Your sketchup process

[eds1275]

Since the vast majority of us seems to be using sketchup to zip up our ideas, I want to know if anyone has any tips or tricks on their order of operations.

For me, I draw one side and make it a component, then draw the inside edge of the machine along the face of the component and "push/Pull? it out to form the machine. Then I copy and flip the side component, and stick it on the other side.

From there I usually dump it into blender because I have drawn up a few coin doors, joysticks, and button types so I assemble the controls and then render it out just because of the image quality of blender. Of course, blender is the most confusing program in the world  but I've started wrapping my head around it.

I have seen some people draw up every single batten and even animate things in Sketchup.

[Nephasth]

Push/pull is my most used tool in Sketchup.

[HaRuMaN]

I draw everything in 2D, import the DWG into sketchup, push pull to make the parts and then assemble

[EightBySix]

Everything is a component, nested within others

[Slippyblade]

I'm one of those folks that sketch up every single part.  The way I use it I SHOULD be using SolidWorks, but I don't have a spare $10k burning a hole in my pocket...   

[yotsuya]

I email Neph my ideas and he produces the SketchUp for me. 

[gabrielmtl]

Everything is a component, nested within others

+1

[stripe4]

This is what I have learned:

• Use grouping instead of components. If you edit a component, other copies of a component will change, too. So, if you wish to draw pusbuttons in different colors, groups are the way to go.
• Follow me tool does not work well with tiny arcs. For example, if you wish to create a realistically looking pushbutton (with round edges), follow me tool will leave holes in the surface. There is a workaround, however: create the object 10 times larger, and then shrink it.
• The free version of Maxwell Render for SketchUp installs as a plugin, does a good job at creating renders and is not overly complicated. I think the 800 pixel edge limit is more than enough for render picture posting in this forum.

http://www.maxwellrender.com/index.php/try/sketchup

[edekoning]

Don't forget that you can make a component unique: right click > make unique. Now you have two separate but identical components

[eds1275]

Don't forget that you can make a component unique: right click > make unique. Now you have two separate but identical components

I learned something today!

[Brian74]

I talk to HaRuMaN, he makes it a reality.

[HaRuMaN]

I talk to HaRuMaN, he makes it a reality.

 

[Louis Tully]

.

[stripe4]

Don't forget that you can make a component unique: right click > make unique. Now you have two separate but identical components

I learned something today!

So did I!

[yotsuya]

I usually just hack away at it until it starts to look like something.

I email Neph my ideas and he produces the SketchUp for me. 

Nice.

Trust me, I WISH I could use SketchUp like a pro, but I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. I just need to put more time into learning it.

[Nephasth]

I email Neph my ideas and he produces the SketchUp for me. 

You're not the only one...