MakePrintable closing shop

[Dennis_n]

I just got am email that MakePrintable.com is closing the service in January 2023.
my whole process of making architectural sketchup models print was hinging on MakePrintable.com .
It was pulling the most messed up files and making it work.
I was looking for alternatives, but could not find anything even remotely able to fix my messy design models.

please, if you know anything else that works for3d printing complex SU, SHARE

Dennis

[Dave R]

Not trying to be snarky or anything but the first thing I would be doing is looking at workflow and modeling process improvements to make your models un-messy so they don't require a service to make them printable. Even in complex models that shouldn't be a difficult thing to achieve. Although not architectural, here are a couple of examples. They are clean and would be 3D printable without requiring any cleanup.

[ntxdave]

Your thoughts are what I was thinking also. First step should be to make the models clean and there are several tools available to clean up models. I am sure some of you can provide a list and or links to them.

[Dave R]

ThomThom's Solid Inspector and Solid Inspector². CleanUp³. TIG's Solid Solver would be good to start.

[Rich O Brien]

You could export your model to .dae and use Blender's 3D Print Toolbox Addon...

https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/3.3/ ... olbox.html

...to analyse and fix the mesh issues.

I've used it along with Blender's Remesh feature to get printable results from otherwise labour intensive models.

But Dave's advice is gold. Mine is last chance saloon

[Dennis_n]

on clean models: the purpose of an architectural model is a form discovery. trying hundreds of combinations. by the time I'm done, the model is a xxx mess but I get a presentable image and the client is happy. now to print it, all I had to do is run it through makeprintable.com. otherwise it may take weeks to make clean.
You see why I'm stressing.
Blender was not enough for an architectural design model last time I tried. (

anyone printing architecture?

[Dave R]

I do see why you're stressing. Your models are allowed to get out of your control and you need someone else to fix them up. Maybe try Rich's suggestion.

[Dennis_n]

wow, looks like no Sketchup design architects are 3d printing at all!

[rspierenburg]

Just curious if you tried any of the suggestions above? Perhaps once you have the form you are looking to do a print of you can re-create a clean solid version in a new sketchup instance with the intent of 3d Printing it.

I would think most "Design Architects" would agree with the previous comments posted above regarding workflow.

Any chance you can post an example of a model you created so we could take a look at what your needs are?