# Sketchup keeps crashing when I try to import a skull **URL:** \ **Category:** 3D Printing\ **Created:** [November 18, 2015, 7:33pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/sketchup-keeps-crashing-when-i-try-to-import-a-skull/17695 "2015-11-18T19:33:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hansen644](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9de053/32.png) [@hansen644](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/hansen644)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 7:33pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/sketchup-keeps-crashing-when-i-try-to-import-a-skull/17695/1 "2015-11-18T19:33:44Z")
Not sure why when I try to import a stl skull from thingiverse sketchup will crash? I have no problems importing other stl items. ideas? ---
**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:** [November 18, 2015, 7:36pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/sketchup-keeps-crashing-when-i-try-to-import-a-skull/17695/2 "2015-11-18T19:36:14Z")
Is it crashing or.m does Sketchup just stop responding? If the later, give it more time. ---
**Author:** ![hansen644](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9de053/32.png) [@hansen644](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/hansen644)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 7:38pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/sketchup-keeps-crashing-when-i-try-to-import-a-skull/17695/3 "2015-11-18T19:38:30Z")
the screen locks up. Then I have to close sketchup ---
**Author:** ![hansen644](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9de053/32.png) [@hansen644](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/hansen644)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 7:39pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/sketchup-keeps-crashing-when-i-try-to-import-a-skull/17695/4 "2015-11-18T19:39:12Z")
Oh also so say not responding at the top of the sketchup screen ---
**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:** [November 18, 2015, 7:40pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/sketchup-keeps-crashing-when-i-try-to-import-a-skull/17695/5 "2015-11-18T19:40:25Z")
So you should follow this advice: > [@jim\_foltz](#): > > give it more time. ---
**Author:** ![hansen644](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9de053/32.png) [@hansen644](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/hansen644)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 7:41pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/sketchup-keeps-crashing-when-i-try-to-import-a-skull/17695/6 "2015-11-18T19:41:39Z")
will try it right now ---
**Author:** ![TheOnlyAaron](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/theonlyaaron/32/9436_2.png) [@TheOnlyAaron](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/TheOnlyAaron)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 7:42pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/sketchup-keeps-crashing-when-i-try-to-import-a-skull/17695/7 "2015-11-18T19:42:16Z")
STL files can contain huge amounts of geometry. It is possible that with a file like a skull (organic shape, lots of curves) that it is importing hundreds of thousands of polygons. Being patient is probably the best solution. ---
**Author:** ![hansen644](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9de053/32.png) [@hansen644](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/hansen644)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 7:44pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/sketchup-keeps-crashing-when-i-try-to-import-a-skull/17695/8 "2015-11-18T19:44:07Z")
OK thanks, will keep you posted, It is trying to import now. Will see if it does it ---
**Author:** ![colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/colin/32/266703_2.png) [@colin](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/colin)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 7:48pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/sketchup-keeps-crashing-when-i-try-to-import-a-skull/17695/9 "2015-11-18T19:48:46Z")
Do you have the thingiverse link for us to try the same model? ---
**Author:** ![hansen644](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9de053/32.png) [@hansen644](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/hansen644)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 7:50pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/sketchup-keeps-crashing-when-i-try-to-import-a-skull/17695/10 "2015-11-18T19:50:02Z")
> **[Celtic Skull by Artec 3d minus the Celtic Designs (see my page for an updated...](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:168602)** > > This is the Celtic Skull from Artec 3d with all the Celtic Removed. I've also beefed up (widened) his jaw and made his eyes slightley more evil. Wanted to get the skull a little smoother, but ran into problems. Might give it another go. ---
**Author:** ![hansen644](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9de053/32.png) [@hansen644](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/hansen644)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 7:56pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/sketchup-keeps-crashing-when-i-try-to-import-a-skull/17695/11 "2015-11-18T19:56:25Z")
still says not responding ---
