SketchUp! is better than hand drawing, really.

[Brice Burrell]

SketchUp! is better than hand drawing, really.

SketchUp, better than sliced bread or total enigma? That depends on whether you've been exposed to the program in a context that you can understand and apply to your needs. I believe it can be hard to understand both in its operation and in terms of practical applications. In this thread I'll explore some concepts and techniques to help use SketchUp for drawing complete project plans.

From here on out I will refer to SketchUp as "SU". Let's look at how and why to apply SU to develop project plans.

One very good reason to SU for your project drawing is you are, in essence, actually building your project, at least virtually. You can start off with conceptual models to work out some of your design ideas like scale or structure. These models don't have to be detailed or ever to perfect working scale. (This step can be skipped if you already have your design worked out.)

To get started lets take a look at this image of a kitchen cabinet (carcass only). This is a very simple drawing, it's the same kind of drawing someone might be able to draw by hand without to much trouble (assuming you have some experience hand drawing). How long would it take you to draw this cabinet by hand?

The SU model I used to export this picture from took about ten minutes to create. I started out in SU with a pretty good idea of what I was going to draw from my passed experience building and installing cabinets. Because of that I was able to draw a complete working model with almost no time spent drawing conceptually.

Okay, so let's say the guy hand drawing also spent ten minutes and he ended up with something like I have in the picture above. He now has a drawing showing the project with almost no construction details where as my SU model has almost every detail (the model, not this picture). At this point he has one drawing and I have a complete 3D model to show a client (or spouse). So ten minutes in SU is way ahead.

The next step for hand drawing is to make working plans or in SU's case more workable plans. This is where it becomes harder to hand draw and were SU pulls farther ahead. Hand drawing to scale takes time, in SU it's really no harder to make your model to scale. While the guy hand drawing is busy on his next drawing I'll add some visual references to my model.

This makes things much easier to grasp the scale with the measurements in place but I can do better. I'm going to focus turning my model into something more like building plans maybe something I could print out and take down to the shop.

I've placed a copy of the cabinet in the model to show both a front and side view, but I can do better.

Here I've taken the model apart to get an exploded view to better show the construction of the cabinet. I'm up to a half hour or so, how long would it take the guy hand drawing to produce the images I have here?

For all the great virtues of SU it won't make a cut list for you. That doesn't mean you can't make one.

While building my model I keep track of the measurements of each part (in a separate document) so I can add a cut list in SU as text. There's still a few construction details to cover before my plans are complete.

Now with the details for the dados I've got a complete set of working plans that I can print out to work in my shop or share with anyone. Notice I change the "style" in SU to make everything black and white to make it easy to print out.

Next, how to plan and construct your plans, making use of scenes in SU.

 

[Frank Pellow]

Bryce, I have attempted to use Sketchup a couple of times in the past but after a while (I think it was about 4 hours each time), I gave up.  Maybe this thread will encourage me to try it again.

 

[EcoFurniture]

Thanks for the post! I tried myself several times on that program too, but failed every time.... I will stick to my napkin drawings  ;D

 

[JayStPeter]

I like SU and use it.  I find it hard to be creative using it, so I do hand sketches first if it's not a simple thing and I want to look at design concepts.  But, I build the project in SU to see if there are any pitfalls to my design.  It really helps keep the project moving if you solve most of the problems first.

 

[nclemmons]

There is a very good Sketchup forum at FineWoodworking.com if you are a member.  I'd say it is for more intermediate or advanced users.

There are also very good FREE video based tutorials at go-2-school.com - They now have about 50 videos in their library.  You can start with the basics and progress with them.  They ultimately walk you through some pretty advanced techniques.  They are also available in iTunes as free video podcasts -

It takes some time to learn Sketchup, but just like woodworking, the learning is additive and you will find your projects are far easier to explore on the computer than with expensive wood.

neil

 

[Brice Burrell]

I like SU and use it.  I find it hard to be creative using it, so I do hand sketches first if it's not a simple thing and I want to look at design concepts. But, I build the project in SU to see if there are any pitfalls to my design.  It really helps keep the project moving if you solve most of the problems first.

