Ditch SketchUp

also Meshmixer etc. all have a learning curve some harder than others. but I have downloaded files done in all forms and apps and the main reason they fail as STL when tested in like Netfab. is not the fault of the program etc. its user error due to inexperianced users uploading their test projects as if they are ready to haul people to mars in their perfectly designed objects LMAO. I follow, friend, bookmark, save everything I can about a designer when I find one that is truely great and they are very few and far between. like maybe a dozen or so in all of Thingiverse. and 1-2 on other file repositorys. (I dont claim to be a designer myself though I have done a few) but as a 3D printer owner/operator I know when I get an near perfect STL to work with with none or few repairs needed b4 slicing and printing perfect every time and not just 1 or 2 files by same designer.

that said I have and can take a decent Scetchup file and turn it into a usable STL easier than a poorly done STL from any other format/app. just gotta know how. there are lots of things that people screw up while designing and its mostly simple steps made wrong along the way, and you have to know what and how to look for them.

#1 is hidden geometry. seems many use it as erase/delete or a way to prevent others stealing file. time consuming but easy to fix.

#2 and this goes for any design app. misalignment of triangle mesh by layer not closing holes. this requirs lots of practice how to see/correct the error.

#3 grouping too many objects or incorrectly aligned grouping/merging. this can be very hard to fix afterwards and impossible if not in original form/program this is why we need as many of these programs as possible.

#4 modifying/converting bad files and loosing much of the original model needed to correct errors, plus not saving each change so you can go back later if needed.

#5 there are dozens of so called 3D file formats (some only 2D) and some are made in apps only available at high cost and not able to export into usable format like STL. MAX for example.

#6 each time you convert/export a file to another format the filters toss a bit more needed info. kinda like making copy of copies, soon you have nothing. then when attempting repairs much of object gets covered up until it no longer looks as intended.

this is just some top issues I find in 90% of 3D files online. this became very evident when searching yobI3D.com a 3D file repository search engine that looks for up to 20 dif file types (note sites you have to register on are not listed in results, like 123design models etc) note be sure your web/computer can handle large streaming data or it will freeze often when all the pages thumnails start loading.

It is indeed past time for me to move on from sketchup.  123Design is downloading now.  Does it have a built in stl importer or is it a patch to download?

I have also imported some STL converted files into scetchup to use its filters and editing tools to get rid of clutter designers left. then export back into stl to slice and print after checking with Netfab. I dont toss any old apps etc but save them for use latter. its why I dont jump into every new version of Windows etc. I have old programs and peripherals that require old software etc to use them and they are more reliable than most newer stuff.

so dont abandon anything when upgrading. maybe archive for latter at most. heck I still find use for microsoft paint instead of all my newer similar apps as I know more of its abilities. kind like Nintendo's Mario Paint, me and my sons became experts at years ago. most basic features of any program stay the same. just more refined graphics or sound or memory etc like anything.

@ mdrVB6 - 123D Design will export STL files directly - no need for any additional plug-ins, it is built in.

the problem I have with cloud based services (aside from the privacy thing) is that I live in the boonies and internet services are not really good enough for those kinds of applications. We do not have access to high speed cable, or even DSL, connections that are, for the most part, rock solid stable. This is what the creators of the cloud based systems are failing to understand - not everyone has access to solid internet services to be able to use these programs reliably.

Our service is a wireless type, and occasionally drops signal for several minutes at a time. Granted, it is far and away much better than the satellite service we used to have, but still has it's share of issues.

I dont want to spend hours creating a model only to lose parts of it due to service drop out. This is why I prefer local (on MY pc) programs for modeling.

If I could afford Solidworks, I would love to have it. I have worked with models that were created in it and it produces some great stuff. Unfortunately, it is priced way out of my range.