3D Printing with SketchUp (2014)

Preface

My journey into the fascinating world of 3D printing began in 2010 when I entered a 3D-printing design contest. While I didn't win the contest, I discovered a world of democratized manufacturing, where anyone could create nearly any design with a technology that was once available only to large corporations.

The new idea that 3D printers could create end-use products instead of just prototypes spawned several print-on-demand businesses that drove demand for 3D printed products and drastically reduced prices. Another important factor in the spread of 3D-printing was the expiration of patents that allowed for the development of cheap 3D printers.

Along my journey, I discovered that 3D modeling skills are difficult for many people to master, but masters of the craft are well rewarded. I also found it nearly impossible to get technical help in making printable SketchUp models, and ended up figuring out problems on my own. As I learned, I helped others in online communities use SketchUp to design their models for printing, and as a result my skills improved further.

In these early years of 3D printing for the masses, I see a real need for quality training that allows anybody to use the printers to their full potential. 3D modeling skills are not common even among the early 3D printer adopters, who are often stuck with printing what others make available online.

I sincerely hope this guide saves you from the many difficulties I had when learning to design models for printing.

The 3D printed lamp in the cover image was the author's first design made specifically for 3D printing. Printed in laser-sintered nylon, the lamp throws a unique pattern of light. It was designed entirely in SketchUp, and the complex geometry is an excellent example of what 3D printing can accomplish.

What this book covers

Chapter 1, Concepts Every 3D Printing Designer Needs to Know, introduces different 3D printing processes, each with its pros and cons. You will learn how to find material specifications and choose based on your needs.

Chapter 2, Setting Up SketchUp for 3D Printing, explains how to install SketchUp and customize a template that will allow you to model for 3D printing efficiently. Extensions are introduced, and you make your first 3D printable file.

Chapter 3, From 2D Drawing to 3D Model, shows how to import an image to begin modeling from and how to accurately scale your model. You also learn about importing vector artwork to start your 3D model.

Chapter 4, Understanding Model Resolution, explains segmented curves in SketchUp and how to make your curved models print smoothly. You learn about wall thickness and how to minimize print material. Finally, you learn how to use the Outer Shell tool to combine simple parts into a complex model.

Chapter 5, Using Existing Models, introduces online 3D model repositories, and explains how to make the most of them to save you time. You will learn how to adapt existing models to your needs.

Chapter 6, Designing a Phone Cradle, introduces some advanced modeling techniques and explains how to save time by drawing only half of your model. You see how iterating a model works to gradually improve the final design.

Chapter 7, Importing Terrain and Printing in Color, shows how to import 3D terrain from Google Earth and make it solid for printing. You learn about solid colors and textures in SketchUp and how that affects packaging the model for the printer.

Chapter 8, Modeling Architecture for 3D Printing, shows how to use existing architectural models as a template for making a 3D printable model. You also learn how to split a model into parts to minimize support structures on a desktop FFF printer.

Appendix, Resources for Your 3D Printing Success, provides troubleshooting help and links to other resources to help you make 3D-printable models.

What you need for this book

We need either SketchUp Make or SketchUp Pro. Pro is necessary for commercial users, as per the licensing agreement.

You also need at least a basic knowledge of the SketchUp tools. If you are new to SketchUp, I recommend the book SketchUp for Dummies, Aidan Chopra, John Wiley & Sons, or the video training series at www.go-2-school.com.

Who this book is for

This book is for SketchUp users who need to physically hold their models, hobbyists and inventors looking to test their prototypes, and students looking to learn about 3D printing.

Conventions

In this book, you will find a number of styles of text that distinguish between different kinds of information. Here are some examples of these styles, and an explanation of their meaning.

Code words in text, database table names, folder names, filenames, file extensions, pathnames, dummy URLs, user input, and Twitter handles are shown as follows: "The 3D model is exported to a format that a slicing program can read, usually Stereolithography [.STL]."

New terms and important words are shown in bold. Words that you see on the screen, in menus or dialog boxes for example, appear in the text like this: "You can also smooth the imported models easily by selecting their groups and adjusting the slider in theSoften Edges dialog box."

Note

Warnings or important notes appear in a box like this.

Tip

Tips and tricks appear like this.