Jay, I couldn't agree more, SU is great for finding out your design are flawed, at least that what I tend to find. The key to making SU most productive (and easiest to use) is to build your model just like you would be it in the real world. This does two things, as Jay mentioned is finds any flaws in design and it produces working plans when your done with the model.

There's a ton of really good SU info out there as Neil pointed out, it's not easy to find if you don't know where to look for it. I hope to organize some of the best video tutorials on my site so that should help you guys having trouble getting started. I think most people a overwhelmed in the beginning, getting over that obstacle is the first challenge. The problem people face is how to then take their basic understanding of the program and make useful models. This is where most SU tutorials fall short and I intent to try to improve this.

I've attached a SU file that I used to export these pictures, click on the "scenes" tabs to see the different scenes in the model. I'll talk about how to setup your own model like this to quickly jump to useful views in of your model. I'll try tomorrow to make a video tutorial of how to make a model with different scenes to make plans you can print out to take to the shop.

Iattached the SU file but it's not working correctly, here's a link the SU 3D warehouse for the model, cabinet carcass with scenes.

 

[tbellemare]

You nailed it, Brice!

The best way to use any Computer Aided Design and Drawing package is to use it like you would manufacture the product, whatever it is. SU is just that, a CADD package.

The advantage, as Brice so rightly pointed out, is that the designer designs the project in a way that can be manufactured. In this case, the designer also has to manufacture the product so there's an inherent advantage at the onset.

Traditionally, corporate design/engineering and manufacturing situations suffered from having people designing/engineering things that didn't know enough about how they would be manufactured. They would tend to make a design and "throw it over the wall" to manufacturing where they were tasked to build it.

In woodworking, we have the advantage that the person making the design is the person making the product. It tends to work a lot better and be a lot more efficient, especially for low volume. A one-off is about as low volume as you can get, unless it never actually gets built... 

Tom

 

[daves1996]

I am in the process of drawing my house in SU and I am having a blast with it. It is not to scale  because I didn't want to run around the house all the time taking measurements. Definitely has a learning curve to it though.

Dave

 

[sw1211]

I am in the process of drawing my house in SU and I am having a blast with it. It is not to scale  because I didn't want to run around the house all the time taking measurements. Definitely has a learning curve to it though.

Dave

Sounds like a good "excuse" to buy a laser tape measure.

 

[CharlesWilson]

I am in the process of drawing my house in SU and I am having a blast with it. It is not to scale  because I didn't want to run around the house all the time taking measurements. Definitely has a learning curve to it though.

Dave

I'll agree that it has a significant learning curve. It took at least twice as much time for me to put the SketchUp files together for this project than it took to build and document the project!

http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?topic=2415.msg25376#msg25376

Charles

 

[JayStPeter]

The first project I designed in SU was this:
http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?topic=5830.0

It took me a good 8 hrs to learn the program and get my pencil sketch into it.  Then I spent another 4 or 5 hrs. tweaking the design.  I learned quite a bit about the program and how to build stuff in it.  There are a number of tricks I started using for aligning things and some other operations.  But, I still can't fly through tweaks.  Often, I print my design and hit it with a pencil to more quickly figure out what I want to try.

