Nonsolid object becoming solid when exported to Cura

[autumnalblues]

Help guys.

My non-solid model becomes solid when I export it to Cura for 3D Printing. Would anyone be able to help me identify the problem?

Attached both my 3D model in Sketchup and a screenshot of the model in Cura for reference. It's supposed to be a cookie cutter.

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Elsa4.skp

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[TIG]

For 3d-printing your model should be a 'manifold-solid'.
If it is a group/component then its Entity Info will say "Solid" in the top bar.
As it was set up it can't be a 'solid' - the DC "Sophie" is in the default template was still in there.
Also there were many internal partitions and so on preventing solidity!
A manifold=solid must contain only edges and faces; and every edge must have exactly two faces - no fewer and no more.
So no nested-groups/components or other non-geometry [although guides are harmless], no lone-edges, no shelves or holes with one edge, no internal partitions or otherwise solid boxes meeting on an edges so there are four faces sharing one edge.
You central part also had all of its faces reversed!
The size is just about OK, but just a little smaller and the tinier facets start to fail to form, as SketchUp's tolerance is 1/1000"...
There are many posts about this...
Here is the fixed model [SolidInspector _ some manual-erasing + SolidSolver...]

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Elsa4.skp

[autumnalblues]

Wonderful! Thank you so much, TIG.

I'm relatively new at SketchUp. Kindly pardon me for the naive questions:

-> How can I determine that the faces are reversed or not?
-> How do I make sure that the model only contains edges and faces and that each edge has exactly two faces?

Thanks again, TIG.

[TIG]

@autumnalblues said:

Wonderful! Thank you so much, TIG.

I'm relatively new at SketchUp. Kindly pardon me for the naive questions:

-> How can I determine that the faces are reversed or not?
-> How do I make sure that the model only contains edges and faces and that each edge has exactly two faces?

Thanks again, TIG.
The Style sets front and back face colors.
I reset your back face to a bright-blue so it was unlike the off-white front color.
If you have applied materials view in Monochrome mode to see just front/back.
If you see blue that's the back.
Select it and context-menu > 'Reverse...'
If the object is a manifold-solid 'Orient...' will reset all faces to match the selected one [so in that case choose a correctly oriented face first...]

To ensure 'solidity'.
First off delete anything that is not part of the model like 'Sophie'.
Use the Model Info > Statistics > Purge Unused to tidy up too.
To see if the model is a solid, you can group the geometry and its Entity Info says either 'Solid Group' or 'Group'...
Explode the Group before exporting geometry.

Thomthom's 'Sold Inspector' tool [Tip: also remember to also install its needed 'Lib'] will show you what is wrong with a non-solid.
Use the native section-plane tool within the group to cut planes to see what is inside - e.g. 'partitions' - also the native Xray mode lets you see inside and then erase edges etc.
Thomthoms' 'CleanUp' tool also removes loose/coplanar edges - en mass...
My 'SolidSolver' will also [try to] clean up a non-solid - if it can - BUT it is possible to make a form that can only be fixed by eye/hand...

[d12dozr]

Looks like TIG has your question sorted

Also note that you'll want to add some geometry connecting the free-floating eye and mouth parts, or else you'll end up with 3 separate pieces after printing - unless that is what you intended

[TIG]

Marcus is of course correct - unless you intend your model to be made out of pieces - make sure all geometry is linked into a single form.
Any links will also need to follow the rule about 'partitions' where they abut the main geometry at their ends...
A 'solid' can still have 'discrete parts', and that don't affect its 'solidity'; BUT depending on the material used some printers will charge extra for it effectively being several separate objects in one file...

[autumnalblues]

Thanks for all the tips, guys! Yes, I'll add some geometry connecting the free-floating eye and mouth.

[d12dozr]

Great, and please post photos of the finished print and cookies once you make them!

[autumnalblues]

I most definitely will.

[autumnalblues]

Here is the finished cookie cutter, guys. Can't wait to try this on fondant and make sugar cookies!

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[cotty]

Nice result!

[d12dozr]

Looking good!

[autumnalblues]

Hello again, guys!

I'm making an Anna cookie cutter this time around. For the life of me, I can't figure out what's wrong with the model. I still have a lot to learn on Sketchup, indeed. The neck becomes solid when I export it to Cura. Kindly check attached files.

Would anyone be able to point out what's wrong with the model?

Thank you.

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Anna This Is It Outline 2.skp

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[TIG]

To check if any model is a solid you need select all of the relevant geometry and make it into Component [or Group].
Its "Entity Info" will not include the word 'Solid' in its header if it is not a solid.
Sadly it is not a solid.
It is racked with internal partition faces.
Use thomthom's Solid-Inspector to see the many issues.
My SolidSolver cannot fix it as the issues are two convoluted...
To fix it, edit it cut a section-plane looking down so you can see inside it.
Erase any internal facets and faceless edges [select+<del> key].
Remember that a solid object can only contain faces and edges, and every edge must have two faces - no fewer and no more !
Internal partition faces mean there will be edges with only one or more likely three or more faces.
There are some faceless edges, and you have a part meeting at a point - meaning that edge has four faces !
A little remodeling is needed

[autumnalblues]

Thanks TIG. I really appreciate the help. I most definitely need to remodel Anna. Just a small favor: can you take a screenshot of the part that has four faces?

[TIG]

See this...

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[autumnalblues]

Fantastic! Thanks a lot, TIG.