Just a quick heads-up: The SketchUp folks just posted a set of videos that explain how to create better models for sharing on the 3D Warehouse. I am linking to the videos and post here because I have way too often come across models where the scale was off, the component nesting didn't make sense, textures were too detailed etc. This is especially crucial if there might be a desire to 3D print them later.
Check out the videos and original link below for more information...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL-bndkJaV8A75zuNAf0A5NCfF8beEve7V&v=_JHWKf0D070
Original Link
What makes a great 3D Warehouse model? A checklist…
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After the success of the first edition of my SketchUp book, I went back through the text for the second edition and updated quite a bit of content. My main goal was to keep it highly relevant for as large a variety of SketchUp users as possible and at the same time provide thorough yet easy to follow examples and tutorials. I am also very excited to announce a completely new chapter on physically making things with SketchUp that includes 3D printing, CNC cutting, and other techniques. Lots of fun stuff! As before, this edition will use the companion website at http://sketchupfordesign.com where you can find videos, references, 3D models, and tutorials.
I'll post more about the book once it has been officially released. For now, here's a teaser:
From the back cover:
TAP INTO SKETCHUP'S REAL-WORLD, REAL-WORK FUNCTIONALITY
Architectural Design with SketchUp, Second Edition, is the leading guide to Trimble SketchUp, an easy-to-use, yet incredibly powerful tool for architects, interior designers, construction professionals, and makers. It provides the SketchUp...
The folks at SketchUp just today announced 3D Basecamp 2016, their next iteration of this user conference. After last time in Vail, this event will be a bit further in the mountains, in Steamboat Springs, CO, and it'll take place in June. As always, It'll be an amazing venue for learning more about SketchUp and meeting other SketchUp-pers. Cant wait!
You can learn more about the event and register here:
http://blog.sketchup.com/sketchupdate/announcing-3d-basecamp-2016
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UPDATE:Unfortunately this service is no longer available.
One of the hardest tasks with 3D printing with SketchUp is often making something that has not been modeled properly 3D printable. This means that whatever geometry you are given needs to be turned into a "watertight" or "manifold" solid. In SketchUp there are a bunch of extensions that help with this task (namely Solid Inspector and Solid Solver). But even they can't automatically fix a model like the one shown in the 3D viewer and images below. Fortunately for us, SketchUp and iMaterialize just announced a solution that is baked into 3D Warehouse.
An Example
As you can see, this model is an intersection of three shapes (made without using SketchUp's Intersect tool), where I removed two faces and introduced a small triangular hole in one of the faces.
I then uploaded this model to the 3D Warehouse the usual way (File > 3D Warehouse > Share Model...) and made sure the checkbox at the bottom was checked.
After a...
As every year, let's celebrate the season with a bit of digital "bling"! This time, it's just a simple SketchUp model of a fractal tree that I enhanced a bit in Sketchfab's editor. Yes, it is WebGL and you are allowed to play with it. Have fun!
To you and your loved ones a peaceful and joyful holiday season and a happy and successful new year 2015.
Cheers,
Alex...