Unfortunately, I only use it a few times a year.  When I go back to it there is a few hrs. of relearning.  I need to make some notes to make it quicker and easier on myself.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Brice,

I have been struggling to learn SU basics.  I can replicate the chair design exercises in the tutorials, but whenever I try to use SU for a real project like my square coffee table

, although I can create the overall appearance view, I quickly become bogged down or outright stumped when trying to create a model that is useful for generating cutlists.  From Barry Londrigan I learned that it is very important to define components and groups for a table project like mine, and I plan to give it another go from scratch.  [Thanks, Barry!!]  But I could have built that table a couple of times over in the time I have spent struggling with SU, and still do not have a decent SU model.  Also, for a table like that illustrated, due to its pyramidal design, the needed length dimensions of the pieces forming each tier are dependent on the exact thickness of any preceding layer(s).  So SU is at best a guide, unless you can dimension your stock to the exact specifications used in your model.  Anyone without a planer/precision platen type drum or belt sander is going to have to fudge some dimensions as they build this table.  And the stone cutters might not hit the exact dimensions, either when finishing the top.  Mine is off by 1/16 inch from being a true square.

Are you using the free version of SketchUp available at Google, or are you using a professional version?  I cannot get the
Creating Multiple Copies (Linear Arrays) instructions to work at all on my PC, despite many repeat tries following the below instructions exactly and also trying all of the variations and permutations I could think of.  I can make and move copies, but not get the SU program to produce the requested number of copies or evenly space them.  This feature, if I could get it to work, would be great for building fences, railings, bannisters and even shelving in bookcases.

Dave R.

 

[Brice Burrell]

Dave I have the free version of SU. Have you seen a video for making arrays? If not here it is, let me know if this works for you. One more question,what version of SketchUp do you have 5, 6 or the version 7?

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Yes, Brice, I have tried that, too.  I do not get a gold color as in the video.  I get a blue color.   I get a copy and can replicate that as many times as I want. but the replicate command does not work.  Maybe it is a VISTA thing?  I'm using SU Version 6.

Also, my dimension markers don't come out looking like yours.  In fact, SU tries to put all dimension numbers between the lead lines, even when there isn't space between them in which to fit the numbers, contrary to conventional engineering and architectural drawing standards.

I just spent another couple of hours trying to redraw my simple square pyramidal table with all its components using SU, drawing each component and group separately to exact dimension.  Very slow going, and still not coming together as well as my earlier efforts.  I beginning to think I will ever get to the point that it actually saves me any time over a hand drawing, or even a scaled engineering drawing that can be used to generate a cut list or otherwise relied on to actually build an item.  I could probably build a house in less time than it will take me to become fundamentally proficient in SU.   

I say kudos to you and the others who are able to master this or any other drawing software.  It's a great tool for those who are able to figure out how to use it.

I am now going to uninstall Version 6 and reinstall whatever is the latest version that is supposed to work with VISTA.

8:45pm -- download of Version 7 done!  Definitely many changes in the software and its displays.  The provided basic templates are an improvement over Version 6.  There are even templates designed for use in designing furniture, with separate templates for those who prefer Imperial (inches) units and those who prefer metric units!  I'm still seeing only blue colored lines when an object is selected, but the copy/replicate function is now working.  Thanks, again, Brice!

Dave R.

 

[Brice Burrell]

Dave the color differences are because SU version 5 was used in the youtube video I posted on arrays and you've have (had) version 6. I changed the default setting of the font used on my dimension numbers to make them easier to see and you can change where the dimensions are placed, either inside or outside of the lead lines. By default they are always inside, you have to manually change them if needed. You can change the dimensioning templates in the older versions of SU too but it's easier to do in version 7.

SU is like the more advanced photo and video editing programs out there, without some help you'll never be able to figure the thing out. I struggled to, at first all of the tools are overwhelming, them understanding how to make everything do what it's supposed to. After I had a basic understanding things really didn't get much better as far as designing useful models. It wasn't until I saw Gary Katz's video on making a book case that things started to come together for me. Before that I could make models that looked okay on the surface, however, they weren't an accurate representation for what I wanted to build. There are a few very simple strategies to building accurate, working models. Once you understand these strategies it's important to practice them by creating simple models that you can clearly picture in your head. When you relatively new to SU creatively designing is too much to overcome, you really must build your skills with simple models first.

