Creating .STL files from free version of Google SketchUp

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Creating .STL files from free version of Google SketchUp

Post by Denford Admin » Tue 21 Jul , 2009 16:34 pm

Google SketchUp is a free 3D modelling tool, and there is a plugin available which will allow you to create .STL 3D model files suitable for loading into Denford QuickCAM 3D to make cutter paths from.

Download and install SketchUp from here: http://sketchup.google.com/download/

Then install the plugin available here: http://www.guitar-list.com/download-sof ... dxf-or-stl
(at time of writing, the file was skp_to_dxf.rb)
Save the file into the SketchUp plugin directory which is normallly here: C:\Program Files\Google\Google SketchUp 7\Plugins
rb-file-location.jpg
rb-file-location.jpg (48.55 KiB) Viewed 11800 times

Then....

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Re: Creating .STL files from free version of Google SketchUp

Post by Denford Admin » Tue 21 Jul , 2009 16:37 pm

... Run SketchUp and have a browse through the masses of 3D models...
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LoadUpComponent.jpg
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Re: Creating .STL files from free version of Google SketchUp

Post by Denford Admin » Tue 21 Jul , 2009 16:39 pm

... select (highlight) the model and goto the Tools menu, select Export to DXF or STL and choose the .STL option when asked and save the file...
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Export-STL-From-SketchUp.jpg
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Re: Creating .STL files from free version of Google SketchUp

Post by Denford Admin » Tue 21 Jul , 2009 16:40 pm

... load up the .stl file in QuickCAM 3D or QuickCAM Pro and create a CNC toolpath 8)
Load-STL-Into-QuickCAM-Pro.jpg
Load-STL-Into-QuickCAM-Pro.jpg (122.53 KiB) Viewed 11800 times
ToolpathSimulation.jpg
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