So I’m sure I’m not the only one frustrated by Sketchup’s import/export limitations. I can’t import STP or IGS files, nor can I export them.
DWGs work sometimes, if I’m lucky.
What workarounds do you guys have when you need to access or send out a format that’s not SU friendly?
For import there’s SimLab STEP importer for Sketchup and SimLab IGES importer for Sketchup.
I use Rhino to import native skp files and then export igs
Checkout ViaCAD, also:
http://www.punchcad.com/c-545-Punch-CAD-Product-Matrix
lots of import and export…
+1 for the simlab import extensions. I use the step importer all the time and it works flawlessly. Sometimes you have to let it chew on a file for a while but it has not failed me yet.
DWG works pretty good for me in and out.
SketchUp is a polygon modeler (everything made of lines and facettes), the mentioned 3D CAD formats do contain data based on curves (NURB splines).
Nothing a polygon modeler natively can use of, importing via SimLab plugin results in slabbing the contained smooth NURBS surfaces to a facetted polygon mesh.