The CADspan plugin is a set of tools to help you make your SketchUp model 3D Printable. There is a tool to help organize your layers to seperate sections for printing, a tool to help Unsmooth the model, so that you can adjust curved faces as necessary, a Calculator to help you plan for tolerances on your model at your desired 3D Print scale, a visualizer to help find holes in your model and last, but not least, the CADspan engine to resurface your model on the cloud, providing you a single, water tight, solid STL file for 3D Printing.
Additional resources can be found at www.cadspan.com and http://www.lgm3d.com/blog
FAQ based upon early user feedback-
When I upload a file where does it go?
-Uploaded files are loaded to the Amazon Cloud Server for processing and can be downloaded when complete. LGM does not have any access to your files.
Can I export an STL from the CADspan plugin?
-Yes, there are two ways of accomplishing this. You can export a draw STL if you are certain that your model is water tight and printable, or you can upload and process your model. If you process your model, CADspan will remove all of your interior geometry and provide you with a single, water tight, exterior shell as a STL file.
CADspan Crashed, why?
-CADspan does not actually crash, but it was unable to provide an appropriate solution to your geometry, based upon your settings. This either means you have a large hole somewhere, or your small hole was too large to patch based upon your resolution settings. Try a lower resolution and higher gap fill until you are provided with a solution. A low Resolution/High Gap fill solution may look perfectly fine to you.
I love CADspan, how can I help to make it better?
-Provide feedback, both good and bad. IF you really love it, sign up for CADspan PRO to help future development efforts, and enjoy faster processing of your files.
- Sign in to post reviews
Reviews
Thanks for taking the time to
Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly that love and read more on this topic. If possible, such as gain knowledge, would you mind updating your blog with additional information? It is very useful for me.
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waiting for days now for my
waiting for days now for my model to be processed, and also waiting for days for a reaction on my email why it takes so long. Does anybody know an alternative that works?
Maartin,
Maartin,
You should see the file processed within an hour. I have not seen an email come through. Please contact patrickf@lgm3d.com
How long does it take? I
How long does it take? I uploaded a model few hours ago but it's till "assigning"...is it normal ? thanks
Installed fine. My model
Installed fine. My model showed watertight and uploaded and processed fine. I cannot download the stl, chrome browser keeps saying disallowed key characters. I also cannot use the plugin to import a different stl file, sketchup shows invalid file format.
Would you please send the
Would you please send the files to patrickf@lgm3d.com so I can try to figure this out for you and send you a finished file if I can.
Thanks
Hi,
Hi,
please have you already fix the problem with:
Error Loading File CADspan/CADspan_loader
Could not find included file 'CADspan/CADspan_loader'
?
I have the same problem.
Thank you for your response!
Hi,
Hi,
Can you tell me where to find this in the main skethup icons/tabs.
This seems the only extention i can download and make stl files without all the headache.
Thanks
You can check to see that the
You can check to see that the toolbar is active under View>Toolbars..., or make sure the plugin is active under Window>Preferences>Extensions. Otherwise, the toolbar load up as a floating bar when you load the Extension and you can grab it and move it wherever you would like.
Thanks
The new version of CADspan is
The new version of CADspan is up and running. Due to changes in the security within SketchUp 2016, the plugin will only work for Sketchup 2016 for the time being.
If you desperately need it released for 2015, please weigh in to let us know so that we can find a proper solution.
Thanks
we currently can only run up
we currently can only run up to version 2015, we bought 2015 and maintenance out to oct 2016 which we thought included any upgrades but trimble has said we cant get 2016 unless we have a new version and we can't currently do any more purchasing until later in the year so we are stuck with 2015 for the time being.
I have added the 2015
I have added the 2015 encryption and tested it. You should be good to go. Please let me know if there are any problems.
Definatly need for 2015. Too
Definately need for 2015. Too many things in 2016 no longer work correctly, I won't be upgrading any time soon.
-K
I have added the 2015
I have added the 2015 encryption and tested it. You should be good to go. Please let me know if there are any problems.
Still does not work. I still
Still does not work. I still get the following error after upgrading on SU 2015.
Error Loading File CADspan/CADspan_loader
Could not find included file 'CADspan/CADspan_loader'
-K
I receive the same error as
I receive the same error as Keith D.
-Brian
Same.
Same.
Hello
Hello
I am getting the following error message when trying to use the resurface tool:
Error from Webpage
"File upload error - socket error in sketchup plugin"
I use SU 2015. If you could help me with this I'd be very grateful, I desperately need to be able to use this tool!
Having the same problem. WE
Having the same problem. WE HAVENT GET A SOLUTION TO THIS MATTER please help us or run us through. We need you to be reliable
Still having the same error
Still having the same error as all the rest of the comments, resurfacer directs to a login that comes to a standstill at "checking credentials".
The tools work fine except
The tools work fine except for the Resurfacer, which is really the only tool I was hoping to use, When I click the Resurfacer, CADspan asks for login information. I created an account and I'm able to login in a browser, but in the sketchup plugin, a box shows up saying "Checking credentials..." and it seems to freeze there. I've tried this with sketchup 2014 and 2015 and I have the same problem. Please let me know if you know what's wrong.
I find the same problem as
I find the same problem as Ashley, using sketchup 2015. I don't know what it's wrong.
