Blender file support is not uniform, some files are supported well, others are not.
When providing those importers, we understand some users will still prefer multiple file conversions or will have no problem with other methods.
But based on our experience some users will appreciate convenient, tested plugins, with a support they can talk to.
If we did not see legit need from some users, we would not develop the plugins, and I understand your point 100%
Imagine you need to use a SketchUp model in your Blender work, or to generate a SketchUp file directly from inside Blender.
The two professional plugins from SimLab make it easy for users to create bidirectional communication between the two applications to build amazing workflows.
Export SKP models directly from Blender
Import SKP models to Blender
Here is another option for seeing the house in multiple perspectives.
Check how your pet sees the environment you are creating for it.
@jo-ke said:
Interessting. What software did you use?
SimLab VR Studio was used for the VR experience.
Users can join using PC, Mac, Quest, Pico, Android and iOS, mixed devices can be used in the same experience.
Just to clarify, I am part of the SimLab team.
The following video shows how to utilize VR collaboration to create an open house experiences for a SketchUp model, allowing different users to view and provide feedback on the model, and hopefully helping in selling the design before it is constructed.
More info can be found here
SimLab Softteam is glad to announce that SimLab VR plugin for SketchUp is now completely free, because of the generous support of Amazon AWS we can offer users the plugin and the needed cloud services at zero cost.
The plugin allows the user from inside SketchUp to:
Get your free plugin on Windows or Mac from the following link
Shadows can improve visual appearance of 3D models significantly. On low end devices likes Quest (Stand alone), Pico, Android, and iOS, shadow calculation can reduce responsivity of the device, which may affect the quality of the VR experience. That is why shadows are turned off by default on those devices to give the user the ability to run larger VR experiences.
If the user knows models can run fine with shadows on, on those devices, shadow can be enabled by setting shadow quality to high
Note: To have shadows working, make sure to install the latest viewer on your device from the free VR Viewer page
SimLab Soft just released the new VR plugin for SketchUp, it allows the creation of interactive VR experiences from inside SketchUp, and to share them with others in one click.
Author and recipient can view models on PC or Mac, or using VR headsets including Oculus Quest, Pico, HTC, Rift S or Mixed reality sets,
Quick preview of the plugin in action
The plugin is very easy to use, and affordable at $4.99 per month.
In addition to unlimited number of local models, the license includes 20GB, and 10 Models of cloud storageto share with others, if you are done with a model you can delete it to share another one.
1 month free trial on Windows/Mac is available here
Ashraf 
SimLab Soft just started summer sale, which should last until end of June
Up to 40% discount on
View discount prices here
Adding support for attributes from SketchUp and other applications in VR, was one of the main features on SimLab Composer 10.19
Samples of what you can do is shown in the following video
This 360 Video allows the viewer to view all angles of the movie.
The user can capture the video from different angles.
To learn how to create a 360 Video from SketchUp check the following tutorial
SimLab Composer and SimLab VR Viewer 10 are now available.
SimLab Composer 10 is a major release filled with enhancements and new features.
To list few you will notice:
Updated GUI, which simplifies user tasks
Flex bodies support in VR, GLTF, FBX, USDZ
SimLab Cloud sharing, which makes it very easy to share VR experiences between Desktop, VR Headset, Oculus Quest, and Android devices.
List of new features is available here
Upgrade from SimLab Composer 9 to 10 will be available with 40% discount (available until end of June)
25% discount for new single user licenses will be available until end of July.
@rv1974 said:
I'd seriously check the possibility to develop SimLab Skp-Max Link Manager (I mean a Max plugin, able to to deal with heavy geometry). It'd have a good potential
Thank you for the suggestion, though this is a great idea, our hope is to add more geometry processing for large models in CADVRter, so more users can benefit from it, using different applications, and going through different formats.
@rv1974 said:
- I re-checked fbx model both in Max 2017 and 2020. Normals are messed up everywhere.
Microsoft viewer does not indicates normals' direction (Maybe you've got Max installed by mistake?) There's a tiny chance that it's Max importer that spoils your fbx but I guess is not the case.- I expected to get an fbx containing approx. 50 meshes only (by the number of materials in file). I received almost 30K objects instead (mainly junk groups). Their creation must be blocked.
If you combine by material all those groups have no meaning!
3.Everything is badly triangulated.- I need object naming by its material name. Is it possible?
Thank you for attention
Thank for for the great input, most of those are easy to fix issues, hopefully we will be able to address them during the beta period, if you see CADVRter of value to you and you are interested in speeding things up you can communicate our suppor@simlab-soft.com
We will do our best to make this an essential tool that simplifies workflow. This being one of many many use cases that will be simplified.
I tested the model.
It worked with merging, took few minutes I will review more though it is a large model
Here is the result in Microosft Viewer
Following is result in SimLab VR Viewer
Will instigate speed more on Monday.
@rv1974 said:
Well I have bad results
40mb skp was converted to 800kb fbx (almost empty, some cameras and a couple of faces).
I could PM some examples, would you like to try?
Of course, this will be of great value for us.
Please send us the SKP and inform us if you were testing on Windows or Mac.
@rv1974 said:
ashraf, we desperately need rock-solid skp->fbx converter with 'combine by material' option , (smoothing groups and textures position is must too of course).
Is it doable?
This is already included you need to check the optimize for VR option in the FBX output settings.
As shown in the following image
Compared to other tools and plugins available today.
Your input is of high value and I promise to discuss it and try to find a path.
If you have few minutes now get a trial and tell me as a software how does it feel, do you like the user experience.
As a software developer and at the same time a software user, I understand the two points, if we create something only good for us as developers, users will buy from another vendor, on the other hand if we do not have revenue we can not allocate resources to update, support, and add more formats.
We really are trying our best to make this Win/Win and provide users with the best offer we can.
CADVRter gives access to a large number of formats, with texture support (for most of formats) , supports exporting to USDZ, GLTF, FBX optimized for VR.
Do you think $49/year is expensive?
Great and valid feedback.
Here is the list of the currently supported formats.
Our plan is simple, we believe we started with good selection of file formats.
and we priced the plugin at the lowest possible point, our hope is to be able to keep it at this price, and to add support for more file formats.
Revit is easy to add, needs just few more users 
Now regarding subscription based model.
This is a conversion tool, it does not keep your files, stop subscription and activate it only when you need it.
It does conversion on your local machine, no upload or risk.
This licensing model makes it easier to support users. All users are on the latest version of the plugin, no one misses fixes or updates.
We do not want to tell users they can not read SolidWorks 2020 files for example because the license they have is for an old version.
CADVRteris a simple, affordable, fast, powerful and stand-alone 3D/CAD/VR Converter.
We created CADVRter for users of other CAD Applications.
For example a Sketchup user who received a SolidWorks model to be included in his SKP model, or a user who needs to convert a STEP model to USDZ ready for the VR.
We thought about lowest possible learning curve.
We wanted to make it easy to work on it while using your 3D application.
And the result is CADVRter.
The following video shows CADVRter in action.
The beta is ready on Windows and Mac.
The total cost is $49/Year and you have all your CAD concerns solved. This price includes support and continuous update to the latest version.
Ready to learn more? Please check the following link
