Google sketchup = very large prints

dmglakewood

Google sketchup = very large prints
June 29, 2013 06:56PM

Registered: 10 years ago
Posts: 17

I'm using google sketchup to create my 3d items. The problem I'm having though is that all my items come out larger then I drew them in google sketchup. I draw them using inches and then export an stl in mm. I then use slicer and print the object.

I created a floor drain that was supposed to be 6 1/4" wide and it was 6 3/4". The larger the prints the further off the sizes are. Can anyone explain to me why this is happening and how to fix it? Is it a program error or is it maybe a machine calibration error?

Thanks

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dissidence

Re: Google sketchup = very large prints
June 29, 2013 07:09PM

Registered: 14 years ago
Posts: 800

this issue rings a bell but its not coming to mind, if you made a test cube in mm dose it still do it.?

if you are using slicer check to see if you are scaling it your settings.

[mike-mack.blogspot.com]

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twisted

Re: Google sketchup = very large prints
June 29, 2013 07:25PM

Admin
Registered: 11 years ago
Posts: 50

I always get an issue with sizing using sketch, and as yet not sure how to solve it.

But I do have a work around.

Once complete open the item in netfab studio (free version). Measure a known length, and use the following webpage to easily find out how much the object needs to be scaled by. Pump that value into netfab scale option, then export and you are all ready to go.

h t t p://makemycalculator.com/Scale-factor-calculator-06281234.html

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/29/2013 07:26PM by twisted.

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dissidence

Re: Google sketchup = very large prints
June 29, 2013 07:38PM

Registered: 14 years ago
Posts: 800

i have never had that issue, but then again i design in mm from the get go so maybe that has something to do with that,

twisted what value do you normally get when you scale it.? or dose it change each time.?

[mike-mack.blogspot.com]

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tmorris9

Re: Google sketchup = very large prints
June 29, 2013 09:29PM

Registered: 11 years ago
Posts: 1,171

It's due to the conversion from mm to inches. If I bring stl files into my 3D program (Lightwave) I scale them by .0001 and they come in exactly the right size.

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dmglakewood

Re: Google sketchup = very large prints
June 29, 2013 11:01PM

Registered: 10 years ago
Posts: 17

Okay I started a new project in sketchup this time in mm and I created the same object. I then took it into netfabb to make sure the stl is good to go. Brought it into slicer and then printed it out. The object is still the same large size it was when I was using inches. Something seems off to me, I'm just not sure where to even start.

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dissidence

Re: Google sketchup = very large prints
June 29, 2013 11:02PM

Registered: 14 years ago
Posts: 800

hmm try importing a object from thingiverse then print it to see if the size is the same

[mike-mack.blogspot.com]

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dmglakewood

Re: Google sketchup = very large prints
June 29, 2013 11:04PM

Registered: 10 years ago
Posts: 17

I printed this thing yesterday and the nickle fit inside the circle piece perfectly. So it seems that the issue lies within google sketchup or netfabb

[www.thingiverse.com]

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dissidence

Re: Google sketchup = very large prints
June 29, 2013 11:07PM

Registered: 14 years ago
Posts: 800

maybe you imported it under the wrong unit then.?

i use sketchup my self for a lot of things and i dont run into that trouble. but your milage may very

[mike-mack.blogspot.com]

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swoozle

Re: Google sketchup = very large prints
June 29, 2013 11:15PM

Registered: 10 years ago
Posts: 65

I've had a similar problem and just scale the stl's by dividing by 25.4 in slic3r before slicing. No problem.

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dmglakewood

Re: Google sketchup = very large prints
June 29, 2013 11:21PM

Registered: 10 years ago
Posts: 17

8e0gMaIh.png

sAzHWQEh.png

2i8YpzR.png

Sketchup and netfabb both report the image at the correct size but pronterface as you can see reports something different.

Edit: I guess this forum doesn't show wide images. If you right click on them and choose view image you will be able to see the numbers I highlighted

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/29/2013 11:22PM by dmglakewood.

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dissidence

Re: Google sketchup = very large prints
June 29, 2013 11:22PM

Registered: 14 years ago
Posts: 800

did you check your scale size when you made the gcode.?

[mike-mack.blogspot.com]

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dmglakewood

Re: Google sketchup = very large prints
June 29, 2013 11:26PM

Registered: 10 years ago
Posts: 17

I have the scale set to 1 in slic3r

CbCLAGd.png

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/29/2013 11:26PM by dmglakewood.

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tmorris9

Re: Google sketchup = very large prints
June 30, 2013 12:47AM

Registered: 11 years ago
Posts: 1,171

Hmm that is a very old version of Slic3r. Wonder if that has anything to do with it.

