How to Manually Edit & Clean Dynamic SketchUp Models

The Dynamic Sketchup model is the same as a normal model, except that its components are bound to each other by size formulas. Because of this you cannot freely move or change the geometry inside — the dynamic attributes snap it back. The only way to edit it freely is to first remove the dynamic feature.

How to Manually Edit Dynamic SketchUp Component Geometry

• Double click into the full component, then double click into the sub-component you want to edit manually
• Use the basic SketchUp tools to redraw from your design idea
• Delete the lines, arcs or faces you do not need

Watch out for the “make unique” trap: the moment you edit one nested instance, SketchUp turns it into a unique definition. If a parent formula still references that sub-component by name, the link silently breaks and the part can resize or jump on the next refresh. That is exactly why clearing the dynamic feature first is safer than editing geometry inside a live Dynamic Component.

Clean Dynamic Feature — Remove Dynamic Attributes for CNC Export

Click the Clean Dynamic tool in the 3dshouse plugin. This tool cleans the file, deletes hidden objects, processes panels, and removes the dynamic feature. After running it, the SketchUp file no longer has dynamic features and you can edit it manually as usual.

In fact you only need 1 click and do not have to think too much, but the process is explained clearly below so you understand what happens. You can also run this tool on a model you drew yourself.

Why a dedicated clean pass beats just using SketchUp’s Explode: exploding a complex Dynamic Component does not reliably strip the attributes — the nested formulas keep interacting with the geometry, so subgroups try to re-scale and copies can fly off into infinity. The Clean Dynamic tool removes the attribute layer in a controlled order before touching geometry, which avoids that mess.

Features and progress of the tool:

• Delete unused objects (components, layers, materials).
• Delete hidden objects.
• Explode all Components leaving only Groups
• Erase the edges in the middle of the plate, connecting the panels. (at this time, abf will receive cut, chamfered panels, etc…)
• Remove dynamic feature (makes it easy to edit manually).

Tip: cleaning is one-way — once the dynamic attributes are gone there is no “make dynamic again” button, so keep the original parametric file and run Clean Dynamic on a copy you intend to cut or hand off. Authoring or restoring those attributes requires the Component Attributes panel, which is a SketchUp Pro (named-user subscription) feature only.

Nguyen Huu Khanh

Architect turned developer