On 4/24/2013 9:13 AM, dadiOH wrote:
Leon wrote:

I know I could learn Sketchup, just that I realize it would take some
time and I'm not yet willing to allocated the time I fear it would
take.

Understood but I believe that the program is a real time saver when it
comes to designing and drawing compared to what I had been using. I
did keep AutoCAD available while learning Sketchup but the basics
were so simple compared to AutoCAD that I was drawn more towards
Sketchup.

I know nothing of other CAD programs but IMO anyone in the
construction/design/remodeling field is losing money if they don't use it.
I'm not involved in those occupations but the ability to have sets of models
that can be easily modified to fit specific circumstances seems invaluable.

It has been such a contender in the design market that even AutoDesk is
playing the "me too" catch up game with a similar product.






For example, a cabinet maker could have assorted parts which can be
duplicated and/or sized as needed ...

1. a basic box

2. various interior parts - shelves, drawers, pullouts, whatever

3. frame and panel doors with various edge treatments

Swingman has the pro version and IIRC you can take a "dynamic"
component, say a kitchen cabinet with a drawer, copy it and make it
wider and only the elements that need to be wider will widen.






And with a few clicks any could have any type of surface/texture. Want to
see what the doors would look like with walnut frames and cherry panels?
Easy. Switch the counter tops to granite? Here's what it looks like.
Insert a wood chopping block? OK. (materials/textures are downloadable from
the net...a nice one of woods is at http://www.sawdustroad.com/sketchup

It's a moneymaker.

Yes it is. I probably don't spend a quarter of the time designing to to
the point of presentation to a customer. Add to that all of the details
are there too so I do not have to think about that in the shop.
Components do not have to be dimensioned to import them into an
optimization program for cutting. The program knows the size of the
components whether you do or not. I dimension very little and most
often only for reference.




It is an amazing program "as is". Run through rendering software it is
nothing short of incredible! Go to Google, type in "sketchup renderings",
click images and be astounded.