Table of Contents
3D Printing with SketchUp: 10 Tips and Tricks 1: Set your Template to Millimeters or Inches. 2: Install the SketchUp STL Extension. 3: Avoid Paper-Thin Surfaces & Set Wall Thicknesses. 4: Make Your Model Watertight (Manifold) 5: Avoid Internal Overlapping. 6: Check if Your Model Is Solid.
How do I make a solid file in SketchUp?
Only groups and components can be solids. This one’s a biggie. For SketchUp to realize something is a solid, you have to make it into either a group or a component first. Another thing: Solid groups and components can’t have other groups and/or components nested inside them.
Is it possible to 3D print from SketchUp?
SketchUp can be very useful to introduce people to 3D printing because anyone can 3D model and print an object with the first use. We’ve designed a very simple object here, but in the making of it we’ve covered all the basic aspects of how this software works.
How do you make solid mesh?
To Convert a Mesh Object to a 3D Solid Click Mesh tab Convert Mesh panel Convert Options drop-down. Specify one of the following conversion options: Smooth, optimized. Click Mesh Modeling tab Convert Mesh panel Convert to Solid. Select a mesh object that has no gaps or intersecting faces.
How do you convert STL to solid?
How do I convert STL graphics to a solid model? Step 1: Open SOLIDWORKS. Start SolidWorks and click Open. Step 2: Select File Type. Change file type to STL. Step 3: Click Options. Click Options. Step 4: Change Import As. Change import as to Solid body. Step 5: Select STL file. Step 6: STL file is updated.
Can SketchUp make STL files?
In SketchUp, you can import and export STL files, which are used in 3D printing. As explained in 3D Printing a Model, for a SketchUp model to become a successful 3D printout, the model needs to meet certain criteria, such as having a base and a volume and being a solid.
How do I create a 3D print STL file?
Once you have optimized your part using the above steps, it is ready to export as an STL file. Download the 3D Print Exporter Plugin from ZBrush. Select the ZPlugin menu. Click 3D Print Exporter. Define and scale your dimensions. Select STL > STL Export. Save.
Is Fusion 360 good for 3D printing?
Solution: Fusion 360 is an excellent choice for creating models for 3D printing. Fusion 360 can export as an OBJ or STL file format that is read by most 3D printing software. It also has the ability to print directly to your 3D printer.
How do you split a solid in SketchUp?
To split a line or shape, Select the Split tool ( ), which you find on the default toolbar or by selecting Tools > Split from the menu bar. Click on the line or shape edge where you want to split it.
How do you split a 3D model into sections?
Step by Step Open 3D Builder and choose Open to select your model. Select the Edit tab on the top menu. Select the split action from the edit menu. Select the Keep Both option from the split menu. Position the cutting plane using the rotation gyroscope. Select Cut to select your choice.
How do you cut models in SketchUp?
In this article Introduction. 1Select the group you want to cut and make a new group around it. 2Working inside the new group, create geometry in the shape of the cut you want to make. 3Select the Cutter object and choose Edit→Intersect Faces with Context (or choose Edit from the right-click menu).
How do you convert mesh to solid in Inventor?
Use 3ds Max to convert STL files to other formats In 3dsMax, import the STL file. Once the file has been imported, choose Export and select the file type *. Open the produced SAT or DWG file in Inventor, then stitch and convert to solid as needed.
Why STL is used for 3D printing?
This format uses a series of linked triangles to recreate or reproduce surface geometry of the 3D model. The more triangles used, the higher resolution the 3D model will have. STL file is widely used because it is simple, light and easy to be handled by 3D machines and software.
Can STL be converted to Step?
A straightforward method of converting STL files to STEP files is to use Autodesk’s Fusion 360. As an STL file is fundamentally a mesh, it’s important to note that Fusion 360 supports three different methods of working with meshes, but simply inserting one is the most straightforward.
What is the difference between STP and STL files?
The STP format uses a data algorithm that presents the data in more detail than the STL format. This is due to the transformation of the surface into a kind of mesh of triangles, simplifying the representation of shape in STL format.
What is a manifold solid in SketchUp?
A manifold solid is a solid that exists in reality: in other words, it would hold water inside. In a real solid every single edge always has two (and only two) faces merging to form it. In this case the solid is non-manifold. There are some edges (the red ones) that have just one face merging with it.
What does not a solid mean in SketchUp?
This means you can’t have any internal faces and it can’t have any holes. You can see internal faces if they exist using X-ray face style.
How do I create a component in SketchUp?
Create a component Select the geometry you want to include in your component. Choose Edit > Make Component from the menu bar, or context-click the selection and choose Make Component. In the Definition box, type a meaningful name for your component. In the Description box, add a short description of your component.
How do you make a 3d model in SketchUp?
Click on the template and then on the button Start using SketchUp on the lower right side of the window. I recommend you to check the box on the lower left side that says Always show on startup, as this will enable you to select any template every time you open the application.
What 3D file formats can SketchUp import?
Import a file from another program into SketchUp.Using SketchUp Data with Other Modeling Programs or Tools. File Type Image files File Extension(s) .jpg , .png , .tif , .bmp , .psd , .tga , .epx , .pdf , .eps SketchUp Pro and Shop Only? Some file types are PRO and SHOP only Learn More Here Importing and Exporting Image Files.
