3D Printing with SketchUp. E-Book

Aaron Dietzen

• Herausgeber: Packt Publishing
• Kategorie: Fachliteratur
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 211

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

Working with the amazing 3D printing technology and getting access to the printing hardware is now easier than ever before. While there are many other resources that cover the general process of 3D printing, this book is the ultimate guide to creating models for 3D printing using SketchUp.
You’ll start with a basic understanding of how SketchUp is used in the 3D printing workflow and jump into the steps to create a print-ready model using only SketchUp. This 3D printing book will guide you in using SketchUp to modify existing 3D files and cover additional tools that make SketchUp an even more powerful modeling tool. As you advance, you’ll learn how to transform 2D images into 3D printable solids, how to create multi-part prints that can be assembled without the use of fasteners or glue, and how to make sure your model, whether designed from scratch or assembled from preexisting geometry, is ready to be made real via your 3D printer.
By the end of this book, you’ll have the confidence to bring your design ideas to life by generating your own 3D print-ready models with SketchUp.

Leseprobe

3D Printing with SketchUp

Use SketchUp to generate print-ready models and transform your project from concept to reality

Aaron Dietzen

BIRMINGHAM—MUMBAI

3D Printing with SketchUp

Copyright © 2023 Packt Publishing

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embedded in critical articles or reviews.

Every effort has been made in the preparation of this book to ensure the accuracy of the information presented. However, the information contained in this book is sold without warranty, either express or implied. Neither the author, nor Packt Publishing or its dealers and distributors, will be held liable for any damages caused or alleged to have been caused directly or indirectly by this book.

Packt Publishing has endeavored to provide trademark information about all of the companies and products mentioned in this book by the appropriate use of capitals. However, Packt Publishing cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.

Group Product Manager: Rohit Rajkumar

Publishing Product Manager: Kaustubh Manglurkar

Senior Content Development Editor: Rashi Dubey

Technical Editor: Saurabh Kadave

Copy Editor: Safis Editing

Project Coordinator: Sonam Pandey

Proofreader: Safis Editing

Indexer: Hemangini Bari

Production Designer: Shankar Kalbhor

Marketing Coordinator: Nivedita Pandey

First published: May 2014

Second edition: February 2023

Production reference: 1060223

Published by Packt Publishing Ltd.

Livery Place

35 Livery Street

Birmingham

B3 2PB, UK.

ISBN 978-1-80323-735-0

www.packtpub.com

This book is dedicated to my amazing parents. To my late mother, who always encouraged my creative pursuits, and my dad, who bought me my first 3D printer. I would not be who I am without you both.

– Aaron Dietzen

Contributors

About the author

Aaron Dietzen has been modeling in 3D since high school when he started at his father’s software company. Over the next few decades, he worked in technical support, training, and product management, learning about dozens of modeling and CAD software packages along the way.

One of the software packages Aaron learned about was SketchUp, which he taught himself to use. He currently works for Trimble, creating video content about SketchUp. Often referred to as the “SketchUp Guy,” Aaron focuses on helping SketchUp users to develop their own workflows and become more efficient modelers, doing his best to make learning enjoyable. Aaron lives in Colorado with his wife, three kids, and a couple of rescued puppies.

I want to thank everyone I have connected with in the SketchUp community, and the members of the Trimble staff and users I have met, both virtually and in person. You guys are all amazing!

About the reviewers

Duane Kemp, a 3D reconstruction specialist living in Switzerland, started with Google SketchUp 6 in 2007 and has used every version since. His company Kemp Productions’ animations were presented at SketchUp Basecamp 2012, and his work has been featured in books and articles. In the last few years, his company’s client work has been in the field of non-proliferation.

He is the admin for Facebook’s Trimble SketchUp Group and its LinkedIn version, SketchUp User Group, as well as other 3D and SU plugin groups. He has promoted the use of SketchUp since 2012 on social media platforms, continues to test plugins/rendering software, and absolutely enjoys using SketchUp.

Duane was the technical reviewer for Aaron’s book Taking SketchUp Pro to the Next Level.

Aaron’s 3D Printing with SketchUp is a clear, easy-to-follow, and step-by-step instructive work that will get you up and running for successful 3D printing using SketchUp in no time.

