I guess at this point if I could get dimensions of each object I would be happy.

 

I am lost. What exactly do you need to do with the files?
IE, what files do you have and what files do you need?

 

To clarify, The prof wants me to take a set of dimension-ed drawings and produce parts and assemblies in SolidWorks then produce an eBOM. I am to provide him with a printed set of the drawings I worked from and a PDF version of them as well.

 

That I understood. I am not operationally familiar with Solidworks, but I am trying to understand your issue with importing/exporting files. May past experience with STEP files left a lot of questions. I have abandoned trying to use STEP/STP files because they were impossible to use at the time.
Are you trying to import STL files into SW?
Are you trying to convert STL files to STEP files? Or STEP files to STL?
I'm not sure why you would since SW can import the STL files.
Or do you need something else?

I have a full model of my C-BOT (missing screws and stuff) in Sketchup. I found a post on converting it to a 3DS file in SU then using Meshlab and converting to an STL, then opening that in SW. (I didn't try it). I don't think that many of the models have a SKP files, but you may be able to get to home plate by using various other programs.

 

I found that stl does not have the dimensions I needed and the few parts I was able to get into solidworks didnt bave anything usable. The teacher is asking for 3 assemblies and a minimum of 9 parts. I so want to do a 3D printer I almost think I should just design it myself. Problem is. 7 weeks to hand it all in. Its worth 80% of the courss marks.

 

?? The STL files are print files. The file itself does not have that info in it as notes or anything, but a slicer interprets the code and produces the gcode file to drive the printer. If you import them into SW they should show with the proper dimensions using the dimension tool. When I import STL files into Sketchup I have to do it at 10x or 100x because SU will break things if I don't. Then I scale them back down to 1X. BTW, All the files are in mm. If they were not I would have driven myself crazy. I love metric!!!!!!!!!

So, I would say you need to start out by figuring out how to import the STL files into SW at mm, cm, or meter scale, then scale it if necessary. mm import will not require scaling.
I don't know what options SW has for import. Once imported SW should show you all the dimensions you need.

 

I would agree except I have not been successfull yet. Not good enough with the program I suspect. Think I will trt to get maybe the drawings of a fule pump from spacex or some such ****. Yes I love metric as well. I understand they will be making chNges to the metric system soon. Something to do with Max Plank.

 

have you been able to import an STL file?

 

This
2016 SOLIDWORKS Help - STL and VRML Import Options
indicates what I am talking about. ANY CAD program must be able to show you dimensions otherwise it is just a picture viewer.

 

got a pretty picture of a 3d object but it has not information I can create a drawing with or, for that matter, any way to convert it into something I can dimension out.

 

I am not familiar enough with SW - actually not at all except for the snippets I have read. But one indicated there were 2 ways to import it - as a solid object and maybe they called it a drawing?? they end up in 2 different places and have different properties. If you have imported it as a solid object you may want to try the other format.
Bottom line ,if you are desperate for dimensions, try logging into Sketchup online - or loading the 2017 version on computer - and importing the stls. You can get dimensions pretty easily from that.

 

It's been a little over three years since my build and I've finally modified my printer for dual direct drive. I'm happy with the results so far, but it's like starting over getting the extruder parameters right. I'm expecting that some issues will arise with the added weight on the gantry, but, I've never been happy with the performance of the bowden setup. For those interested, I've included my stl's and f3d files. I also found that my x-axis stop switch pc board had to be modified and the connector relocated.

 

Is the BOM.xls current?