Welcome to Beginning Google SketchUp for 3D Printing. I’m pleased that you chose this book as a companion to guide you in your 3D printing and SketchUp modeling adventures. Whether you’re an experienced pro or a seasoned 3D designer, hobbyist, craftsperson, or artist who is new to Google SketchUp and Shapeways, you will find valuable information and step-by-step instructions to help you develop your SketchUp expertise for 3D printing.

The book is divided into three sections. If you are a Google SketchUp and Shapeways beginner, I recommend you start with a close reading of Part I, because it lays out some of the basics of modeling in SketchUp and 3D printing in Shapeways. Those of you who are intermediate to advanced users can skim through the chapters to find what most appeals to you. Part II of the book focuses on developing models in Google SketchUp for 3D printing in Shapeways. Part III is all about presenting and sharing your models. The book concludes with future developments in 3D printing. To set the stage for you to start thinking about 3D printing, I’ll introduce the different printing methods for some historical perspective.

3D-printing and personal fabrication are upon us! You've heard of incredibly sophisticated, but cheap, 3D printers that supposedly produce almost anything we tell them to. But how do you become part of that revolution?

Sandeep Singh takes you through the skills we need to learn, and the services and technologies you need to knowâ?"separating the hype from reality and explaining what 3D printing is, how it works, and why you need to be able to engage in it. You’ll gain the knowledge needed to produce complex designs that can be fabricated by online 3D printing services or privately owned 3D printers.

This book first be dives into using Sketchup and its plugins to make design products. Then it demonstrates how to present and animate 3D models, and in particular how to use Google Earth and 3D Warehouse to make an optimal case for sales and marketing your 3D models. Finally, you’ll take a look into the future of 3D printing, ripe with even more disruptive technologies like RepRap and widespread personal fabrication.

• Introduces Sketchup
• Teaches 3D Modeling
• Builds 3D Printing Expertise

What you’ll learn

• 3D design for beginners
• Using Sketchup
• Using the online 3D printing pipeline
• Animating Sketchup 3D models
• Becoming familiar with rapid prototyping technology
• Navigating new 3D and personal fabrication technologies
• Negotiate Google Earth and 3D Warehouse with confidence

Who this book is for

3D Designers, hobbyists, woodworkers, craftsmen and artists.