SoliForum - 3D Printing Community — A way to properly orient an object before exporting STL?

Re: A way to properly orient an object before exporting STL?

2013-07-10T18:43:51Z

Thanks 2n2r5, I appreciate the tips and links.

Re: A way to properly orient an object before exporting STL?

2013-07-10T02:35:41Z

Heartlander,

Looks like you are finding sketchup to be a wonderful and painful tool to use. I have had the same experiences with it. Trust me, it gets more fun. If I can suggest a source of relief for you. Try sketchucation forums. It is a great was to orient yourself to the wonderful world of SU.

The first plugin to download is this one. This lets you have an in-application plugin to search for more plugins.
http://sketchucation.com/resources/plug … e-download

Other extremely useful plugins:
http://sketchucation.com/resources/plug … tt_cleanup
http://sketchucation.com/resources/plug … _inspector

I know Lawsy pointed out a good pay one. I am eager to give that a shot too.

Re: A way to properly orient an object before exporting STL?

2013-07-09T21:36:46Z

I see. Actually that rectangle (battery box) is supposed to be open on both sides. I'll straighten that up. Forest for the tress syndrome.

Re: A way to properly orient an object before exporting STL?

2013-07-09T20:52:41Z

Your model still has some issues. On the bottom of the large part, there is a surface missing. The worse thing, however, is that the recessed shape on the other side is in line with where this surface needs to be, so making it will give zero thickness geometry.

You either need to make the whole part thicker or make the recess shallower.

A way to properly orient an object before exporting STL?

2013-07-09T17:53:50Z

With the considerable help and assistance of you folks I have been catching on more and more. My project is now fairly evolved and I'm trying to print it. However, SuSolid says it has 698 ungriouped edges in a sub-component that I developed by itself, printed, then copied into my main part. Is there something else I need to do to integrate the subcomponent into the main component?

NetFabb, on the other hand says the (STL) is closed but not Orientable. I have tried Netfabb's repair functions AND Align To Bottom Plane then re-exporting it to STL for slicing via Repetier. All seems kinda okay until it actually prints, then I only get pieces of the part like it is below the base plane or something.

I feel like I am doing/not doing something simple and dumb. So, how do you folks avoid these problems? Is there a way to "orient" the part so nothing is below the base plane?

Part and STL are attached if that helps.

Thanks for putting up with me!