I've been trying to learn sketchup pro all day today.  This is my first foray into 3d modeling. I'm trying to have some z things 3d printed. 

I've tried importing the jpg file and drawing an outline over the top but haven't been successful. Perhaps its the angle of the picture i'm using. I don't know.

 

 

Anyone got any suggestions? I sure wish i had one of those 3d scanners!

Edited December 26, 20159 yr by hr369

SketchUp is an excellent program, but it uses surfaces. For 3D printing you need a solid modeling program. I messed around with ViaCad 2D/3D for a while, and recently bought ViaCad Pro, on sale for about $175. It will do 3D printing, supposedly. Haven't done much with it. Sketchup seems to be more brilliantly thought-out.There are a lot of other programs out there, but I haven't tried any.

 

To do a 3D model in SU, of framing for a house, for example, I take a 2D floor plan, import it to SU, dimension it, and pull it out until the dimensions are correct. Then trace the walls over it. Then you can pull it up into 3D.

I use sketch Up for printing. What are you modeling

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I use sketch Up for printing. What are you modeling

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Starting out simple with one of these boxes. Then a radio faceplate. I'm starting to think a silicone mold for the faceplate would be easier.

 

 

 

I did a knob with silicone mold and it turned out great.

Edited December 26, 20159 yr by hr369

SketchUp is an excellent program, but it uses surfaces. For 3D printing you need a solid modeling program. I messed around with ViaCad 2D/3D for a while, and recently bought ViaCad Pro, on sale for about $175. It will do 3D printing, supposedly. Haven't done much with it. Sketchup seems to be more brilliantly thought-out.There are a lot of other programs out there, but I haven't tried any.

 

To do a 3D model in SU, of framing for a house, for example, I take a 2D floor plan, import it to SU, dimension it, and pull it out until the dimensions are correct. Then trace the walls over it. Then you can pull it up into 3D.

That's what i'm trying to do. Using a 2d photo. The part i stumble on is after its completely traced out. I try to pull it (3rd) dimension out, nothing happens.

You need to have a closed polygon in one 2D plane to pull it up. Won't work if there's any gaps in the polygon, or any lines that don't quite connect.  Sometimes I draw something I think is in one plane, but when I look at it from another direction it's out of plane (warped).

 

There's some Z cars in the SU 3D warehouse.

We have a FB makers group.

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/datsunmakersgroup/

OK, it is the angle of the picture you're using. Tracing walls on a floor plan and pulling them into 3D is easy, but making a SU drawing from a perspective view or photo is a more advanced technique. SU has a video about how to do it, but it might be better to learn some easier stuff first.

I do a lot of reverse engineering and for simple parts measuring and drawing 2D is the most accurate and usually the quickest. I then use the 2D drawing to create the model. Ultimately if you are printing you will want to output your final product as a watertight mesh. 

You need to have a closed polygon in one 2D plane to pull it up. Won't work if there's any gaps in the polygon, or any lines that don't quite connect.  Sometimes I draw something I think is in one plane, but when I look at it from another direction it's out of plane (warped).

 

There's some Z cars in the SU 3D warehouse.

Yep that's it, i rotated it around and i was missing lines.  This thing is so simple in shape, I think its better to just draw it myself rather than try tracing.

I was hoping someone out there had a slick program that converted a Jpg file into a 3d sketchup or a dxf file. I've tried a couple now with less than desirable

results.

We have a FB makers group.

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/datsunmakersgroup/

Oh heck yea. Great stuff !

Here's a link to a video about photo matching with SU:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hSyw6bobpc&index=35&list=PL190C90DCE62242C9

 

Like you said, it's probably easier to do simple model from scratch.

 

Also, looks like I was relying on old information when I said you can't do 3D printing with SU. However, SU model needs to be converted to STL file. http://blog.sketchup.com/sketchupdate/stls-3d-printing-and-out-sketchup-two-clicks

 

I should study this stuff too.