Does Flexsim support Google SketchUp ?

Does Flexsim support Google SketchUp 3D software?
http://sketchup.google.com/

The Pro version of Sketchup is able to export as VRML(*.wrl), 3DS and DXF formats which you can use with Flexsim. There are options for each export which may improve compatibility.

The free version is limited to Collada (DAE) and KMZ exports, so you would probably need to convert them using another tool.

I bought Sketchup Pro specifically for its ability to export files compatible with Flexsim. It works great! Sketchup is a fun tool and opens up access to a ton of 3D content (especially for landscapes and buildings) available across the internet.

Hi Cliff,

How's the exported model with Sketchup Pro. Can it work perfectly with Flexsim?

For your information, here is a free tool that I found can export Sketchup file to either DXF or STL, both can be loaded into Flexsim directly. I tried to export a simple Sketchup building into DXF and STL, then load it in Flexsim VisualTool. The shape is ok but color is not good. A screen shot is attached. Maybe I can use AC3D to edit it before load into Flexsim.

Note that the plug-in is non-English version but it is very simple to use.

http://www.ltplus-bau.de/download.htm#sketchup
LTplus Google SketchUP® DXF-PlugIN-V.7.1 DE

Include DXF-Export and STL_Export

Installation:
1. Download the setup program.
2. Run the setup.
3. Choose Google SketchUp 6 directory when ask for directory. After that, you will find a LTplus directory under /Google SketchUp 6/Plugins.

Use the plug-in:
1) in Sketchup, load the model you wish to export
2) From the "plugins" menu, choose "LTPlus AI..." then "STL-Export" (or "DXF-Konvertor")
3) A file dialog box appears showing the folder where the export will be saved and suggesting *.stl (or *.dxf) as the filename. Navigate to a new folder if necessary, then replace the * with an appropriate name. Click "Open"
4) A popup box appears confirming the filename that will be created. Click "OK"
5) After a while, a summary box appears giving some stats. Click "OK"
6) A splash-box appears, click OK.

Please let me know if anybody tries the plug-in and finds it has good results in Flexsim.

Alan,
Export the file as a .WRL. That will work fine with flexsim, with no needed plug in, if you have the pro version. If not, I suggest finding a plug in that converts to .WRL and not to .DXF.

Thanks for the suggestion, Tyson. Please let me know if you or anybody can find a free plug-in to export to .WRL. The sketch-up pro cost about $500. The motivation is not strong enough for me to buy it yet.

Originally Posted by Jason Lightfoot

The Pro version of Sketchup is able to export as VRML(*.wrl), 3DS and DXF formats which you can use with Flexsim. There are options for each export which may improve compatibility.

The free version is limited to Collada (DAE) and KMZ exports, so you would probably need to convert them using another tool.

How to export Flexsim compatible wrl models? I try different settings of the options for several simple models, but I can not see them in Flexsim. Thanks!

Hi Liu Bin,

Do you have Sketchup Pro? The Sketchup free edition did not have option to export to wrl models.

Using the plug-in that I mentioned, you can export to stl or dxf which can both been loaded into Flexsim directly. If you have AC3D, you can also convert the dxf to wrl which is the best supported 3d format in Flexsim. But I am not sure how good the converted wrl from dxf is, as it is converted from a converted file.

Hi, Alan. I use your plugin, and draw a simple cube in setchup, then export to stl.

In flexsim, I can see it, and even can change it's color in flexsim.

Unfortunitly, it seems that the material of the stl have no effect in flexsim.

I just thought I would close out this thread, because Flexsim now is able to import Google Sketchup files directly without the need to convert. Sorry Google, but there is no longer a need for Flexsim users to pay the high price for Sketchup Pro...