Some folks use Trimble’s SketchUp Make to prepare 3D models for 3D printing, but there are some tricks involved. We found a post that explains them.
A post on MasterSketchUp goes into details on common 3D print modeling issues encountered in SketchUp and offers solutions. The post, by Marcus Ritland of Denali 3D Design covers these key aspects:
- The requirement for Solid 3D models, which does not happen automatically in SketchUp Make
- The problem of small scales not generating sufficient model geometry
- The ability to generate smooth curved surfaces
- The ability to export models in STL format suitable for 3D printing
It’s one of the easiest 3D modeling tools to learn, especially if you’ve not encountered 3D modeling previously. SketchUp Make can be used to prepare 3D models for 3D printing; it’s just that you’ll need a couple of plug-ins and modeling procedures to succeed.
Via Master SketchUp