Importing .stl files

watkins

Dear Didier,

Just a quick follow up on my previous post.

I created a Sketchup model of simple machined/punched shapes (see the attached file), exported the model as a .stl file, then imported back into Sketchup using your new import option. Apart from some minor cleaning up it worked very well. I used the Delete Coplanar Edges script to remove a lot of the redundant lines and then the erase tool to remove the remaining lines. Interestingly, the through circular hole needed re-cutting, while the elliptical hole was just fine. Ah! The mysteries of life!

Once again, thanks.

Regards,
Bob

Test_piece.skp

Didier Bur

Hi Watkins,
Redundant lines you mention are due to the STL format which only contains triangles (as you probably know) and the re-cutting on some holes are sometimes due to decimal precision (10 e-14 in SU) and in some cases that is not even sufficient. I've encountered from time to time an error message from SU: "Points are not planar" when reconstructing a model from a STL file with this script. Go figure... This is rather stupid because 3 points are always coplanar.
Regards,

watkins

Dear Didier,

Yes, I knew about the redundant lines issue, but the glich with precision was new. I'm sure this will become a very useful script. I have asked a colleague of mine to create a 3D model in AutoCAD's Mechanical Desktop, and then to export to as a .stl file. I will let you know the results.

Thanks again,
Bob

cdubea

In any event, thank you for providing this. Hopefully it's better than the method I was using to get SolidWorks models into Sketchup. I'll test is later today and report back.

chris

watkins

Dear Chris,

Let me know how you get on. I use Inventor myself, and would really like an .iges export option for Sketchup. I like to mass model in Sketchup because it is so quick and easy (creative juices and all that).

I recently tried importing a Swagelok coupling as a .dwf file (downloaded from the web) and it sort of worked (needed a lot of cleaning up, and the remaking of faces).

Regards,
Bob

cdubea

@watkins said:

Dear Chris,

Let me know how you get on. I use Inventor myself, and would really like an .iges export option for Sketchup. I like to mass model in Sketchup because it is so quick and easy (creative juices and all that).

I recently tried importing a Swagelok coupling as a .dwf file (downloaded from the web) and it sort of worked (needed a lot of cleaning up, and the remaking of faces).

Regards,
Bob

I really didn't have much success. Attached is a zip file with a 3d pdf of the part I exported from SolidWorks, the .stl file and the resulting Sketchup file.

You can see the results leave something to be desired.

Thanks

chris

RMH.zip

watkins

Dear Chris,

As you say, disappointing.

Did you see the link to SpaceClaim posted a few days ago?

http://www.spaceclaim.com/

Regards,
Bob

cdubea

@watkins said:

Dear Chris,

As you say, disappointing.

Did you see the link to SpaceClaim posted a few days ago?

http://www.spaceclaim.com/

Regards,
Bob

I'm familiar with SpaceClaim. Michael Payne was one of the architects of SolidWorks many years ago and left when Dassault Systemes bought SolidWorks. I've been involved with SolidWorks since '96.

The pricing on the LT version is very reasonable. If I'm not mistaken, the pro version is done on a perpetual lease basis. It's a nominal fee up front with an annual fee to use the software.

watkins

Dear Chris,

Thanks for the additional information. I will request a quote for the LT version and consider using it as a mechanical design alternative to Sketchup. I will check to see if SpaceClaim LT will export .sat, .stp and .igs formatted files.

Regards,
Bob

Didier Bur

Hi cdubea,

with rmh.skp, I got the following message in the console:
Error: #<ArgumentError: Not enough points - at least 3 required>
If you open the stl file in a text editor, you'll see that coordinates are given in scientific notation (vertex 4.613638e+000 2.150841e+000 7.951958e-002 for instance). That doesn't disturb Ruby, but values are very small, this may be the problem (with SU autosnap feature I guess).
An intersting test would be to scale your original model by 1000 or 10000, re-export the stl and see what's happening then when importing in SU.
Regards,

cdubea

@didier bur said:

