Sketchup 3D printable objects tutorial
Introduction
Google sketchup is currently probably the easiest 3D modeling program. It can be used to create simple 3D models for printing with a 3D printer like the RapMan
Prerequisites: Know how to print with a RapMan (or similar)
Tools needed
(1) Download Google SketchUp. We will work with the free version. The professional version not only has more features, but also could export directly to .OBJ which then can be imported to skeinforge.
(2) Since the free version of sketchup doesn't allow you to export directly to .STL, there are two options:
- Export to Collada .dae (a known 3D file format for exchange) and the import to a tool that can translate .dae to .stl
- Install a plugin, e.g. Convert Sketchup SKP files to DXF or STL
Sketchup basics
A simple example
(under construction)
In the meantime try:
Sketchup to STL
The free version doesn't allow STL export. You can export to Collada (.dae) format.
Since the Collada export is not necessarily great, importing the result to a tool doesn't mean that export to STL wil be easy .....
(to be continued)
- Tool for fixing the Mesh and exporting to STL: Meshlab ?
Links
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