Sila Kayo is an experienced software developer with a focus on 3D, mobile, embedded, and server software development. He has used SketchUp to create models for a 3D flight simulator released on PC, mobile, and AR platforms. He is the founder of Kayo Games, which specializes in 3D simulations for PC, mobile, AR, and VR platforms. Currently, he lives in Oulu, Finland.

Table of Contents

Preface

Part 1: Getting Prepared to Print

1

Getting Started with 3D Printing and SketchUp

Technical requirements

Understanding where SketchUp fits in the 3D printing workflow

Knowing what SketchUp can produce

Advantages of using SketchUp

Model types ideal for SketchUp

Using SketchUp as a creation tool

Using SketchUp as an editor

Using SketchUp as a repair tool

Summary

2

Setting Up Your SketchUp Environment for 3D Printing

Technical requirements

Understanding SketchUp’s capabilities

Deciding which version of SketchUp to use

Applications versus plans

SketchUp Free

SketchUp Go

SketchUp Pro

Getting SketchUp ready to make print-ready models

Preparing SketchUp Free

Preparing SketchUp Go

Preparing SketchUp Pro

Real-world tools

Summary

3

Importing and Exporting .stl Files

Technical requirements

Understanding what makes up a SketchUp file

Exporting files for 3D printing

Exporting a .stl file from SketchUp for Web

Exporting a .stl file from SketchUp for Desktop

Importing files into SketchUp

Importing .stl files with SketchUp for Web

Importing .stl files with SketchUp for Desktop

Summary

4

Print-Ready Modeling and Scaling for Export

Technical requirements

3D modeling groups and components

Holes in geometry

Interior geometry

Stray geometry

Modeling and scale

Scaling while modeling

Considering wall thickness and support

Modeling wall thickness

Considering supports

Summary

Part 2: Modeling for 3D Printing

5

Modeling from Scratch Using Native Editing Tools

Technical requirements

Creating basic geometry

Design time

Editing geometry using native tools

Preparing your model for 3D printing

Making a solid group

Diagnosing non-solid models

Removing extra geometry

Exporting and printing

Summary

6

Modeling Using Solid Tools

Technical requirements

Modeling from a photo

Outlining the head

Using Solid Inspector

Creating an intersecting shape

Lining up the groups

Using Solid Tools

Trimming two groups

Carving out details

Adding more details

Making solid 3D-printed connections

Summary

7

Importing and Modifying Existing 3D Models

Technical requirements

Importing existing 3D models

Examining your import

Checking your model with Solid Inspector2

Repairing existing models

Fixing holes in a mesh

Scaling a model to the correct size

Modifying existing models

Using Solid Tools to edit existing geometry

Using Solid Tools to create connecting parts

Summary

8

Assembling the Pieces Post-Printing

Technical requirements

Importing and editing geometry

Creating a solid landscape

Intersecting the house with the landscape

Arranging and scaling

Building a cutter

Cutting a hole in the terrain

Creating new geometry

Modeling trees

Intersecting trees with the landscape

Exporting multiple parts for printing

Prepping multiple groups for output

Assembling after printing

Summary

Index

Other Books You May Enjoy

Preface

3D printing is an amazing technology and printing hardware is easier to own than ever before. While there are many other resources that cover the general process of 3D printing, this book is the ultimate guide to creating models for 3D printing from SketchUp.

Once we have established a basic understanding of how SketchUp is used in the 3D printing workflow, we will go through the steps to create a print-ready model using only SketchUp. Following that, we will cover how to use SketchUp to modify existing 3D files, and discover some additional tools that can be used to make SketchUp an even more powerful modeling tool. You’ll learn how to transform 2D images into 3D printable solids, how to create multi-part prints that can be assembled without the use of fasteners or glue, and how to make sure your model, whether designed from scratch or assembled from pre-existing geometry, is ready to be made real via your own 3D printer.

By the end of this book, you should be able to generate 3D print-ready models from SketchUp.

Who this book is for

If you own or have access to a 3D printer and are tired of downloading and printing other people’s 3D models, this book is for you! Learn how to use SketchUp to create your own custom pieces or modify existing files so you can print exactly what you need. Whether you are an architect hoping to print buildings, a designer needing quick physical prototypes, or a hobbyist wanting to print a tchotchke, this book is for you. You should have completed some training in fundamentals in SketchUp and be able to create and edit basic geometry.

