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I Like Sketchup
sgraber - 23/11/05 at 09:57 PM

Based on a previous thread I have been using Sketchup to model my chassis. It is so easy to use that my 10 year old son has been creating some neat things with it.

I made this (partial) model of my chassis in a few hours of goofing off:


--

What do you think?

You can see the larger view Here

Sketchup Link



[Edited on 11/23/05 by sgraber]

MikeRJ - 23/11/05 at 10:08 PM

Very neat, I'm just downloading the demo!

emsfactory - 23/11/05 at 10:22 PM

where do you get this sketchup?

sgraber - 23/11/05 at 10:25 PM

from the linky I posted above...

emsfactory - 23/11/05 at 11:35 PM

Swish. Observant eh?

Messenjah - 24/11/05 at 09:28 AM

how did you do the wheels ??

CommanderAce - 24/11/05 at 10:50 AM

I love it when a plan comes together!

chrisg - 24/11/05 at 12:00 PM

I don't suppose this is available in one of those naughty free download places?

Not that I'd get it like that.

Obviously.

Cheers

Chris

sgraber - 24/11/05 at 03:28 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Messenjah
how did you do the wheels ??


I imported a 3DS file from MAX into Sketchup. It came in as a component. Would you like me to post a copy in Sketchup format?

chrisg - 24/11/05 at 04:06 PM

Yes please Steve.

What settings are you using in the above sketch?

This is definately my new favourite toy!!

Cheers

Chris

Rob Lane - 24/11/05 at 04:44 PM

You can dowload the free 8 hour trial by just entering any goobledygook but use numbers where necessary.

Buying it costs £315 !!

sgraber - 24/11/05 at 06:10 PM

Here is a screengrab of my settings. Notice shadows dialog. Also, the model will cast shadows on the ground correctly if you place it at or near ground plane (red)





attached is a .skp (sketchup file) with my wheel.

chrisg - 24/11/05 at 08:25 PM

excellent.

Thanks Steve!!

Cheers

Chris

Spyderman - 25/11/05 at 12:37 PM

I have been having a play with this and so far it is the easiest piece of CAD software I have used.
Excellent!

Is there any way of creating 3d lines without having to recreate in each plane?
I am refering to drawing the chassis and want to draw with 1" tubes.
Or do I need to extrude every tube from the end section? Would be a pain with angled pieces!

Terry

chrisg - 25/11/05 at 01:23 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Spyderman
I have been having a play with this and so far it is the easiest piece of CAD software I have used.
Excellent!

Is there any way of creating 3d lines without having to recreate in each plane?
I am refering to drawing the chassis and want to draw with 1" tubes.
Or do I need to extrude every tube from the end section? Would be a pain with angled pieces!

Terry


I've been playing too, and I cant find any other way of doing it, perhaps Steve G knows?

Cheers

Chris

sgraber - 25/11/05 at 02:45 PM

quote:
Originally posted by chrisg
quote:
Originally posted by Spyderman
I have been having a play with this and so far it is the easiest piece of CAD software I have used.
Excellent!

Is there any way of creating 3d lines without having to recreate in each plane?
I am refering to drawing the chassis and want to draw with 1" tubes.
Or do I need to extrude every tube from the end section? Would be a pain with angled pieces!

Terry


I've been playing too, and I cant find any other way of doing it, perhaps Steve G knows?

Cheers

Chris



Edit: I find that using the tape measure tool to lay out all the important points is the key to efficient drawing. Once you have a grid layed out, then making angled tubes is best done by creating seperate extruded tubes and placing/rotating them into place...

The key (I think) is the pencil tool. along with the protractor tool. In my initial attempts I just guessed at the angles. But I notice the protractor tool can be used as a construction aid.

I use the pencil to draw a line around all 4 sides of a tube and then erase the end of the tube. This leaves the tube end at an angle.

You can also draw additional seperate tubes and rotate them to the correct angle and then move the end of it into place against the end of another tube.

This is really hard to explain in words!

Graber

[Edited on 11/25/05 by sgraber]

[Edited on 11/25/05 by sgraber]

CommanderAce - 25/11/05 at 05:47 PM

I think I know what you guys mean, here, I've created a little video to show you how!

Video 4.39 MB AVI

Spyderman - 25/11/05 at 06:28 PM

Thanks for the help, but I know about extruding with the push/pull. The tutorial on their website is well worth watching for learning extrusions.

What I want is how to use a 3d object in various different planes. I need to use the square section in green, red and blue planes, and a mixture/combination of those planes.
I'm probably missing something obvious, but I cant see how to change in more than 2 dimensions (eg; you can go vertically to left/right or left/right to fore/aft, but not both). Plus I want to be able to put a tube into a corner and take it to the diagonlly opposite without having to keep guessing angles. Am I just be too lazy?

Terry

CommanderAce - 25/11/05 at 06:38 PM

Okay, this probably isn't right either but did you mean this?!

Video 3.40 MB AVI

Spyderman - 25/11/05 at 07:56 PM

Nope!
Thanks for trying though!