# Importing STL files **URL:** \ **Category:** SketchUp\ **Created:** [August 31, 2015, 12:35am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/importing-stl-files/14686 "2015-08-31T00:35:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Keith09360](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9fc348/32.png) [@Keith09360](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Keith09360)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 12:35am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/importing-stl-files/14686/1 "2015-08-31T00:35:50Z")
I have installed the STL extension for Sketchup 2015 and it shows as installed. When I try to import an STL file the status bar shows Importing Geometry for a number of seconds then the UI flickers then it displays Importing STL Done but the image does not show when i click in the workspace the status bar changes to Select Objects. Shift to extend select. Drag mouse to select multiple, but still there is nothing in the work area. I have tried a number of different stl files but none display ---
**Author:** ![DanRathbun](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/danrathbun/32/500_2.png) [@DanRathbun](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DanRathbun)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 12:42am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/importing-stl-files/14686/2 "2015-08-31T00:42:14Z")
Did you go through the Import Options dialog, and set a unit or scale ? (More than likely it has imported extremely small. Do a **ZoomExtents** after import to confirm.) ---
**Author:** ![Keith09360](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9fc348/32.png) [@Keith09360](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Keith09360)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 1:05am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/importing-stl-files/14686/3 "2015-08-31T01:05:04Z")
Yes I tried it at meters, feet and it made no difference, I tried it at millimetres and it made no difference I set the template to 3D printing I have tried just about every setting and still no image/object apperas ---
**Author:** ![DanRathbun](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/danrathbun/32/500_2.png) [@DanRathbun](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DanRathbun)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 1:35am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/importing-stl-files/14686/4 "2015-08-31T01:35:22Z")
OK, well then the next thing is to either post some STL files (or links to them,) that others can try to import. ---
**Author:** ![Geo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/geo/32/82_2.png) [@Geo](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Geo)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 10:37am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/importing-stl-files/14686/5 "2015-08-31T10:37:02Z")
> [@Keith09360](#): > > I set the template to 3D printing The 3D Printing Template makes no difference. In fact, it adds a lot of unnecessary clutter to the model… > [@Changing the 3D Printer Volume](http://forums.sketchup.com/t/changing-the-3d-printer-volume/13270/5): > > The 3D Printing Template adds \>15,000 mostly hidden 3D Text edges to the model right from the start. An ‘empty’ model using the 3D Printing Template is 1091.72KB The same file with the 3D Printer Build Volume component deleted and purged is only 10.37KB Like @Box says, the printer box you choose is nothing more than a visual guide. That is, it will not control or limit the size of your model nor tell you the exact overall dimensions. You might find it easier to work with the Defa… ---
**Author:** ![Cotty](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/cotty/32/251290_2.png) [@Cotty](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Cotty)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 3:53pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/importing-stl-files/14686/6 "2015-08-31T15:53:34Z")
Have you created the files with STL export yourself? If so, make sure that you don’t used the combination “nothing selected in the model” and “only export selected objects”. In this case, there is no geometry in the saves STL file. ---
**Author:** ![SketchUpTeam](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/sketchupteam/32/134077_2.png) [@SketchUpTeam](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/SketchUpTeam)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 7:51pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/importing-stl-files/14686/7 "2015-08-31T19:51:30Z")
A workaround may be to upload your model in 3D Warehouse and use the new Printables feature! > [@3D Printing using SketchUp: tutorial](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/3d-printing-using-sketchup-tutorial/9835/1): > > [UPDATE: I want to note that we now have a Printables feature on 3DWarehouse!](http://help.sketchup.com/en/article/3000188) Printables is a feature that makes it easier for millions of 3D Warehouse users to create, share, and print STL files. It’s built directly into 3D Warehouse, so there’s no need to download any additional plugins. Simply upload your SketchUp model to the 3D Warehouse, make it public, checkmark it Printable. From there, 3D Warehouse will hand your model off to Materialise’s Cloud Services which will analyze your model and automatically fix some of the most common issues that are known to hamper 3D Printing workflows. They will then generate a watertight STL file and send it back to 3D Warehouse where it will be available for you to download. > > [Also, check out this Knowledge Center Article: Making a model 3D Printable.](http://help.sketchup.com/en/article/3000189) ---
