My model has individual lines marking the shape of a filet. Can these be made smooth? I’m making a model for a 3d printer.
Triple click on the geometry to select it all, right click on it, choose Soften/Smooth Edges from the Context menu. That willeffectively hide the edges dividing the surface into its faces but the faces will still be present and may show in your 3D print.
As for as the print goes, however, it makes no difference whether those edges are displayed or not.
How big have you modeled it?
After doing what @DaveR suggests, I would also put a 45 degree fillet on the part I have circled as its a 90 degree overhang.
Thanks to you both. It looks smooth now, but it’s interesting that DaveR says it doesn’t need to be done for the model to print a smooth filet. This was the first time I made a filet and I did it by creating a square on the corner putting in a circle, then using the push pull tool and follow me to go around the corner. I don’t see how to use that method to create the filet as @Spoon suggets in his post.
My point is that the surface won’t be any smoother in the print with those edges softened. To make a smoother surface in the print you’ll need to use a larger number of sides for the arcs.
What Spoon is suggesting is to add a chamfer around the outside of that top screw boss. Nothing to do with your rounded fillet.
Can you share your .skp file with us?
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I see what spoon suggests. How do I do that?
I would select the circle at the base of the boss and in Entity Info increase the radius by the height of the boss above the vertical face. That would give you a 45° chamfer.
@Box is right. Your slicer might do that for you.
This is the STL file,
corner brace.stl (55.2 KB)
How about sharing the .skp file instead?
Just so you know, I feel you are being rude.
a .skp option is not given for exporting a 3D file. Is there another way to create it?
DaveR: I was using the “Export” command. I don’t have “Download”
Your forum profile indicates you are using SketchUp Go which is web based and on which I based my instructions.
Just save the file and upload it from wherever you saved it. A native SketchUp file has the .skp extension. You don’t export it.
Also fix your forum profile so it accurately reflects the version of SketchUp you are using.
I do not use SketchUp Go anymore, just the Pro version. I will change my profile as you suggest. here is the native file.
corner brace.skp (679.8 KB)
By the way. I never noticed the native file was a skp file, the extension only appears when you upload it .
So you are modeling this thing at real-world dimensions. If you want to be able to create smoother curves, model as if millmeters are meters. Set the Model Units to meters and export the .stl with Meters set in the Export Options panel. Then you can use larger numbers of segments in arcs and circles to get smoother curves.
The extension would appear in Finder if you have it set to show extensions.
Here is something to think about. Some people learn SketchUp for particular tasks. In my case, making layout plans for woodworking. As a consequence there are a whole lot of features of SketchUp that I never examined. I didn’t need them. Now, I’ve added a need to create models for 3D printing and I have different needs. There are still features of SketchUp that I don’t have a need for so I am not going to learn how to use them no matter how many 4 year periods I have left.
Thank you (DaveR) for your help
You’re welcome.
Here I’ve remade your model using the method I described.
BTW, yours still has a way to go to be printable since there are a number of geometry problems in your screw bosses.
corner brace dr.skp (240.3 KB)
This is the object in the slicer.
I have removed my posts as most of them could be read as bullying.