What this book covers

Chapter 1, Getting Started with 3D Printing and SketchUp, is where we start with the basics and talk about how SketchUp fits in the 3D printing workflow.

Chapter 2, Setting Up Your SketchUp Environment for 3D Printing, discusses the different versions of SketchUp that are available and which you should use and dives into getting SketchUp ready to model for 3D printing.

Chapter 3, Importing and Exporting .stl Files, talks about getting files into and out of SketchUp.

Chapter 4, Print-Ready Modeling and Scaling for Export, explains what print-ready means and what scale you should be modeling at for 3D printing.

Chapter 5, Modeling from Scratch Using Native Editing Tools, uses SketchUp for Web to create some print-ready geometry using only native tools.

Chapter 6, Modeling Using Solid Tools, discusses what Solid Tools are and how to use them to create models for 3D printing.

Chapter 7, Importing and Modifying Existing 3D Models, explains the best practices for importing models made by others and how to work with them in SketchUp.

Chapter 8, Assembling the Pieces Post-Printing, discusses how to model multi-part prints that can be assembled temporarily or permanently.

To get the most out of this book

This is not a beginner’s book. To get the most out of this book, you should complete some sort of fundamental instruction for SketchUp (I recommend checking out the learning tools at https://learn.sketchup.com). Additionally, since there are so many steps and options when it comes to creating and printing 3D models, the focus of this book will be on using SketchUp to create and edit geometry and we will not spend time looking at specific information about 3D printers, slicing software, or other 3D modeling programs.

Software/hardware covered in the book

Operating system requirements

SketchUp

Windows or macOS

The files are available through SketchUp’s 3D Warehouse and are linked to the relevant chapter. While we will not go into detail, there are images shown throughout the book of slicing software, printers, and final prints. I used ChituBox and Cura to slice all the prints in this book. The printers I used were both from Elegoo (a Neptune 3 for FDM and a Mars 3 for SLA).

Conventions used

There are a number of text conventions used throughout this book.

Code in text: Indicates code words in text, database table names, folder names, filenames, file extensions, pathnames, dummy URLs, user input, and Twitter handles. Here is an example: “Once I completed my model in SketchUp, I exported it as an .stl file.”

Bold: Indicates a new term, an important word, or words that you see onscreen. For instance, words in menus or dialog boxes appear in bold. Here is an example: “The Solid Inspector panel provides you with information and tools that will make it much easier to create solid models and repair issues that prevent your creations from being solids.”

Tips or Important notes

Appear like this.

Get in touch

Feedback from our readers is always welcome.

General feedback: If you have questions about any aspect of this book, email us at [email protected] and mention the book title in the subject of your message.

Errata: Although we have taken every care to ensure the accuracy of our content, mistakes do happen. If you have found a mistake in this book, we would be grateful if you would report this to us. Please visit www.packtpub.com/support/errata and fill in the form.

Piracy: If you come across any illegal copies of our works in any form on the internet, we would be grateful if you would provide us with the location address or website name. Please contact us at [email protected] with a link to the material.

If you are interested in becoming an author: If there is a topic that you have expertise in and you are interested in either writing or contributing to a book, please visit authors.packtpub.com.

Download a free PDF copy of this book

Thanks for purchasing this book!

Do you like to read on the go but are unable to carry your print books everywhere?
Is your eBook purchase not compatible with the device of your choice?

Don’t worry, now with every Packt book you get a DRM-free PDF version of that book at no cost.

Read anywhere, any place, on any device. Search, copy, and paste code from your favorite technical books directly into your application. 

The perks don’t stop there, you can get exclusive access to discounts, newsletters, and great free content in your inbox daily

Follow these simple steps to get the benefits:

Scan the QR code or visit the link below

https://packt.link/free-ebook/9781803237350

Submit your proof of purchaseThat’s it! We’ll send your free PDF and other benefits to your email directly

Part 1: Getting Prepared to Print

3D printing is a vast topic with all sorts of opportunities to talk about workflows and tips. This first part of the book focuses on general information as to how SketchUp fits into this topic. While there will be some hands-on work, the first part really focuses on learning about what a 3D printing workflow with SketchUp looks like.

