MakerBot - SketchUp to ReplicatorG Workflow

The following documents my workflow for designing parts to print on my MakerBot. This document is intended for people new to MakerBot design. In this document, you will:

1. Create a 3D part in Sketchup
2. Export the 3D object to STL format
3. Open the STL export in ReplicatorG
4. Generate the object's GCode
5. Print

Software used:

• Google SketchUp
• SketchUp to DXF STL Converter SketchUp plugin by Nathan Bromham and Konrad Shroeder
• ReplicatorG

Step 1 - Create a 3D part in Sketchup
The first step in printing an object in your MakerBot is to design the object. You can design an object in Google SketchUp or in OpenSCAD. In this document, you will design the part in SketchUp. I am using SketchUp version 8. These instructions should also work for SketchUp 6 and 7.

Create a blank SketchUp document. Make sure your scale is in mm.

Draw a shape in 3D. Make sure your shapes all have depth. Creating 2D shapes will cause ReplicatorG to fail when generating the GCode. It's a 3D printer, y'all. My shape will be a simple rectangle extruded into 3D space.

This concludes Step 1 - Create a 3D part in Sketchup

Step 2 - Export the 3D object to STL format

Use the STL plugin to export the object into STL format. Make sure your object is not selected. From the Tools menu, select "Export to DXF or STL".

SketchUp will prompt you that you have no items selected. Press the "Yes" button.

Select "milimeters" as your export unit. Press the "OK" button.

Choose "stl" as the export format.

Choose a good location for your STL design file.

You will now see a SketchUp export report.

This completes Step 2 - Export the 3D object to STL format.

Step 3 - Open the STL export in ReplicatorG

Open ReplicatorG. From the File menu, select "Open".

Select your STL file you exported from SketchUp.

Your design file will open in ReplicatorG.

Your object may be too small or too large for your build platform. You may need to rotate or scale the image. I will scale mine to make it the correct size. You can avoid this through careful design in SketchUp.

This concludes Step 3 - Open the STL export in ReplicatorG

Step 4 - Generate the object's GCode

Generating the GCode is easy, but may take a few minutes. From within ReplicatorG, click the "Generate GCode" button. Progress of the build will appear on the screen.

This concludes Step 4 - Generate the object's GCode

Step 5 - Print

Connect your MakerBot. Your object is now ready to print!

This concludes Step 5 - Print as well as the tutorial.