**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:** [November 18, 2015, 8:15pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/sketchup-keeps-crashing-when-i-try-to-import-a-skull/17695/12 "2015-11-18T20:15:37Z")
Here’s a version with reduced face count (300.000 → 50.000) … ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/2X/5/51ce6b14e3a18365f6a2f43c6653049d8eb78b68.png) > **[Dropbox - File Deleted](https://www.dropbox.com/s/t81qu8cfacssaax/skull_reduced.zip?dl=0)** > > Dropbox is a free service that lets you bring your photos, docs, and videos anywhere and share them easily. Never email yourself a file again! ---
**Author:** ![colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/colin/32/266703_2.png) [@colin](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/colin)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 8:18pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/sketchup-keeps-crashing-when-i-try-to-import-a-skull/17695/13 "2015-11-18T20:18:08Z")
That took about 5 minutes to import. This one: > **[Improved Human Skull Pencil Topper by PocketBrain](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1126349)** > > New and improved! I decided not to just drop the new file in the old place, as I have improved it along many lines. > Reduced poly count and file size. > Beefed up cheekbones so it prints well without breakage. > Thickened teeth so they print... only took 2 minutes to import. The quicker one also has faces, your example seems to be wireframe, and no faces. Redrawing lines doesn’t fix them either, maybe it just has too many faces? ---
**Author:** ![slbaumgartner](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/slbaumgartner/32/7302_2.png) [@slbaumgartner](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/slbaumgartner)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 8:18pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/sketchup-keeps-crashing-when-i-try-to-import-a-skull/17695/14 "2015-11-18T20:18:48Z")
It took a few minutes, but it loaded on my Mac. MeshLab says the vertices are not indexed, and that may force SketchUp to work harder while importing, since it has to find and merge duplicates. Also, there are 300000 faces, which may be more detail than you really need. ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/2X/e/e215c11d1f306a48f463a5b464c074ef6609eb8a.png) ---
**Author:** ![TheOnlyAaron](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/theonlyaaron/32/9436_2.png) [@TheOnlyAaron](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/TheOnlyAaron)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 8:21pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/sketchup-keeps-crashing-when-i-try-to-import-a-skull/17695/15 "2015-11-18T20:21:13Z")
![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/2X/9/94127c4308ab48ac0e52a48cbf1e7f05bff83cc2.png) As stated, 300,000 faces… that’s a LOT of polys. ---
**Author:** ![hansen644](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9de053/32.png) [@hansen644](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/hansen644)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 8:32pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/sketchup-keeps-crashing-when-i-try-to-import-a-skull/17695/16 "2015-11-18T20:32:06Z")
Thanks for the download link but I can not seem to get it to download as a stl? ---
**Author:** ![hansen644](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9de053/32.png) [@hansen644](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/hansen644)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 8:34pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/sketchup-keeps-crashing-when-i-try-to-import-a-skull/17695/17 "2015-11-18T20:34:07Z")
ok got the link now to install. but just need a skull not a complete man if you have one? ---
**Author:** ![TheOnlyAaron](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/theonlyaaron/32/9436_2.png) [@TheOnlyAaron](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/TheOnlyAaron)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 8:37pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/sketchup-keeps-crashing-when-i-try-to-import-a-skull/17695/18 "2015-11-18T20:37:07Z")
Try this: Head over to [3D Warehouse](https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/search.html?q=skull&rsi=sbis&backendClass=entity), rather than thingiverse… then you are more likely to f[ind a “SketchUp friendly” skull!](https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/search.html?q=skull&rsi=sbis&backendClass=entity) ---
**Author:** ![hansen644](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9de053/32.png) [@hansen644](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/hansen644)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 8:37pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/sketchup-keeps-crashing-when-i-try-to-import-a-skull/17695/19 "2015-11-18T20:37:41Z")
Ok thank you very much ---
**Author:** ![john\_drivenupthewall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@john\_drivenupthewall](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/john_drivenupthewall)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 11:36pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/sketchup-keeps-crashing-when-i-try-to-import-a-skull/17695/20 "2015-11-18T23:36:30Z")
@jim_foltz maybe a ‘thingyverse’ option for the importer that runs it thru ‘meshlabserver’ would be an nice enhancement… john