Hi cdubea,

with rmh.skp, I got the following message in the console:
Error: #<ArgumentError: Not enough points - at least 3 required>
If you open the stl file in a text editor, you'll see that coordinates are given in scientific notation (vertex 4.613638e+000 2.150841e+000 7.951958e-002 for instance). That doesn't disturb Ruby, but values are very small, this may be the problem (with SU autosnap feature I guess).
An interesting test would be to scale your original model by 1000 or 10000, re-export the stl and see what's happening then when importing in SU.
Regards,

No problem. I'll give it a try and report back.

chris

cdubea

@didier bur said:

Hi cdubea,

with rmh.skp, I got the following message in the console:
Error: #<ArgumentError: Not enough points - at least 3 required>
If you open the stl file in a text editor, you'll see that coordinates are given in scientific notation (vertex 4.613638e+000 2.150841e+000 7.951958e-002 for instance). That doesn't disturb Ruby, but values are very small, this may be the problem (with SU autosnap feature I guess).
An intersting test would be to scale your original model by 1000 or 10000, re-export the stl and see what's happening then when importing in SU.
Regards,

Looks much better.

Thanks for making this available.

Wire Mold.zip

sorgesu

Didier,

I was so happy to find this script for IMPORTING STL and provide it to one of my students who was desperate. She told me I was a "Goddess". I confer it back on to you, you are a God.
However, I lost my status fast. The script worked as a far as asking for a unit of measure, and then it proceeded to do nothing. It didn't even seem to try and provided no error message.
I've attached the files which she sent to me.
Can you help?
Many thanks.

PowerPlant-AllParts.zip

PowerPlant-ExteriorComponents.zip

Didier Bur

Hi Susan,
Your STL files are BINARY, and su2stl can only read ASCII.
Get an ascii version of these files and it will work !
Almost all exporters that I know (Autocad, etc) can export ascii stl files.

I've translated your binaries into ascii with stl_util which can be downloaded here:
http://www.ptcuser.org/rugs/U52/downloads/index.html (works also on XP,Vista...)
See attached ZIP
Regards (and don't loose your status )

P.S. Reading ascii files can be long. I've updated the script so it now displays the number of triangles processed and the total number to convert.

In the Zip you'll find the 2 ascii versions of your STL and the 2 corresponding SKP

Replaces old version. Put it in Plugins folder.

sorgesu

You are not just a God, you are top God. Zeus or something like that.
Thanks Didier!!!!!

lgm

Keep your eyes peeled for the CADspan plugin, I think the beta release will be out this fall. This plugin will offer several tools for 3D printing from Sketchup, including a very robust STL importer/exporter, a resurfacer, visualization tool, an I think a couple more features.
I'll post again when I find out more information on this plugin.

mtraherne

@didier bur said:

I have published an import STL script here:
http://www.sketchucation.com/forums/scf/viewtopic.php?f=153&t=8081
It's added to the previous su2stl.rb script.
Plugins menu -> Export STL file / Import STL file
There are 2 samples for tests in the zip archive.
Supported format is the most common STL ascii format.
Regards,

This link appears to have been removed. Is there another location?

Anssi

@mtraherne said:

@didier bur said:

I have published an import STL script here:
http://www.sketchucation.com/forums/scf/viewtopic.php?f=153&t=8081
It's added to the previous su2stl.rb script.
Plugins menu -> Export STL file / Import STL file
There are 2 samples for tests in the zip archive.
Supported format is the most common STL ascii format.
Regards,

This link appears to have been removed. Is there another location?

look for it in
http://www.crai.archi.fr/RubyLibraryDepot/Ruby/RUBY_Library_Depot.htm

Anssi

August

I'm resurrecting an old thread, but this seems the appropriate place to bring this up.

There is a SourceForge project for STL4SU that imports, exports, and recognizes and handles both binary and ASCII files.

STL for Sketchup - Browse Files at SourceForge.net

An STL format importer/exporter plugin script for Google SketchUp. Supports both binary and ASCII import and export.

(sourceforge.net)

I have just downloaded it and will be trying it out over the next couple of days. It consists of a Readme.TXT file and the stl4su.rb file. There is also a DMG file for Mac folks that is 3+ times the size.

I'm going to be attempting to 3D-print the Universal Construction Kit (Free).