I found this website that converts many different 3D file types to other file types:

http://www.greentoken.de/onlineconv/

I tested it converting an STL file to a DAE (Collada) file.  I could then import the DAE file directly to Sketchup.  The nice thing about using this method is the faces of the model aren't polluted with all the triangles like what happens with the Sketchup STL importer add-on. 

There is still a scaling problem, it imports into sketchup way too large.  I'm going to do some experiments to see just what is going on there.   

OK...
So I drew up a 10mm square box in sketchup, exported it as an STL.  Then converted it to DAE with the website.  Then imported the DAE back into the same Sketchup file.  The box imported as 100mm. 

To fix:
- Select entire part
- Select "Scale" under tools menu
- Click on one of the green boxes on any CORNER of the part
- Type 0.10 and press enter. (No need to resize the part with the mouse)

intresting.

wish i was a standalone program...

im sure this site is collecting all your data :)

although the ketchup with out all the triangle faces messed up would be nice!!

~Russ

Quote from ~Russ on July 15th, 2014, 02:20 PM

wish i was a standalone program...

im sure this site is collecting all your data :)

Good point.  I forgot all about Meshlab, it also converts files.  It makes the file even larger though, but still simple to fix.

Convert STL file to DAE file with Meshlab:

-  Click on "Import Mesh..." under the File menu
-  A Post-Open Processing window pops up, I just click OK
-  Click on "Export Mesh As..." under the File menu
-  Select Collada File Format (*.dae)
-  Choose file name and click save
-  A "Choose Saving Options for:" window pops up, click OK

Instructions to fix the large import to Sketchup are the same as above, except type 0.001 instead of 0.10