I'd encourage you to download my cabinet model and take a look at the model, take it apart and see if you can figure out how I put it together. I hope I'll be able to make a few video tutorials to help you guys. I should have some time tomorrow. Let me know if you get the arrays figured out.

Link to my cabinet model in the 3D warehouse here, cabinet carcass.

 

[sw1211]

It might be worth picking up a book, there are quite a few to choose from.  I suggest going to a book store and looking over the books and make sure they cover the topics of interest.  With other software packages this has worked well for me, just "playing"with it only gets you so far.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=sketchup

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Thanks, Brice and Steve.  I've downloaded Brice's cabinet model.  Nice job.  Everything needed to go to the wood pile and build it is there.

After my second concerted effort to learn some basic SU skills last summer, I gave up after a few days of little more than frustration.  After watching Gary Katz' bookcase video, I decided to try again.  Hence I am getting nothing built, and my wife thinks I and my PC have become one.

I have become familiar with the basic tools (line, rectangle, move, copy, erase, select, change tool, delete, etc.) and can use them to draw basic shapes, and to enter exact dimensions.  I haven't mastered the protractor but don't need it yet anyway.  I notice that it jumps into action when I pass the cursor over a highlighted component, e.g. one that I have planned to move or copy.  The problems which make SU unuseful for me come whenever I try to combine parts into an accurate assembly which has components multiple layers deep as in my coffee table.  Because SU's basic design causes touching shapes to merge together, I have tried making Components and Groups, but only with very limited and time-consuming success.   

The basic online tutorial videos are well done, and I can follow along and duplicate most of what they teach, but putting various skills together to be useful for anything is still very difficult for me.  I can make the chair in the tutorial, even the one with the fancy legs, but not any of my own relatively simple projects which have multiple components which are in contact with multiple other components and whose dimensions must be exact.  I don't need SU to design and build a simple box!

I can use SU to create basic shapes to enable others to better understand what I am thinking of building, as shown in my SU rendition of a coffee table.  But getting the internal components correctly into that design is still beyond my ability.  So, for me, it is likely to be used only for a general exterior view of the items to be built.

I think my bigger problem is that I never played with video games, and thus never learned the multi-finger and hand and eye coordination and memorizing what is in all those virtual rooms which seems to have become second nature to my children.  That background would probably make learning SU or any other CAD tools much easier.

I truly thank you gentlemen for your efforts and patience in trying to teach people like me who just cannot "get it."

Steve, is that book written in the "SketchUp for Dummies" style?  That might work for me. 

Dave R.

 

[sw1211]

There is a SketchUp for Dummies book along with other versions.  Some might be more technical than others.  While others may provide lots of screen shots.  Not sure but maybe you can find one with a demo CD that will walk you through some drawings.  These are just the other style of software books I've used.  If you have a Barnes and Noble near by, it would be worth the trip.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Thanks, Brice.  We certainly have that bookstore in my area.

Dave R.

 

[johnsonri]

Brice,

Hey there neighbor, thanks for the great tutorial here. I discovered and started using SU back before it was bought by Goggle. It is indeed a great product. In fact, it is one of my favorite computer utilities of all time!!

If you like and use SketchUp a lot, you may also want to take a look at the Space Navigator by a company named 3D Connexion.
http://www.3dconnexion.com/3dmouse/spacenavigator.php

Here is the podcast that actually won me over and triggered my purchase of this great mouse device for SketchUp a while back
http://go-2-school.com/podcasts/029

Navigating and working in SketchUp, Photoshop and a few other apps was made MANY MANY times better for me after I started to use the Space Navigator. For example, if I create a sketch, I can very quickly rotate to the front, add something, flip it to the side then perform some other operation, zoom out to bring in another part, or component etc.

What might take 10 seconds to in SketchUp turns into a 1 second task.

The device is used in conjunction with your mouse, it doesn't replace it. This was the best $59 that I've spent on a computer device in a long time.

[attachthumb=#]