Just to highlight the limitations, and don't get me wrong I'm a sketchup affection ado

OK here is the panel when I run SU Solid it messes it up, the Round corner plug in looks great but has created many anomalies. Solid inspector finds loads of problems but
I don't know what they are : if you delete the geometry and draw it back it still has the problem and the face has to go there ??

The result is that Protomold and firstcut won't even look at it and said that Sketch up files are unusable
Larger manufacturers are more then happy to fix it themselves but when your spending $40 k for tooling I'm sure there not

If anyone can help please

@unknownuser said:

@unknownuser said:

I'm on a Mac though ??

Use an emulator, virtualisator...
Or send me your file by PM if not top secret with something like Mediafire

I might take you up on that Pilou thankyou

Yeah I can get geometry into Rhino from sketch up as polygonal mesh

Is there anyway I can make this into a manifold or start creating the surfaces onto the model in Rhino, I suppose this is what spaceclaim does.....

@unknownuser said:

Why not try the process 3 posts above with the little prog of conversion?
Sketchup --> OBJ --> 3DM --> Rhino ?

I'm on a Mac though ??

Thanks guys, I have Rhino up and running

In some tests the STL and IGES files exported from Sketchup have various holes and anomalies and come in as meshes even after SU SOLID plug has made them water tight solids

Is there a process for sorting this out, I'm trying the "fill holes" Join, weld tools etc just wondered if anyone had a process

Yeah solidworks is windows as well. Rhino uses the same manifold 3D as solidworks ? And, will it be OK for injection moulding, I know it does nurbs as I have used it in Uni

@d12dozr said:

You can export a dxf or stl from Sketchup and import that into Solidworks, but that doesn't usually cut it for injection molding. You either have to rebuild it in Solidworks, or try Spaceclaim to convert to IGES or STEP.

Here's mode about using Sketchup and Spaceclaim: a Youtube video
Sketchupdate blog post.

Thanks, that was my conclusion too - Spaceclaim is only Windows though.
Is there any tips for making the transfer from sketch up to Solidworks easier, I have to translate my idea's to the product designer and an awful lot of time has already gone into it for it to be a redraw

The next installment of this project is CNC cutting and SU Solid worked fine until you get to Injection Moulding or Rapid prototyping stage....

The companies want IGES constructed on Solidworks, I've tried STL files and the IGES plug in and it exports a mesh mess

Anybody doing this kind of work got any other ideas, Sketch up into Solidworks ??

@tig said:

There are at least three I can think of off the top of my head... search the 'Plugins Index' etc for Unfold, AutoUnfold and Flattery - there's also an inexpensive tool called Pepakura that you can import into...

Great thought so, thanks Tig

Hi, Does anyone remember amapi 3D program for Mac, it had a function where you could unwrap and flatten out curved elements for printing into a net that you could make out of card etc

Does anyone know how to do this on Sketch up, is there a plug in ?

Sweeeeeet

Well at the risk of talking to myself, if anyone has the same issue, there is a STL exporter online

I have inquired but It's Windows only

I have designed a 3D double curving panel system with thickness on sketch up
I now have access to a CNC machine that reads DXF or that's what the technician has asked for
I have set the curves in maya and tested them by importing them to SKetchup
When exported DXF obviously breaks it down into lines and I really want curves so I don't have to manually rub down the plug, is there any other option
I'm on Mac so none of the solidworks or space claim does the job

Is there an equivalent to solid works for mac
I need a CNC model from my sketch up design or can I just send the DWG

Is STL only available on windows, I don't have it on Mac OSX Pro 8

Thanks, Spaceclaim looks good

I have a pattern (plug, master etc) designed in Sketch up that I need to send to a CNC machine to cut the High density PU foam to then make the mold from.

Does anybody have any experience with this process and tips or pitfalls (I have read all the CNC messages)

Thanks

@unclewk said:

@unknownuser said:

I wasn't being rude, if I was looking at your portfolio, unless you wanted to do the external steel detailing in my office I would wonder what your intention was.

Thanks for your reminder, Stanley, next time I'll make sure I declare my "intention" prior to posting any image here, I'm sure this is stated in the forum policy somewhere.

Hey if you want to model the emergency stair outside Tesco good for you I just wondered if there was a technical issue

@unclewk said:

Thanks, jo-ke.

Yes, Slimdog, I'm a civil/structural drafter by profession, I've done quite a lot of steel structure drafting over the years.

Thanks, Steve.

Hi Stanley, your question was answered by Pete and Steve. Thanks. 3D is fun with SU.

Paul, the structure is rather straight forward, it can be done in SU without any plugin, as pointed out by gilles. Thanks.

Mojtaba, thanks.

Hi chedda, thanks. No "pipe along path", only "follow me".

I wasn't being rude, if I was looking at your portfolio, unless you wanted to do the external steel detailing in my office I would wonder what your intention was.