3d printing / slicing issues? 3d modeling issues with sketchup?

[ChipCustomizer]

I hope someone can help here - I have tried several things and don't understand my issue here.

I have a makerbot replicator and have been using google sketchup as a way to make 3d prints.  My issues is that when I create a print (most of the time manipulating an existing print), I try to clean up my image as much as possible, but when the 3d print starts producing, I'll get triangles appearing on flat surfaces that end in a surface that is raised up slightly with a triangle that stretches over the whole print.  I've tried to look at my image in sketchup and even went inside the image to see if there are hidden lines that I'm not seeing and I can't determine what the problem is.

Any help here would be appreciated - I'd be happy to send someone the sketchup file that I'm working from if anyone has a clue.  I'm using a plugin to allow for export to dxf or stl.  Am I missing a step in sketchup to simplify the lines on the image or something?  

Please help, I am now on my 15th revision of the print and each time I try something the triangles keep coming up.

THanks,

Dan

[Dan Newman]

While perhaps just a workaround, have you tried sending the .stl file to
the online processor at netfabb.com,

http://cloud.netfabb.com

You can upload it, wait a minute or so (if it's not too complex), and then
download a version which may be cleaned up in such a way that the issue
is gone.

Dan

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[Rixus]

Its not sketchup, its the plugin you are using to export the STL.

[Bill Culverhouse]

Attaching the STL and the sketchup file would help diagnosing.

b

On Wed, Sep 26, 2012 at 9:25 AM, Rixus <kjohn...@gmail.com> wrote:

Its not sketchup, its the plugin you are using to export the STL.

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[Chuck Joga]

Netfabb is a good quick and dirty fixer, but does not correctly fix all issues that could introduce a defect in your print.  If you see strange gaps, holes, closed holes, or strange shapes, you probably don't have a watertight model.  You can fix the sketchup file manually using the Solid Inspector before sending it to Netfabb for a final check.

Install this plugin:

http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?t=30504

If I use this and fix all the errors, it will be clean going into Netfabb for the final check.  Watch the Replicator G log for warnings.  Sometimes your print may come out OK with the warnings.  Other times you may be see some strange defects as a result.  Starting with a clean Sketchup file is key to diagnosing strange issues.

-Chuck

[Daniel Lipsky]

Thanks, Dan - That helped a lot, I have been processing the image through the netfabb cloud and it's working a lot better.
...Dan

[Kai Backman]

Another alternative is to import he STL into Tinkercad and then
re-export it as STL. When importing Tinkercad converts the STL into a
real solid and then re-triangulates that solid to produce the output
file. The output file is always watertight, non-intersecting and has a
pretty high geometry quality. Compared to Netfabb the solid conversion
is often more robust with buggy files.

Take care,

Kai

--
Kai Backman, CEO
http://tinkercad.com - Mind to design in minutes

[ChipCustomizer]

Thanks for all the help, this is really good information.  I did the export to netfabb and it seemed to correct most of the triangle issues.  I am noticing that I do get some small amounts of odd shapes (not exactly circular circles, but the print at least is workable at this point.

 

I'm new to 3d printing and there are so many variables that can cause a print to go south, but when you get something that works it's great.

 

Step 1) Get the print to actually digitize properly and print without weird triangles and such.

 

Step 2) Get the print to actually print well - adjust the build platform properly, get the print to stay on the platform without lifting up during the print.  I went through about 9 iterations of this particular print and probalby twice as many prints since the prints don't always hold to the build platform.  It seems that PLA gets warped during the print if the build platform is off just a hair, and even if it starts to print well, the corners may pick up during the print and cause the print to be unusable.

 

This particular thread is about Step 1 and I'm getting some great advice so thank you all.  If anyone has any suggestings on a thread that already exists for step 2 please let me know.

Thanks again.

...Dan

[Andy]

I haven't printed with PLA, but this device made a world of difference for me when I first got my replicator and was printing with ABS:

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:23257

-Andy

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[ChipCustomizer]

Thanks, Bill - Here is the sketchup file vs the STL file.  It prints relatively well but the circles still come out a bit square and there are random line run offs.  Any ideas?

Here is the STL:

v10.stl

Here is the sketchup file:

http://www.chipcustomizer.com/sketchup/v10.skp

Thanks,

Dan