Missing Geometry in Final Print

[sensebellum 2]

I am having some trouble getting CURA to recognize certain holes in my model.

The hole is present in Sketchup, also in CURA's "Normal" and "X-Ray" view. But when I look at the actually layers it omits this hole completely - and in actuality as I found out at the end of a print. I tried a few different customizations and also the stock options and the paths were rendered just the same. It also ignores them regardless if the file is a .dae or .stl

How can I rectify this?

Also, is there a guide for formatting the models correctly for CURA? I would be interested in learning some of the tricks.

 

[Dim3nsioneer 557]

Check the expert settings: Is any 'fix horrible' option set? If yes, disable it...

 

[jonnybischof 60]

The most important things when working with Sketchup & Cura, are imho:

1. disable all "Fix horrible" settings, as Dim3nsioneer mentioned.

2. Fix all horrible stuff yourself

Meaning, make sure there is nothing "red" in the "X-Ray" view, such as internal planes, or holes in your mesh (like missing faces).

 

[DidierKlein 729]

Just my two cents here: maybe use DesignSpark Mechanical as CAD software instead of Sketchup (i find it much better for parts like this and you'll have better STLs to print with it)

 

[Daid 306]

Check the expert settings: Is any 'fix horrible' option set? If yes, disable it...

 

If "type A" is checked, and the hole shows up then. Then the normals of your model are actually wrong which is why the hole goes missing.

 

[mnis 11]

I believe the following hints:

Go to Sketchup on "window" to the "Model Properties", and then:

 

- Reduce the Decimal precision up to max. 3 Dezimal places, more is not required for 3D printing with most of all machines.

 

- Take advantage of the length snapping function, you need less then zoom in on structures.

 

- Use in the SketchUp options "automatic correction".

 

- Use the wire-grid-view and remove unnecessary structures within a model.

 

- At circle shapes (Circle segments and even Hexagons) directly adjacent lines can cause Problems in Cura, I believe. This can lead to sudden closed holes in the finished object, which are displayed then closed in Cura only in the layer view. So I think I have experienced it several times.

- For adjacent lines use simlpy a safety distance of perhaps 0.1 mm. There is no problem, and later on the finished object, not recognizable.

Generally holding a watchful eye on possible areas of overlap.

 

- Dark areas are appearing interior surfaces and exterior surfaces are lighter, this must be corrected manually sometimes.

 

- The areas displayed incorrectly must be turned around only really before conversion to DAE. A right mouse click on the displayed incorrectly area and then select "Reverse Faces".

- There are many useful plug-ins, they can simplify working with SketchUp much.

At the moment I do not need any plugin's.

I was for example recently recommended a plugin that can highlight potential problems in the object. So flawless body volume for 3D printing are possible at the end. Unfortunately I forgot the name of the plug-in.

At the end are possible with a little practice good to very good designs with SketchUp. For some SketchUp is perhaps too simple or too complicated. Anyway, everyone decides for himself.

And clean DAE's Cura treated exactly as STL's, I mean. The objects can in fact be easily scale, rotate, and even multiply :smile:.

They can even be printed out.

Markus

 

[sensebellum 2]

Great advice everyone.

I found that unenabling all of the "Fix Horrible" options allowed the holes to be rendered but subsequently caused other problems in the model. I then exported the Sketchup model as an .stl file and it was loaded cleanly.

Jonnybischof, oddly enough there was no red in the x-ray view that I saw.

I'll be sure to set the resolution for future projects more finely detailed, thanks for the tip mnis.