Enclosure for Running Belt Electronics

[ABearden]

Sounds awesome! And yeah, 3D printing sounds like a good fit. The only thing I would point out is start thinking about print orientation while you're designing it so the layers aren't oriented in a way that weakens the part. Much like wood grain, it'll split fairly easily along the layers.

I think what you're looking for is a subtraction: http://help.sketchup.com/en/article/1004126
Create the Sgt Major stripes, then subtract them from the housing surface.