Introduction
Challenge

Solid Models in Sketchup

screenShot.png


In order to 3D print your models, they must be solid, watertight , manifold. The model must not have any extra lines or faces. If you make your object into a group or component, Sketchup will let you know if it's solid by opening the Entity Info dialog box. Click on your model and open Window>Entity Info.



Making Your Model Solid
  1. Open SketchUp

  2. Create two separate grouped objects:


  3. Click on a Group and open the Entity Window by clicking Window>Entity Info. Right now each group is solid.


  4. Move the groups together so that they intersect each other. You may need to scale one of your groups


  5. Select both groups and CTRL+click on them. Select Intersect Faces>From Selection from the Context Menu:


  6. Select both Groups and CTRL+click. Select Make Group from the Context Menu. Open the Entity Info> you'll see that your model is no longer solid:


  7. CTRL+click on the Group of groups and select Explode from the Context Menu:


  8. Select the ring:
    select_where_shapes_meet.png

  9. CTRL+click on your selection and choose Make Group from the Context Menu:
    select_where_shapes_meet_group.png

  10. CTRL+click on this group and select Edit Group from the Context Menu
    edit_ring.png
  11. If your ring doesn't look like this:
    edit_group.png

    Go to View>Component Edit> and select Hide Rest Of Model
    hide_rest_of_model.png

  12. Select the entire ring:
    select_perimeter.png

  13. From Edit menu select Copy

  14. Click outside of the grouped box to bring the other entities back. Select the ring group and hit DELETE to erase it:
    select_ring_delete.png

  15. CTRL+click on another entity and select Edit Group from Context Menu:
    select_one_of_the_groups_edit.png

  16. Select Paste in Place from the Edit menu:
    paste_in_place.png

  17. Select the interior of the ring:
    selectinterior1.png

  18. Delete the interior
    delete_interior1.png

  19. Click outside the box and CTRL+click on the other Group. Select Edit Group from Context Menu:
    edit_other_group.png

  20. Again, select Paste in Place from the Edit menu:
    paste_in_place2.png
    pasted.png

  21. Delete the unwanted faces:
    delete2.png

  22. Click outside the group. Select both groups and CTRL+click on them and select Explode from the Context Menu:
    select_explode.png

  23. CTRL+click on them and select Make Group from the Context Menu:
    select_group.png

  24. Open Entity Window. You should see that you now have a Solid Group:
    solid2.png



Now what?

  1. Create a solid model with a series of grouped objects.