I’m using Sketchup to prepare an architectural project for 3D-printing. My 3D-printer works best when the objects in the model are solid groups and components, and I need to achieve that in my model.
My issue is the following:
I’m modelling a curtain wall with mullions (I’ve created with the extension Profile Builder) and I need to “batch boolean” all the components and groups created in the curtain wall mullions. Is there a way to do it quickly? The final result should be a single solid group as in the last pic. I’ve used several extensions (i.e. Solid Inspector and some boolean extensions) but they don’t seem to be made for this specific task. If this works I will do the same procedure several times as it’s a big project and there’s lots of curtain walls in it. The aim with this procedure is to model the mullions as extrusions in the physically printed 3D model.
P.S.: I then need to attach the mullions to the underlay in the Sketchup file, i.e. the outer wall of the volume. Is there any way of doing this in the same way as for the mullions? So I can get a solid group in an automatic way.
I’m confused, what’s wrong with the standard solid tools ?
oh wait, is your profile up to date ? you’re using SUmake 2017 ?
I don’t remember, no solid tools in make 17 right ? because they would do that quite well, especially with simple volumes like that. merging simple volumes (solid groups) would only take a few clics.
To add to @ateliernab’s reply,
If this was drawn as all solids, you should be able to select all right click on it and select outer shell. This is assuming 2017 make has solid tools available.
Firstly, Sketchup Make is not licensed for commercial work.
Why do you have two sets of similar but not quite the same ‘Mullions’ and why is one set all raw geometry and the other all solid groups?
So with the raw geometry, use solid inspector to remove the internal faces and stray edges, then Fix it 101 to remove the unneeded surfaces edges, make group, Done.
With the group of groups, explode the group, select all the verticals and use Outershell, or explode and regroup, to make them one solid group, combine that group with the horizontal one using outershell. Or explode both and clean up as with the raw geometry.
With the building, triple click, right click, make group. Done.
Now having done all that either mullion group will combine with the building group, but neither will create a solid due to corners where you have edges coming together. This edge to edge joint anywhere in a ‘solid’ will stop it being a solid. It is a zero thickness point.
So you need to redesign the corners before you go any further. And if you are working as an architect or for an architect or any other commercial situation and these models are for work, then you need to buy Sketchup Pro.
Parts_mullions to join.skp (353.3 KB)
How can I join all the edges to create a solid out of the whole geometry? And thus make all corners between mullions look like this:
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The objective is to end up with a single whole solid component that can be 3D-printed. A subsequent building volume will be of course placed inside the frame that the mullions consist of.
It is what I would class as irreparable, or at least just easier to start over.
In Model Info/Unit untick Length Snapping. This is the most likely reason for the breakage.
This setting can make it possible for vertices to move ever so slightly from planar and when other edges intersect the faces things shatter. Trying to get everything to line up correctly again is virtually impossible.
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