In this part, the following chapters are included:

Chapter 1, Getting Started with 3D Printing and SketchUpChapter 2, Setting Up Your SketchUp Environment for 3D PrintingChapter 3, Importing and Exporting .stl FilesChapter 4, Print-Ready Modeling and Scaling for Export

1

Getting Started with 3D Printing and SketchUp

3D printing is an amazing technology that allows you to take things directly from your imagination and make them into real items that you can hold in your hand. 3D printing has been around long enough that I believe we can skip over the history of the subject or listing out the reasons you might want to print something. In this book, we will assume that you have access to a 3D printer and have a reason to print. Alongside that, based on the title of this book, we will also assume that you want to use SketchUp to get your 3D print created.

There are a few steps between imagining an item and finally making it exist in the real world, however. In this first chapter, we will look at the multiple steps involved in creating a successful 3D print and where SketchUp plays a part in this process. Once we’ve covered the basic workflow, we will dive into a few details and see some examples of SketchUp being used to create or prepare various files for 3D printing. Once you’ve completed this chapter, you will know exactly where SketchUp can be used as a useful tool in your 3D printing software tool kit!

In this chapter, we will cover these main topics:

Understanding where SketchUp fits in the 3D printing workflowKnowing what SketchUp can produceUsing SketchUp as a creation toolUsing SketchUp as an editorUsing SketchUp as a repair tool

Technical requirements

This chapter will be an overview of the 3D printing workflow and will not require any software or hardware. However, it will require a basic understanding of both SketchUp and the general concepts of 3D printing.

Understanding where SketchUp fits in the 3D printing workflow

3D printing is not a simple process of just pushing the “Print” button on your 3D printer and sitting back and waiting for the print to finish. To get your printer started on a print, you first have to create the geometry that will make up that print. This file then has to be made into a format that your printer will understand. Telling your printer to start printing the file is actually one of the final steps in the 3D printing workflow.

To understand where SketchUp fits into this workflow, let’s take a look at the whole thing, step by step, from idea to final print. I think that the easiest way to visualize this workflow is shown in Figure 1.1:

Figure 1.1 – Brief 3D printing workflow overview

While this is a general overview and may miss a specific step or two from your final workflow, this does cover the basics. To see exactly where SketchUp fits into this workflow, let me walk you through the process with an actual 3D print project:

Idea – This is where it all starts. Whether it is the need to replace a broken knob on your stove, create a piece for a board game, or bring a piece of art into the world, the first step is identifying what you want to create. I decided that I wanted to create a tiny coffee cup. Often, in the afternoon, my wife will ask for a cup of coffee. Since she does not want to be kept up at night, she will ask if I can make her a cup of “baby caffeine” coffee, which is made with mostly decaf coffee grounds and a little bit of regular. Next time she asks for this, I will pour her some coffee in a baby coffee cup!

Figure 1.2 – A hand drawing of my idea

3D Model – The next step is turning your idea into a 3D model. In some cases, this may mean finding an existing model to use as a starting point, while in other cases, it may mean starting from scratch. Regardless, you will need to create a three-dimensional representation of the thing that you want to print. This step is where SketchUp comes into play. In SketchUp, I can create a 3D model of the baby coffee cup. Any details I want in this print are included in the model and the final model will be at the proper scale.

Figure 1.3 – A 3D model of my baby coffee cup

Geometry file – While there are multiple file formats that can contain 3D geometry, most 3D prints end up, sooner or later, as a .stl file. This type of file contains simple information about 3D geometry, breaking it down into a bunch of connected triangles and showing where they exist in relation to each other. Once I completed my model in SketchUp, I exported it as a .stl file. In Figure 1.4, you can see that saving my coffee cup as a .stl file revealed all the triangular surfaces used to make up the smooth surfaces:

Figure 1.4 – The original SketchUp model on the left, the .stl file geometry on the right

Slicing – Now that the geometry is in a format that any program can read, it needs to be broken down into layers of 2D geometry that the printer will be able to create. Whether this file will end up being printed on an FDM or SLA printer, it will need to be sliced so that the printer can create the model one layer at a time. For my print, I used ChituBox to prepare my model (angling the model from the build plate, adding supports, and slicing for the printer). In the following figure, you can see the file that will be sent to the printer:

Figure 1.5 – My baby coffee cup design, sliced and supported

Printable file – Once the slicing software is done, it will export a file that can be read by the 3D printer. This file may be in a proprietary format (specific to the printer). Often, 3D printer users will use the slicing software that came with the printer, while others may use third-party software. This is largely a personal choice. The important part is that you end up with the files that will tell the printer what to print. In my case, as I am printing to an Elegoo printer, which reads ChituBox files, I exported a .ctb file format onto a USB drive.3D Printing – Once the file is exported, it needs to find its way to the printer. This may happen via a USB cable, a flash drive, or over Wi-Fi. Once the file is on the printer, the magic happens. Well, it is actually less “magic” and more “waiting to see if the printer will print the whole thing without hitting any issues.” This step is the part that you see in all the YouTube videos about 3D printing. This is where you get to see your idea come to life! With this step, my baby coffee cup has come to life!

