| Sketchup to Meshlab to Accutrans [message #54328] Fri, 21 September 2012 09:33 UTC |
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Hi,
Just had a look at the instructions on this page:
http://www.shapeways.com/tutorials/sketchup_3d_printing_expo rt_to_stl_tutorial
and it suggests exporting from Sketchup as .dae, then opening in Meshlab, exporting as .stl and finally opening in Accutrans to check solidity. Have just tried this and my model seems fine, but as you can also import a dae direct to Accutrans, I'm wondering if the intermediate Meshlab step is necessary?
Also, the model I'm doing is fairly complex - a rose with lots of overlapping geometry in the petals. I've tried using the Union solid tools in Sketchup to turn all the petals it into one solid, but it's not working and I'm wondering whether this actually matters? What I mean is, does the 3D printing process just ignore extra internal geometry, as long as the .stl is watertight according to Accutrans?
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| Re: Sketchup to Meshlab to Accutrans [message #54345 is a reply to message #54328 ] Fri, 21 September 2012 17:29 UTC |
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Try an upload of a test model. SW will union boolean all the intersecting volumes into a single outersurface shell(defined surface area). I can imagine your model will have many intersecting volumes, so model a few intersecting petals for the test run upload it to SW or the netfabb cloud service to create 1 shell.
Have any questions regarding Blender, and need fast answers, you are always welcome at the IRC Server Freenode, channel #blender. As a bonus, several there have experience in modelling for 3D prints.
Keith
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| Re: Sketchup to Meshlab to Accutrans [message #54386 is a reply to message #54345 ] Sat, 22 September 2012 13:35 UTC |
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I posted the following in another thread ages ago, hope it helps:
I use SketchUp all the time.
I use this PlugIn to export as a stl file.
To export, all you need to do is select all of the model, click Tools>Export to DXF or STL.
A pop up window will open, I use Export Units>Millimetres>Ok>Export to DXF options>STL>Save as "model".stl
Tom.
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| Re: Sketchup to Meshlab to Accutrans [message #54435 is a reply to message #54386 ] Mon, 24 September 2012 08:44 UTC |
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Thanks for the plugin link... Does the job - it did seem a bit long-winded to use two other programs.
Have done a test upload and it all seems to work without having to delete the internal geometry - good news.
Cheers
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