@tig said:

Use a combination of Xray mode and SectionPlanes to 'look inside' the object.
You can select a face and press <delete>, or [where it's not 'destructive'] use the Erase tool to delete unwanted edges and related faces.

To reiterate what was said several times before...

A 'solid' object cannot contain anything but geometry [guides are acceptable BUT best avoided]
That geometry consists of edges and faces.
Every edge must have exactly two faces associated with it.
No fewer, no more.
So that means...
No faceless edges.
No edges with only one face - e.g. around a 'hole' or forming the edge of a 'flap' or 'shelf'.
No edges with more that two faces - e.g. internal 'partitions' where some edges have three or more faces, or two otherwise solid-looking forms [like two cubes] sharing a 'common edge' - so that some edges have four faces !
No overlaid faces - this is rare, but sometimes two faces 'that ought to auto-merge into one' continue to exists and so their edges then have extra faces too !

In your case the SolidSolver messages suggests multiple 'internal partitions'.
If these are too convoluted, then deleting one might then compromise what's left and so result in no solution...
In that case only a manual fix suffices...
My algorithms [aka 'brain'] isnot up to solving some of the complex balls-ups which you users can contrive !!

I'm sorry if it doesn't sink in quickly... Your explanation there is useful - a bit more 'plain English' that I can understand

@box said:

No, I meant this bit.

Thankyou Box, well spotted I have sorted those out.

I then tried to save it as a solid but the entity info says it a Group(1 in model) I ran SolidSolver and it reported this:

**SolidSolver:

The Selected Group is still NOT 'Solid' !

77 Unfaced/Coplanar Edges Removed
0 Holes Healed
0 Small Faces Healed
26 Partition/Flaps Removed
0 Split-Edges Merged**

Clicked on the 'yes' to get them removed and then this message:

**SolidSolver:

This Group/Instance can never be solved into a 'Solid'!
Try manually adding/removing Edges/Faces...
[Undo if appropriate]**

I'm afraid I'm not sure how to find these edges and faces in order to delete them

Sub Stack11v6solidFinal.skp
@pbacot said:

@teig said:

@pbacot said:

Somehow your holes ended up in an odd position, partially showing insides of the bell shape

This is a bellmouth, it goes on outside of a carburettor - the rounded edges boost the adjoint of air that can be drawn in by ~6%. The two inner holes are atmospheric balance vents so have to be where they are.

So it's a case of reversing those two little faces. I get it now, I guess.

I tried reversing the faces of the holes but they just went darker (indicates the inside I understand) so I'm not sure what to do?
Sub Stack11v6solidFinal.skp

@teig said:

@box said:

A couple of things to note.

The faces inside your vent holes should be reversed, look up the hole it should be white.

I noticed your model was getting a lot of Clipping (when things sort of disappear when moving around or zooming in).
Two things are causing this and can be easily eliminated.
Your model is a long way, relatively speaking, from the origin. Working away from the origin can cause problems so it's best to stay near them as much as possible.
You must have changed the model origin at some stage too, best to reset that unless you specifically need it the way it is.
So if it was me, I would right click on one of the axes in open space and select reset. Then move your Group to that origin, explode the group to remove any possible oddities with the group origin, flip the two reversed faces and finally select all of it and make it a component.

Yes, it moved from the origin when I scaled it, I had the origin bang centre at first. I don't know how to put it back right in the centre

Edit: fixed my axes now

@pilou said:

What is exactly this piece ? It's a real one ?
And you have no diffilculties to work with it at the initial size?
It's pasted welded? (hole disc under the girl's shoes)

[attachment=0:q0dj7w24]<!-- ia0 -->curious.jpg<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment:q0dj7w24]

Sorry Pilou, I'm not sure you mean by "pasted welded". It's not too bad to work on at that size (even using the track pad on the Macbook Pro (I don't have a mouse)), it was no easier to work on when I multiplied it to 100x.

