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    Sketchup and Miniature Modelling STLs

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved SketchUp for 3D Printing
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    • G Offline
      Grizzly256 Newcomers
      last edited by

      Ok, so i have got the 5 day trial version of Skimp, much faster importing STLs and no geomertry issues, just the 5 day limit is annoying.
      For some reason, when importing the STL via SKIMP, it comes out like this (see image). I cant figure why i cant find which settings to turn of to bring it back to normal.

      Tried the "set the import units to meters the model will import as if millimeters are meters.". Problem is, it doesnt give me an option to set the import unit when doing so. I just click File-Import-Select File-Import. I never get the option to set import units. Is this a limit of Sketchup 2017?

      Sketchup 1.jpg

      Dave RD G 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • Dave RD Offline
        Dave R @Grizzly256
        last edited by

        @Grizzly256 said in Sketchup and Miniature Modelling STLs:

        just the 5 day limit is annoying.

        It's not a free extension. If you need it and it saves you time, it's worth paying for. The alternative is to do what it does manually.

        @Grizzly256 said in Sketchup and Miniature Modelling STLs:

        it doesnt give me an option to set the import unit when doing so. I just click File-Import-Select File-Import. I never get the option to set import units.

        You can get the option to set the import units. After selecting the .stl and before clicking Import, click on the Options button.
        Screenshot - 2_15_2026 , 5_35_17 PM.png

        @Grizzly256 said in Sketchup and Miniature Modelling STLs:

        I cant figure why i cant find which settings to turn of to bring it back to normal.

        What's normal? Looks like you just need to adjust edge softening. Share the .skp file so we can see exactly what you are working with.

        Etaoin Shrdlu

        %

        (THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE)

        G28 X0.0 Y0.0 Z0.0

        M30

        %

        G panixiaP 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • G Offline
          Grizzly256 Newcomers @Dave R
          last edited by

          @Dave-R Yeah, found the options not long after posting that reply, so bit of a face palm there.

          Skimp is bloody expensive though, for what it does, $299usd for a lifetime. Bit steep

          Will upload the .skp file here

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • G Offline
            Grizzly256 Newcomers
            last edited by

            Sketchup 2.jpg
            UpArmoured Predator Hull WiP.skp

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • Dave RD Offline
              Dave R
              last edited by Dave R

              You have the Softening/Smoothing set ridiculouslu high for what you're modeling.

              Screenshot - 2_16_2026 , 7_59_53 AM.png

              Select all of the edges and set the angle to 20°.

              Screenshot - 2_16_2026 , 8_00_52 AM.png
              There's a lot of unneeded triangulation in the model due to the face it starts from a .stl file. That's what .stl files are.

              BTW, if you plan to 3D print the other thing in your model you'll need to correct the face orientation. There should be no exposed back faces (shown in blue). The back faces are all to point at the print media. White front faces are toward air.
              Screenshot - 2_16_2026 , 8_08_33 AM.png

              You also have some other issues to repair before it is 3D printable.
              Screenshot - 2_16_2026 , 8_10_52 AM.png

              Etaoin Shrdlu

              %

              (THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE)

              G28 X0.0 Y0.0 Z0.0

              M30

              %

              G 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
              • G Offline
                Grizzly256 Newcomers @Dave R
                last edited by

                @Dave-R Thanks for that. For some reason the edge softening option is greyed out, so probably why i hadnt try to adjust it before.

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                • G Offline
                  Grizzly256 Newcomers @Grizzly256
                  last edited by

                  So, the importing of a STL in meters definetly helped the editing process, however i have found that when i exported the new model as a STL in stayed in its new scaled up version.

                  I tried this with chitubox, importing the newly created STL and the object was enormous.

                  Dave RD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                  • Dave RD Offline
                    Dave R @Grizzly256
                    last edited by

                    @Grizzly256 did you change the SketchUp model units to meters before exporting the .stl file?

                    Etaoin Shrdlu

                    %

                    (THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE)

                    G28 X0.0 Y0.0 Z0.0

                    M30

                    %

                    G 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • G Offline
                      Grizzly256 Newcomers @Dave R
                      last edited by

                      @Dave-R No, i kept them to millimeters. I will try that now.

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • Dave RD Offline
                        Dave R @Dave R
                        last edited by

                        @Grizzly256 said in Sketchup and Miniature Modelling STLs:

                        No, i kept them to millimeters.

                        I did include that information a couple of days ago.

                        @dave-r said in Sketchup and Miniature Modelling STLs:

                        Set model units to meters and leave the model at the larger size.

                        What happened when you export after setting the model units to Meters?

                        Etaoin Shrdlu

                        %

                        (THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE)

                        G28 X0.0 Y0.0 Z0.0

                        M30

                        %

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • panixiaP Offline
                          panixia @Dave R
                          last edited by

                          @Dave-R said in Sketchup and Miniature Modelling STLs:

                          The alternative is to do what it does manually

                          Or maybe just use the free Universal Importer, which is perfectly compatible with Sketchup Make 2017 and it also include a robust decimation functionality powered by the MeshLab engine?

                          Link Preview Image
                          Universal Importer | SketchUcation

                          3D SketchUp Community for Design and Engineering Professionals.

                          favicon

                          (sketchucation.com)

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