Ashley,
Ashley,
As nick said, we had a server failure that has been addressed. You may also experience this problem if you are using the old (pre 64 bit) version of the plugin. The new plugin is now available so please load this as it will likely address your issue. If not I would be happy to walk you through your particular issue.
Thank you
I've only ever been using the
I've only ever been using the new plugin. I've tried reinstalling the plugin just in case that was the issue, but I run into the same problem. Please let me know if you have any other ideas.
Brand new user of Sketchup
Brand new user of Sketchup and CADspan, so I have the latest of both. Not working after creating account. It hangs at "checking credentials"
I just downloaded the plugin
I just downloaded the plugin today and it is still getting hung up at the same moment, not processing the login info. Can I find the plugin somewhere else? The download info on your website is only for Sketchup 8.
I just reinstalled the plugin
I just reinstalled the plugin and am still having the checking credentials... problem when trying to log in through the plugin. The plugin says it is version 2.17.
Also, on a side note you should update the description in the extenstion warehouse, it still says it is version 2.14.
Ya they are supposedly
Ya they are supposedly performing maintenance on the servers. It has been down since wed of last week. I have tried emailing their info@ address but haven't gotten in replies as to what is going on. Only today when I tried to process a file in cadspan pro did I finally get a message about maintenance being performed on the servers.
We have been testing the resurfacing for awhile now and I am extremely impressed with it, definitely worth waiting for it to come back online. But one thing to keep in mind is if you have a large model then the free plugin might not be able to handle it. You can get a free trial of the pro version though.
If cadspan people are reading this, please work on your email responses...or send out a email blast about maintenance being done and ETA on when it will be finished.
Nick,
Nick,
I will look in to the broken link immediately, I suspect the error was tied to the other server related issues. I will find a more robust method of directing those emails. I am currently in the process of compiling the emails of active users for the purpose of updating users of maintenance as you suggested. If you experience any future problems, reach out to me directly at patrickf@lgm3d.com
Thank you
We have posted a new version
We have posted a new version of the plugin to address the conflict with SketchUp 2015. CADspan now works with 32 and 64 bit versions of SketchUp. The new plugin will be live shortly and will be listed as 2.15.01
Thank you for waiting.
The export to Raw STL
The export to Raw STL function works nicely, but it doesn't automatically add .stl to the file name, not a big thing, but a bit of an annoyance. Other than that, it works great! Very rarely do I have to do much else to get a design 3D print ready.
I am using sketchup 2014 and
I am using sketchup 2014 and in order to get this plugin to load I have to go into my user->appdata->roaming->sketchup...plugins and delete all of the cadspan stuff then launch sketchup and go to the extension warehouse and install it. I need to do this every time I want to use cadspan, quite annoying...
Nick,
Nick,
Please let me know if this is still occurring, we will be working on the plugin for SketchUp 2015 and I will see if we can make a patch for your particular issue, I believe it may have something to do with your install location for SketchUp.
The plugin has actually been
The plugin has actually been loading fine this past week, thanks for the response.
well despite the annoying
well despite the annoying steps to get it working, i have to say I am very impressed. I am trying it on one of our 3d buildings, something small, single story retail type building. If export to stl and open in it the makerbot software then export to see how its going to print we get a whole bunch of diagonal lines running through the model and showing up in the exterior shell. I tried netfabb to help clean it up with no success. But CADspan was able to eliminate all but like 4 or 5 that weren't affecting the print or the outer shell so it didn't really matter. The print preview looks extremely clean, even the support for the canopy to print. I am printing the model out now and will need to run over night but I will let you all know how it turns out.
My one complaint is when I try to leave the interior walls, door and windows in the model and take the roof off so when it prints you can see the inside, their service crashes when trying to process the file. there are only 4 interior walls 2 doors and a few windows, I would think it could handle it, but I am only using the free version so maybe the pro version would be up to the task.
well the prints came out
well the prints came out great, a vast improvement over just exporting from sketchup and trying to print. Still having problems with cadspan processing interiors though, even with just an empty shell of a building it will sometimes produce an stl and sometimes not, and this is using their cadspan pro 30 day trial. When it did work the stl it produced would show up in the print preview missing several exterior walls. So i wouldnt count on it working to well to show interiors.
I would highly recommend the cadspan pro though, being able to process multiple files at once is a huge help.
This plugin is turning out to be the tool we have been looking for to finally bridge the gap between our 3d models and our printer.
Thank you Nick. Please email
Thank you Nick. Please email our team with a file you are trying to CADSpan for interiors and I will see if I can walk you through the process.
Hey LGM T. do you have an
Hey LGM T. do you have an email address and contact person I should send it to?
Not working
Not working
Vin,
Vin,
If you have any particular issues I would be happy to help you resolve them.
Hi, I am getting the same
Hi, I am getting the same message as Pearl T.:
Error Loading File C:/Program Files (x86)/SketchUp/SketchUp 2013/Plugins/CADspan/CADspan_loader.rb
(eval):8:in `require': no such file to load -- socket
Error Loading File CADspan.rb
(eval):8:in `require': no such file to load -- socket
This version will only work
This version will only work with SketchUp 2014 and newer. Please see www.cadspan.co for an older version.