@pbacot said:

Somehow your holes ended up in an odd position, partially showing insides of the bell shape

This is a bellmouth, it goes on outside of a carburettor - the rounded edges boost the adjoint of air that can be drawn in by ~6%. The two inner holes are atmospheric balance vents so have to be where they are.

@box said:

A couple of things to note.

The faces inside your vent holes should be reversed, look up the hole it should be white.

I noticed your model was getting a lot of Clipping (when things sort of disappear when moving around or zooming in).
Two things are causing this and can be easily eliminated.
Your model is a long way, relatively speaking, from the origin. Working away from the origin can cause problems so it's best to stay near them as much as possible.
You must have changed the model origin at some stage too, best to reset that unless you specifically need it the way it is.
So if it was me, I would right click on one of the axes in open space and select reset. Then move your Group to that origin, explode the group to remove any possible oddities with the group origin, flip the two reversed faces and finally select all of it and make it a component.

Yes, it moved from the origin when I scaled it, I had the origin bang centre at first. I don't know how to put it back right in the centre

@d12dozr said:

Teig, I would encourage you to finish the model in Sketchup so there is no more work after 3D printing. You almost had it there once, you can do it again. The beauty of 3D printing is a finished model, straight off the printer.

I've done another 3 hours tonight putting the vents in I was having a real problem with the push up on the [inner] vent hole intersecting the underneath of the bellmouth until I realised I'd been overthinking it

Then I had a fun time figuring out the scale tool, I think I've managed to restore it to 120mm outside diameter

@d12dozr said:

The gap under your bell shape is pretty small, and if it needs to be cleaned out you may be better off making the base and the bell shape in two different pieces that snap together.

If you were making this on a commercial powder printer, you could just remove the support powder with compressed air...easy peasy.

So I don't need the supporting material if I go to a commercial printer? I'm starting to think that it might be the better option.

Sub Stack11v6solidFinal.skp

@d12dozr said:

Do yourself a favor and learn a little...watch the videos on this page, or at least the Filament printing one. Heck, spend $5 and get the ebook in my signature. #ShamelessPlug In a few hours you'll understand a lot more about how the process works, and how models need to be made in order to be printable, and you can keep all of your hair

There's not a template for making a snap fit, but here's a hint. You'll want to leave a ~0.3mm gap in between the parts to allow the parts to fit tightly, but not so tight they won't fit together.

Well I bit the bullet and bought your book for the grand sum of less than a pint of beer I've had another thought: If I made them screw together it would make it easier for assembly and disassembly. Time for a look into creating threads in SU do I set the same kind of ~0.3mm tolerance for threads? I'll go look around.

@d12dozr said:

Ok, so it's a desktop printer. The reason I asked is on that kind of printer, the printer will need some kind of support to hold up the bell shape while printing. The support material is made of the same plastic, and you'll have to remove it by hand.

You should be aware of this, as you may need to make your design to take support removal into account. Here is an image of a T-rex head with support material:

The gap under your bell shape is pretty small, and if it needs to be cleaned out you may be better off making the base and the bell shape in two different pieces that snap together.

If you were making this on a commercial powder printer, you could just remove the support powder with compressed air...easy peasy.

OK... that's a curve ball... What are the rules for support material then? I think it's fairly obvious I know zilch about 3D printing.

But... the snap-together idea would make it easier to assemble, on the car, hunched over, in a tight space (this is designed to go on a 1976 mini car). I imagine there is some kind of template for clicky catch arrangement?

I have no idea what machine it is, all I know is that it is my mate's brother's printer and he got it as an unfinished kit.
I (think) I know what I'm doing now so I'll do the vents later. You're right, it is far easier to do them at this stage.

@pilou said:

@unknownuser said:

When I can figure out how to install those extensions

So simple!
Goto the PluginStore (up right page corner)
Put the name of the plugin inside the engine research
When you have find it, load it in your computer
Launch SU
Menu Windows /Preference/ Extension/Install Extension
That 's all!
You can use the plugin!

