Exporting Files to Be Opened in Sketchup
Tips and Tricks • Peter • 9 August 2017
![Exporting Files to Be Opened in Sketchup](https://centralinnovation.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Sketchup8.jpg)
On occasion you may get asked to provide a file from SOLIDWORKS in a different format. This could even be a file that can be opened in Google Sketchup.
For instance this part file
https://www.sketchup.com/
There are a number of versions of the Sketchup and the Pro version can open some CAD files but the free version can not.
If someone only has the free version there is a workaround.
Firstly save the file out as an .STL file.
Next we need to save it to a format that the free Sketchup can open. The Pro version can open DWG files but the free version is limited and one of the only options is a DAE file.
Luckily Meshlab can import STL files and export DAE files.
Download and install the free meshlab software.
http://www.meshlab.net/#download
Next open the STL file you saved out:
You can now save this as a DAE file.
Finally you can now open this in Sketchup.
Result:
Hopefully this helps!