Why would that be a stupid question?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Diamondback
Stupid question... will Cube's software convert a SketchUp .SKP into a .STL? The new eight-blade rotor hub I referred to above is a SketchUp file, mainly because I haven't learned solid-modeling yet. (AutoCAD/DraftSight and SketchUp I'm comfortable with, Solidworks scared the crap out of me and I uninstalled it.)
The quick answer is no, the Cube software does not accept or convert .SKP files.
Hunting around I did find some third party solutions that do this (or rather multiple step processes), but none of the ones I found appeared that stable.
If you have SketchUp Pro you can export to a number of file formats that are easier for the outside world to convert to .STL such as OBJ, FBX, and others.
You can also get a free 30 day license to 3D Studio Max which does export directly to .stl files and you may find more approachable given the software with which you are already familiar, though that would mean remodeling your object.
9 Attachment(s)
New 3D Print Head Installed and Tested!
So I installed the new print head.
The instructions could have been a bit clearer, but the part was amazingly easy to swap.
The process, from start to finish with me triple checking everything took no more than 15 minutes.
As a first test, I went to the Cube site and downloaded one of the objects that they have available there.
There was one object that I found quite inetresting.
The design was such that it would need a significant amount of support structure and should be built using a raft.
It was also far larger than any object that I had printed so far.
I figured it would be a good example to post here - success or failure.
Attachment 2631
So far so good!
The printer starts placing the filament on the glass...
Attachment 2632
First cross hatch of raft complete.
The raft is an extra structure that you can add to the base to help it stay on the build surface.
3D Systems says that you can "get away" without adding a raft by using the glue, but with such a large object I wanted to be safe.
Attachment 2633
Raft complete and the first layer of the base is added.
Attachment 2634
Object base taking shape with the familiar honeycomb inside.
The base is round. The structures at the side of the base are part of the support structure. We will see lots more of that as the build continues.
Attachment 2635
Base complete.
You can see the support structure attachment points at the sides of the base.
Attached in this way theoretically allows the supports to be broken (or cut) away more easily when the object is complete.
Attachment 2636
As the build extends above the base, the support structure really kicks it up a notch.
The support structure now completely surrounds the top of the base.
Attachment 2637
Substantially more object height complete.
Support structure continues on all sides.
Attachment 2638
Object nearing completion.
It can now be seen what the support structures were supporting.
Attachment 2639
Object complete.
The build ran without a hitch.
This build was about 5 hours.
I pushed the envelope a bit to test the new print head as this was the longest build and the largest object I have yet attempted.
I did not want to press my luck to the point of doing the first test of the new head with the neon green filament that proved so troublesome with the old head.
I'll save that test for a bit later.
In the next update I will remove the supports and reveal the object.