Exporter Precision?

[jimfoltz]

We know SketchUp doesn't handle small geometry well, so is there any reason for exporting decimal numbers out to 11, 12, or more places? Would we create a "better" STL model by rounding (or truncating) the decimals?

A number like -1.4210854715202004e-14 is not uncommon to find in the exported file.

[thomthom]

Good question. How many decimals are normally written out by other software?

And do we risk affecting the geometry - making a polygon non-planar?

I think we can try - but I'd like to get the test units set up first with a suite of test models before we make such a change.

[DanRathbun]

I would think it depends upon the unit.
If we find a way to put the unit in the STL file, then the number of decimal places depends upon how the SketchUp internal precision (0.001") translates into the file unit, and then is representative of 3 dimensions.

For example, in unit of inches, I'd think 9 decimal places for 3 dimensions.

What about an export option that allows users to set the decimal places ?

What about export options set per named 3D Printer profiles ? (If the print head can only be positioned to some tolerance in any axis, then what's the point of 16 decimal places, when 5 or 6 will do ?)