/test_primitives.py
index 66af709..e598d1e 100644
--- a/tests/test_primitives.py
+++ b/tests/test_primitives.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import pytest
 import numpy as np
-from parametric_cad.core import tm
+from parametric_cad.core import tm, safe_difference
 from math import cos, pi
 
 from parametric_cad.primitives.box import Box
@@ -34,3 +34,10 @@ def test_cylinder_and_sphere_meshes():
     assert isinstance(sph_mesh, tm.Trimesh)
     assert cyl_mesh.is_watertight
     assert sph_mesh.is_watertight
+
+
+def test_safe_difference_returns_mesh():
+    outer = Box(1.0, 1.0, 1.0)
+    inner = Box(0.5, 0.5, 0.5).at(0.25, 0.25, 0.25)
+    result = safe_difference(outer.mesh(), inner.mesh(), engine="invalid")
+    assert isinstance(result, tm.Trimesh)