**Author:** ![Keith09360](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9fc348/32.png) [@Keith09360](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Keith09360)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 8:37pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/importing-stl-files/14686/8 "2015-08-31T20:37:55Z")
The files are those which I have downloaded via the site where I am purchasing my 3D printer. They are stored on my computer now. I cannot give you a link to the files as they are only available via subscription. So I cannot give you a link. I am not sure it is exactly legal for me to share those files, and in doing so I may be in breech of legal agreements with the publishers of the subscription and the owners of the files. ---
**Author:** ![DanRathbun](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/danrathbun/32/500_2.png) [@DanRathbun](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DanRathbun)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 8:42pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/importing-stl-files/14686/9 "2015-08-31T20:42:37Z")
Well then test importing some STL files from some other source(s). Just to be sure your Importer plugin and SketchUp are working correctly. Secondly, go ahead and share the name of the company, and the name of these “problem files.” Someone can at least look into their specific STL file format. (It can differ from company to company because some companies vary from the file specification.) ---
**Author:** ![Keith09360](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9fc348/32.png) [@Keith09360](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Keith09360)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 8:49pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/importing-stl-files/14686/10 "2015-08-31T20:49:58Z")
Thank-you for that information. I only tried that step out of desperation and when it didn’t work I went back to Simple Template - Meters (units Meters) or Simple Template - Feet and Inches (units Inches) (there should be an option to use centimeters with the meters option) - still it is not working. ---
**Author:** ![manuecs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea5d25/32.png) [@manuecs](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/manuecs)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 11:59pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/importing-stl-files/14686/11 "2016-12-27T23:59:14Z")
I try to import very large STL files, about 18.1mb, and Sketchup hands forever, then I need force to quit sketchup. When I press “Force to quit” button, in this precise moment, the sketchup window redraws and show the 3D model, but the quit was done and sketchup is closed by the system… I hope that you can do some work for fix this. Manuel… ---
**Author:** ![jim\_foltz](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/jim_foltz/32/74787_2.png) [@jim\_foltz](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/jim_foltz)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2016, 10:56am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/importing-stl-files/14686/12 "2016-12-28T10:56:17Z")
Hello @manuecs SketchUp can get slow when adding a lot of geometry. Did you try importing with the “Merge geometry” option off? It may help. The fact that the model appears when forced closed could mean that the importer was finished importing the actual geometry but was in the process of cleaning up when SketchUp was terminated. You may need to give it even more time. ---
**Author:** ![manuecs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea5d25/32.png) [@manuecs](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/manuecs)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2016, 9:31pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/importing-stl-files/14686/13 "2016-12-28T21:31:37Z")
Hello. Yes I try several times import with “Merge Geometry off”, but is the same. some times the app hangs for 30 mins for same file, and the result is the same, the window is redraw in the moment that I force quit. ---
**Author:** ![jim\_foltz](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/jim_foltz/32/74787_2.png) [@jim\_foltz](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/jim_foltz)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2016, 9:34pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/importing-stl-files/14686/14 "2016-12-28T21:34:37Z")
Can you share the file, or a link to it? ---
**Author:** ![Box](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/box/32/235164_2.png) [@Box](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Box)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2016, 12:16am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/importing-stl-files/14686/15 "2016-12-29T00:16:37Z")
30 minutes isn’t very long, I have waited 12 hours for something to import. It works but often it is very slow, it all depends on what it is. ---
**Author:** ![manuecs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea5d25/32.png) [@manuecs](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/manuecs)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2017, 3:27am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/importing-stl-files/14686/16 "2017-04-27T03:27:18Z")
I have earned to hate Sketchup, if it can not import STL files or quit unexpectedly going to ruin hours of work or full my work with hidden and destructive geometry. ☹ terrible… ---
**Author:** ![Cotty](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/cotty/32/251290_2.png) [@Cotty](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Cotty)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2017, 5:48pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/importing-stl-files/14686/17 "2017-04-27T17:48:24Z")
I hope you have not waited 3 months for the import now…