@box said:

I'd be interested to see one of the files to see what can be done, but as you bought them I doubt you'd want to share publicly. You could message one to me if you want, or a link to where you acquired them.

Hi Box.
I would be happy to share the file to see what can be done, what would be the best way to do this?

@box said:

A lot would depend on how the originals were created and what they are, they may well have been optimized for printing, 15kb is pretty small for a printable object. .stl is a triangulated format and removing the triangles in sketchup then re-exporting to an .stl will recreate those triangles. Also the object may have been created in a program that handles curves differently.

Do you not have printer software, can you not open the originals and orientate them there? Realistically you should only import into SU if you really need to modify them as each import/export has the potential to change things.

Hi Box,

Yes they were downloaded specifically for 3D Printing, also they were designed specifically for 3D Printing, I just thought it was a good idea to do this.

I will delete the modified files and just stick with the originals.

Thank you for replying.

Hi guys,
Can someone answer a question for me please ?

I have a 3D Printer and in the past when I have modeled in my CAD programme or downloaded a part from the net I have bought it into Sketchup to look at it and "clean up " by manually deleted excessive lines that create so many extra faces.

I then came across "CleanUp3" I think it was written by Thom Thom, my apologies if it was someone else.

I bought a model online all in STL format for a new spool holder for my particular printer, I bought them into Sketchup one by one to look at them and get them ready for printing ie: make sure they are the right orientation on the print bed, while I was there I thought I would give the models a clean using the extension. I did all of them and exported them again into the same folder with the same name but with "Mod" added so I know the modified ones.
When I went into the folder to get them ready to dump onto a flash drive to put into the printer the 'Mod files were massive, for example:

One piece was 15 KB before I cleaned it up but it came out as 3,423 KB after it was cleaned, I assumed it would be smaller because it was cleaned.

What am I missing?
T I A

@dave r said:

How about sharing the .stl and your .skp file from the import?

Hi Dave,
For some reason it wouldn't allow me to attach the STL file, I got an error message saying that the extension *.stl is not allowed.

So, I changed the extension of the stl file to .skp

So the file named Holder1 - Copy.skp needs to have the extension renamed back to stl = Holder1 - Copy.stl

Thanks

Holder1.skp

Holder1 - Copy.skp

@dave r said:

How big is the model? Physical dimensions? Did you scale it up?

Hi Dave,

1/ I changed the Template to Meters
2/ I imported the STL File and changed the import options to Meters
3/ Used cleanup3 to clean the model
4/ I tidied up the external radius
5/ Saved it to the SKP format.

The dimensions in Sketchup after the import are 121000mm X 108000mm x 50310mm

                 The actual size of the printed model is 120mm x 110mm x 50mm

It is a bracket to hold a cylindrical pin thay will hold a 3d printing filament spool, its basic shape is like the letter "L" with the inside corner having a radius.

Hope this helps

@dave r said:

You probably won't be able to fill the holes automatically but you might be able to avoid them during import. I'm guessing your file is in .stl format. In the Import options, set the units to meters. This should get the file into SketchUp at a size to avoid the tiny face issue. Set Model Units to Meters, too.

Right after importing, run ThomThom's CleanUp3 to get rid of unneeded coplanar edges. Because of the nature of .stl files, there will be lots of them.

After making any changes to the file, export the new .stl and you should be good to go. Make sure when you import the .stl into the slicer you are selecting the right units (millimeters or inches).

By the way, are you still using SketchUp 2014 Make?

Hi Dave, I will give do what you suggest to sort out the hole issue, and let you know the result, I am running Sketchup Make 2017.

Latest. Hi again Dave, It didn't work, after the Cleanup I still had the holes, I managed to fill the holes in the external radius because they were small, basically one face that was missing in each hole, but the internal radius hole was a reasonable size and I don't know Sketchup well enough to redraw the radius to fill the holes.

I may jusut redraw the item in a CAD programme.

Thanks again for the help.

Hey guys I need a little help please.

I have just bought an entry level 3D Printer, I have downloaded a model of a spool holder to put extra spools of filament on, the first print of the model came out ok but there were a couple of small issues with the model.
So I bought it into Sketchup to see what the problem may be and maybe do some small modifications to help with the printing.

When I opened the model I noticed some small holes in the external radius of one corner and a larger one in the internal radius of another corner. Is there a way I can get Sketchup to "Fill" the holes ?

Thanks in advance

Philip

Me to, bring on the Dark UI

@juju said:

check out SUPER

STAY AWAY FROM SUPER.
Last time I updated it I got riddled with viruses.
Stick to Audacity.

@box said:

I'm not Pilou, but it matters not.
Have a look at this it hopefully explains what I mean.
I have attached the model as well for you to study at your leisure.

Hi Box
Forgive me about the name mistake

I downloaded the model and I understand now thanks.
now I am off to become a "scenes" star lol

Thanks again