Maybe post the STL for us to look at.

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dmglakewood

Re: Google sketchup = very large prints
June 30, 2013 01:38AM

Registered: 10 years ago
Posts: 17

I just used the slic3r that came with my pronterface. I'm going to test out the new slic3r. So far it looks 100 times better then how it used to look. Hopefully the results are noticeable as well.

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dmglakewood

Re: Google sketchup = very large prints
June 30, 2013 01:46AM

Registered: 10 years ago
Posts: 17

Okay so when I load the stl file into slic3r and double click on the image it says it's the right size. When it exports the gcode and I load it into pronterface it somehow enlarges the size. Anyone have any ideas on that?

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dissidence

Re: Google sketchup = very large prints
June 30, 2013 01:56AM

Registered: 14 years ago
Posts: 800

Are you using a brim and skirt.? That will change the print size

[mike-mack.blogspot.com]

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dmglakewood

Re: Google sketchup = very large prints
June 30, 2013 02:08AM

Registered: 10 years ago
Posts: 17

I thought about that too. When I had the skirt it said it was 172mm and when I removed the skirt it still said 172mm

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Karmavore

Re: Google sketchup = very large prints
June 30, 2013 10:46AM

Registered: 11 years ago
Posts: 157

This sounds weird. +1 on using a newer version of Slic3r.

Adding a troubleshooting test: Does the same thing happen when you send it through Netfabb Could Services? [cloud.netfabb.com]

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dmglakewood

Re: Google sketchup = very large prints
June 30, 2013 02:07PM

Registered: 10 years ago
Posts: 17

Netfab cloud has been down for me for over a week. It keeps saying they will be back shortly.

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Mogal

Re: Google sketchup = very large prints
July 02, 2013 10:42AM

Registered: 11 years ago
Posts: 250

I'd say its a conversion error somewhere...

Model the item in mm, and try again...

And yes, try the newest Slic3r.

--------------------------------------------------------
Custom all metal CoreXY
- Duet 2 Wifi w/ PanelDue 7i
- 330mm x 360mm x 500mm
- 750w Silicon heater

Custom Mendel90
(Backup printer - Old reliable!) - Sold

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dmglakewood

Re: Google sketchup = very large prints
July 02, 2013 02:49PM

Registered: 10 years ago
Posts: 17

I tried the new slicer as well as redoing the whole model in mm and it's still giving me the same issues =/

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Mogal

Re: Google sketchup = very large prints
July 02, 2013 03:59PM

Registered: 11 years ago
Posts: 250

Willing to upload the STL file?

--------------------------------------------------------
Custom all metal CoreXY
- Duet 2 Wifi w/ PanelDue 7i
- 330mm x 360mm x 500mm
- 750w Silicon heater

Custom Mendel90
(Backup printer - Old reliable!) - Sold

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Greg Frost

Re: Google sketchup = very large prints
July 02, 2013 04:36PM

Registered: 13 years ago
Posts: 486

I can see in your slic3r image that the part is only 160mm wide ( look at the 10mm grid )
If you include the skirt, it is 172mm

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RP Iron Man

Re: Google sketchup = very large prints
July 05, 2013 12:30AM

Registered: 11 years ago
Posts: 246

I have a similar problem when exporting STLs from AutoDesk Inventor. I draw the objects in mm and when I export them as STLs they are consistently 10x smaller than my original object confused smiley

. I can easily scale them in Repetier but it is still really annoying.

I bet there is some setting either in the CAD program (Inventor in my case) or in the host software that governs this. I just have to find it...

Eric

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rhmorrison

Re: Google sketchup = very large prints
July 05, 2013 02:42AM

Registered: 14 years ago
Posts: 3,742

If your STL is 10x smaller than the orignal object then you are working in centimeters (cm) and NOT milimeters (mm).

1 mm = 1/10 cm

Bob Morrison
Wörth am Rhein, Germany
"Luke, use the source!"
BLOG - PHOTOS - Thingiverse

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RP Iron Man

Re: Google sketchup = very large prints
July 05, 2013 12:47PM

Registered: 11 years ago
Posts: 246

@Bob

I spend a lot of time drawing parts in Inventor and I NEVER work in cm. I know it looks that way since everything is scaled 10x smaller, but mm are the only units I use. I am absolutely sure of this. My only explanation was that it must be a scaling setting somewhere in Repetier. But then again, I only have this problem with Inventor STLs, so it must be an STL export setting confused smiley

I'll look into this...

Eric

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