Thx for the V6!
Advantage of old versions is that you can use Plugins who are maybe not adapted to the last version!

(Ps @ Pbacot
I have for habit to wait 6 month before use a new version!
Color by Z and Random Painter by Chris Fullmer
[attachment=1:2yrxtti7]<!-- ia1 -->donutsv6.jpg<!-- ia1 -->[/attachment:2yrxtti7]

You're welcome Pilou and thank you so much, it's so easy when you know how The bell mouth has reported as solid!

Edit: i went back into it and tried it, it wasn't solid anymore I've rerun SolidSolver and renamed it: [attachment=0:2yrxtti7]<!-- ia0 -->Sub Stack11v6solid.skp<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment:2yrxtti7]

Sub Stack11v6solid.skp

@teig said:

@tig said:

Nearly there...

I purged the model [Model Info > Statistics...]
I erased all guides.
I then regrouped the geometry.
It reported as a non-solid.
I suspected some un-faced edge[s] have been left hanging around...
I ran SolidSolver on it and it removed some 101 Un-faced or Coplanar edges.
Then it reported as a solid.
Simply using CleanUp would probably have made it a solid too...

It is now suitable for 3d printing...

I'm trying to work my way through that list but can't get rid of this guide. I went inside the mounting flange to try to erase it from the inside, no luck

Of course, thanks to the folk who've contributed

@tig said:

Nearly there...

I purged the model [Model Info > Statistics...]
I erased all guides.
I then regrouped the geometry.
It reported as a non-solid.
I suspected some un-faced edge[s] have been left hanging around...
I ran SolidSolver on it and it removed some 101 Un-faced or Coplanar edges.
Then it reported as a solid.
Simply using CleanUp would probably have made it a solid too...

It is now suitable for 3d printing...

I'm trying to work my way through that list but can't get rid of this guide. I went inside the mounting flange to try to erase it from the inside, no luck

@tig said:

Nearly there...

I purged the model [Model Info > Statistics...]
I erased all guides.
I then regrouped the geometry.
It reported as a non-solid.
I suspected some un-faced edge[s] have been left hanging around...
I ran SolidSolver on it and it removed some 101 Un-faced or Coplanar edges.
Then it reported as a solid.
Simply using CleanUp would probably have made it a solid too...

It is now suitable for 3d printing...

When I can figure out how to install those extensions I'll do mine then Or do you mean I can click on it and download it from my previous post? You have facility for interactive editing then? WOW

I know it's not sensational or a spectacular Sketchup item but it's big to me Here it is in all its glory:

It's not solid and I don't know why, its in 4506 'entities'! I'm not bothering with the vents and mounting holes now; I can do them later on the milling machine and lathe, what does it need for 3D printing?

I've added the rounded lip on the edge of the bell mouth as an afterthought but I can't get rid of the joining lines; how do erase them?

Sub Stack11v6.skp

I eventually got it sorted (hope), thanks to you folks. It really does look like the perfect bellmouth now - I couldn't sleep last night I was so excited

I'm at work now; I'll put the (v6) .skp up later.

@pilou said:

Aaaah, you have saved as 2015!
So owners of other versions can't reload your file!
It's so easy to save as V6 for a more large audience!

Oops! I'll try again with an older version.

Gotcha! I think! Draw the profile at the very start. I've been trying for three hours now to put an arc under the bellmouth!

@d12dozr said:

@teig said:

If anyone wants to run an eye over it for errors at the 3D printing stage I'd be much obliged

I had a quick look...your model needs to be "Solid" to be 3D printable. Right now, you have a bunch of single-face walls with no thickness that will not print. You have to actually create the desired wall thickness for it to print properly.

See this link and my attachment for more details: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/understanding-solid-objects-in-google-sketchup-8.html

I see what you mean. Sort of. Until you pointed it out I thought the area under the bellmouth was solid: how can I make it solid? I just know the push/pull of Follow tool will be a nightmare...

I don't/ can't see what the internal face is that I need to delete?