Figure 1.6 – The baby coffee cup exists!

Post printing – I mention this step only because I am a realist. 3D printers are great in their ability to create real geometry from nothing. Fused plastic or cured resin turns our ideas into actual matter, which is awesome. Before you are done, however, you do have to clip support material, sand, and polish. There may even be some curing and painting before your vision is finally realized. For my project, this meant removing the supports, washing the cup in alcohol, curing the model in UV, then some light sanding and painting.

Figure 1.7 – This is my baby coffee cup, ready for paint

Finished Print – Eight simple steps later, you are holding your idea in your hand! My baby coffee cup is ready for my wife’s next order of a “baby caffeine” afternoon coffee!

Figure 1.8 – The final print, painted and ready for use

When you step back and look at the steps, you will realize that there are quite a few of them. SketchUp will help you with two specific and very important steps. While all of these steps are necessary, the one that we will be focusing on in this book is the creation of 3D geometry and export of the .stl file.

Now that we are familiar with the broad strokes, let’s dive deeper into the creation of a brand-new 3D model and a .stl file in the next section.

Knowing what SketchUp can produce

SketchUp is well known for being great software for creating 3D models. Users enjoy how easy it is to learn and how quickly they can generate 3D models of their ideas. SketchUp is used in dozens of industries, from architecture to product design, and has a large group of 3D printing enthusiasts using it for professional and hobby printing.

The most important point to understand is exactly what SketchUp can and cannot create. As we discussed in the Understanding where SketchUp fits in section, the 3D printing workflow is a process that includes multiple software packages and file formats. While it would be great if SketchUp could be the all-encompassing software, allowing you to go from an idea to a 3D print in one place, it just is not possible. Since different printers require different proprietary file formats, and users want different capabilities in their slicing software, it is impossible to cover the entire workflow with one software.

Despite the need for multiple pieces of software, SketchUp takes the most important step in this workflow in the creation of the 3D model. Based on the 3D printing hardware you own or have access to, you may be required to use one specific slicing software or to choose a specific software based on your own experience. Regardless, you can use SketchUp to create the initial 3D model and export the geometry file (.stl) that will be used by the slicing software.

There are also other ways to create 3D models for printing. In fact, there are probably dozens of software packages on the market right now that can create a 3D model and export it as a .stl file. All of them have strengths and weaknesses, and many excel at the creation of one type of geometry or another. Since this book is about 3D printing with SketchUp, let’s focus on the advantages of using SketchUp in our 3D printing workflow and the types of modeling best suited to SketchUp.

Advantages of using SketchUp

Let’s start by looking at the attributes of SketchUp that make it a great solution for creating 3D print-ready models:

Easy to learn – SketchUp is very intuitive software. When you consider that most of the tens of millions of SketchUp users around the world are self-taught, you realize how quickly one can learn to use SketchUp.Powerful – Despite being easy to learn, SketchUp is extremely powerful. Not only is it a favorite among hobbyists, it is also a tool used in professional settings across the globe.Multiple versions – SketchUp offers multiple versions for different uses and budgets. SketchUp Free, SketchUp Go, or SketchUp Pro can be used to create 3D models that can be used for 3D printing. Whatever your budget is for software, there is a SketchUp version that should work for you..Stl support – SketchUp natively supports the creation and editing of .stl files. This is the primary file format used to pass geometry around in the world of 3D printing.Multiple file formats – In addition to .stl files, SketchUp supports a dozen of other file formats. While not all of these are regularly used to import or export 3D geometry, many of the common formats (such as .dxf, .obj, or .dae files) are available.

There are quite a few options out there when it comes to 3D modeling software that can be used to create a file for 3D printing. When given this list, however, you can see why so many people end up using SketchUp as a part of their 3D printing workflow!

Model types ideal for SketchUp