I can't seem to create "a solid" no matter what I do

Technical Problems SketchUp
1

Hello!

New user working on his first model.

My understanding is that before sending a model to Shapeways I need to convert my model to “Outer Shell,” and for that to happen it needs to be “a solid.”

I’ve attached a file with a simple grid, but Solid Inspector says everything is shiny when I select the whole object, but Sketchup says it isn’t.

Any suggestions on how I fix this are welcome. Even when I create a simple box and pull it up into a cube then Sketchup says it isn’t a solid. It’s pretty frustrating.

Thanks for any help!

2

Here’s the file. Thanks for any help you can provide.

grid for forum.skp (1.5 MB)

3

Select all of it, right click and make group and it will be a solid.

Loose geometry can’t be a solid, it needs to be wrapped as a group or component.

4

Thanks very much – just so I understand, what’s the definition of "loose geometry? Do I always need to make everything into a group before sending ti to the printers?

Again, I appreciate the response.

5

Basically yes, Sketchup won’t tell you it is a solid unless it is a group or a component.
However often printing software will recognise loose as a solid, but it doesn’t hurt to wrap everything.

6

K cool. Have a good night.

7

One other thing, you need to get in the habit of Purging your files.
Things deleted are still in there until purged.
Window/Model info/Statistics and click Purge unused.
Here is your file purged from 1.5mb to 125kb.
grid for forumpurged.skp (125.1 KB)