I haven’t used Sketchup in ages and want to reprint this model (with clean holes where the three tubes intersect with the ring). It’s part of a light fixture I’d printed in PLA that has degraded and needs replacement (nylon). The resulting holes are for the bulbs.
How do delete I those three tubes and leave clean holes in their absence? My best effort leaves the interior exposed. I’d really appreciate some guidance on this!
Hello, you have to use solid tools. That implies working with solids. I doubt you are since you have misoriented faces for a start
Use solid inspector or solid inspector2 extension to spot and fix elements preventing your objects from being solid
You need every single object to be a separate group or component. Each tube should be one, your ring should be one. If you focus on the fact that the whole model should be a solid, it won’t work. Whatch the video I posted.
Once your ring is a solid group or component, you will be able to substract the selected tubes if they are solids as well, and it will create a hole where they are
You should share your SketchUp model file so we can see exactly what you’ve got modeled.
You got it,
Ceiling Light Round (print).skp (3.4 MB)
I hope this can be resurrected to re-print in Nylon. The original, printed in PLA, has degraded over years of use.
Thank you for your attention on this,
Carl Simring
From rereading your post, to get the 3 holes in the model I’d have to group each tube separately. Can that be accomplished while they remain inside the model?
If I have to remove each one to group it and then reposition it again inside the model. I really hope they can be separately grouped while still in their current positions because I question if I’m able to relocate them and reposition them as they are. I created the original file maybe 10 years ago. My printer and Sketchup are not used very often anymore (I’m turning 80 next month).
When I installed/used Solid Inspector yesterday I ran it with everything grouped together. So that won’t work that way, right (because all these elements were grouped together b4 using Solid Inspector?)?
I’m thinking that I have to go back to the original model (everything model/tubes grouped together) and explode that and regroup just the model (not the tubes) and group that and then separately group the three tubes. Then I use solid inspector to repair each of the groups.
Is that right?
Ring = 1 single solid group
Each tube = solid group (or component)
Then solid tools : substract
The model is ‘easily’ fixed but takes some explanation and work to show you how to fix it.
Do you wish to learn once again how to do it or are you just wanting the fixed file so you can print a new one and move on?
Hello Box! You’re still helping people after all these years. I still have a few short clips you made for me 10-15 (?) years back. Very positive memories, thank you Sir!
I would really like to just print this. I am no longer doing much design work so going thru the learning curve would be a strain/struggle. This is all about creating a lasting light fixture (that my daughter will someday have).
Thank you, again.
CS
why not ? 
there’s nothing more noble than bringing help
Try this one.
Ceiling Light Round (print)Box.skp (320.1 KB)
I’m using SKup 2016 Pro, its saying “Unexpected file format” when I try to open it.
Sorry, try this.
Ceiling Light Round (print)Box-v_2016.skp (602.4 KB)
IT WORKED!!!
I’m slicing it and soon to print.
Very grateful,
Godspeed
CS
Box
I hadn’t checked any of the measurements on the model I sent you and didn’t realize until yesterday I’d wasted your time. That original model file I sent you had a big problem, the z axis was almost 50% smaller than it should have been, and the ‘ring’ was sized not quite 50% larger than it should have been. There’s nothing I can imagine that would explain how that could , , ,?? Schizophrenia?
I wasted a bunch of time with the scale tool finally realizing the model would have to be completely redone. I’ve been processing that for the last 24 hours.
THEN, just a few minutes ago I realized I might not have thoroughly searched my SketchUp folder. There, in the very last folder there was to check, I found an old copy w/no tubes, just holes. It has one surface gap/hole and a few minor internal problems but was sized correctly. I ran SuSolid tools and fix’d some of this already, but there’s a few remaining internal conflicts and that surface gap remains unfilled.
Would you do a final cleanup of these last lingering issues?
Thanks for being there,
CS
Celing Light Round converted COPY.skp (908.7 KB)
Try this one. I have repaired it but it is not as good as it could be due to the way it was originally made. If you posted accurate dimensions it could be remade in a couple of minutes more accurately.
Some of the issues are, the circles have not been drawn on axis and they have different segmentation which doesn’t help things line up. The ‘tubes’ cut through the bulge at just the wrong point which causes issues. It could be redone but if this fixed model works for you I’m happy to leave it there.
Box
Am printing current model w/report back,
Good Morning Box
Print failed. The bottom ring printed garbage connecting all three holes and one hole had nothing but support filament holding the bottom of the hole together. That hole bottom and the section of the bottom ring below it was completely missing when I removed the support filament (yellow area on top hole of image below).
I think the only option is for me to send you measurements and go for your re-do.
I’ll get on that today/tomorrow and forward the info to you. This is what SuSolid’s showing on that last file I sent you to wrestle with:
I’m now wondering ‘what I did wrong’ with that original model with it’s jumble of surfaces. If you have links or info at hand that will help guide this rather clueless neophyte, I’m willing to attempt to mobilize my 80 year old brain and reawaken my Sketchup neural pathways. (I owe us both that,)
Will send measurements in the meantime,
Be well,
humbly,
CS
