I have been reading the Sketchup posts with interest. I got a question for
you Sketchup enthusiasts.

How appropriate would Sketchup be for metal projects to be fabricated by a
welding shop? Specificaly projects made mostly with square tubing.

Their would need to be detailed information. This would include some odd
angles, very specific lengths and positions of both holes and attachments
welded to the subassemblies.

The 3 D perspective would be nice but not neccessary.

Comments? Suggestions?

"Lee Michaels" wrote in message
...

I have been reading the Sketchup posts with interest. I got a question
for you Sketchup enthusiasts.

How appropriate would Sketchup be for metal projects to be fabricated by a
welding shop? Specificaly projects made mostly with square tubing.

Their would need to be detailed information. This would include some odd
angles, very specific lengths and positions of both holes and attachments
welded to the subassemblies.

The 3 D perspective would be nice but not neccessary.

Comments? Suggestions?




I see no problems in that application.

As far as accuracy, in inches you can go to .0001" or in 1/64" in fractions
of an inch. In mm, .0001mm

3D perspective would be automatic.

Just remember to draw objects/components, not line drawings.

"Leon" wrote in message
...

"Lee Michaels" wrote in message
...

I have been reading the Sketchup posts with interest. I got a question
for you Sketchup enthusiasts.

How appropriate would Sketchup be for metal projects to be fabricated by
a welding shop? Specificaly projects made mostly with square tubing.

Their would need to be detailed information. This would include some odd
angles, very specific lengths and positions of both holes and attachments
welded to the subassemblies.

The 3 D perspective would be nice but not neccessary.

Comments? Suggestions?




I see no problems in that application.

As far as accuracy, in inches you can go to .0001" or in 1/64" in
fractions of an inch. In mm, .0001mm

3D perspective would be automatic.

Just remember to draw objects/components, not line drawings.

How about dimensioning? I would need the lengths to be very clear.

"Lee Michaels" wrote in message
...

"Leon" wrote in message
...

"Lee Michaels" wrote in message
...

I have been reading the Sketchup posts with interest. I got a question
for you Sketchup enthusiasts.

How appropriate would Sketchup be for metal projects to be fabricated by
a welding shop? Specificaly projects made mostly with square tubing.

Their would need to be detailed information. This would include some
odd angles, very specific lengths and positions of both holes and
attachments welded to the subassemblies.

The 3 D perspective would be nice but not neccessary.

Comments? Suggestions?




I see no problems in that application.

As far as accuracy, in inches you can go to .0001" or in 1/64" in
fractions of an inch. In mm, .0001mm

3D perspective would be automatic.

Just remember to draw objects/components, not line drawings.

How about dimensioning? I would need the lengths to be very clear.

Not a problem, Sketchup has semi-automatic dimensioning. You point out the
constraints Sketchup fills in the measurements. Pick a line and Sketchup
will dimension that line. Pick two points and Sketchup will determine the
distance between those points.

As mentioned in my other thread you can modify dimension results to outside
the extension lines if the results will not fit between them. You can also
modify the size of the font used.

On Thu, 26 Feb 2009 09:52:34 -0600, "Leon"
wrote:


"Lee Michaels" wrote in message
.. .

"Leon" wrote in message
...

"Lee Michaels" wrote in message
...

I have been reading the Sketchup posts with interest. I got a question
for you Sketchup enthusiasts.

How appropriate would Sketchup be for metal projects to be fabricated by
a welding shop? Specificaly projects made mostly with square tubing.

Their would need to be detailed information. This would include some
odd angles, very specific lengths and positions of both holes and
attachments welded to the subassemblies.

The 3 D perspective would be nice but not neccessary.

Comments? Suggestions?




I see no problems in that application.

As far as accuracy, in inches you can go to .0001" or in 1/64" in
fractions of an inch. In mm, .0001mm

3D perspective would be automatic.

Just remember to draw objects/components, not line drawings.

How about dimensioning? I would need the lengths to be very clear.

Not a problem, Sketchup has semi-automatic dimensioning. You point out the
constraints Sketchup fills in the measurements. Pick a line and Sketchup
will dimension that line. Pick two points and Sketchup will determine the
distance between those points.

....will it scale a drawing from one reference? Like, say, I draw a
cabinet and then set the dimension of one of the rails? I fiddled
with the tutorial the other nite and was surprised at the
accessability...if can set the deminsion of my first piece and the
program will scale the remainder, well, I'm in!

cg

As mentioned in my other thread you can modify dimension results to outside
the extension lines if the results will not fit between them. You can also
modify the size of the font used.

"Charlie Groh" wrote in message
...
Snip


...will it scale a drawing from one reference? Like, say, I draw a
cabinet and then set the dimension of one of the rails? I fiddled
with the tutorial the other nite and was surprised at the
accessability...if can set the deminsion of my first piece and the
program will scale the remainder, well, I'm in!

If I am not mistaken there are scripts that will do that.. Swingman?

Otherwise, if you draw your rail first and make it into a component and then
copy that component over to another component to eventually form a cabinet,
you can change all of the rail at the same time later on. If you want to
make several different sized rails for other cabinets you make the already
copied and completed rails "unique" so that they will no longer change when
you modify the other component rails.

Over and over I mention components, they are a very useful way to put your
cabinets together. One rail can be the basis for all rails in the drawings
regardless of size or number of sizes. Until you make a component "unique"
it will change with every modification to "like/same rail edits. Editing
one component will modify all "same copiy" components.

"Charlie Groh" wrote in message
...

...will it scale a drawing from one reference? Like, say, I draw a
cabinet and then set the dimension of one of the rails? I fiddled
with the tutorial the other nite and was surprised at the
accessability...if can set the deminsion of my first piece and the
program will scale the remainder, well, I'm in!

Yes. Use the tape measure tool to measure known distance. Immediately type
the value it should be. Voila.

Lee Michaels wrote:
I have been reading the Sketchup posts with interest. I got a question for
you Sketchup enthusiasts.

How appropriate would Sketchup be for metal projects to be fabricated by a
welding shop? Specificaly projects made mostly with square tubing.

Their would need to be detailed information. This would include some odd
angles, very specific lengths and positions of both holes and attachments
welded to the subassemblies.

The 3 D perspective would be nice but not neccessary.

Comments? Suggestions?






Ask question at rec.crafts.metalworking.

"Lee Michaels" wrote in message
...

I have been reading the Sketchup posts with interest. I got a question
for you Sketchup enthusiasts.

How appropriate would Sketchup be for metal projects to be fabricated by a
welding shop? Specificaly projects made mostly with square tubing.

Their would need to be detailed information. This would include some odd
angles, very specific lengths and positions of both holes and attachments
welded to the subassemblies.

The 3 D perspective would be nice but not neccessary.

Comments? Suggestions?

It's not a drafting tool. You'll bend over backwards to make it produce
working drawings. Sketchup is more a modeling and visualization tool that
happens to place a few dimensions and notes, sometimes usefully, sometimes
not. It doesn't do angular dimensions, for example.

On Feb 26, 12:57*pm, "MikeWhy" wrote:
"Lee Michaels" wrote in message

...



I have been reading the Sketchup posts with interest. *I got a question
for you Sketchup enthusiasts.

How appropriate would Sketchup be for metal projects to be fabricated by a
welding shop? *Specificaly projects made mostly with square tubing.

Their would need to be detailed information. *This would include some odd
angles, very specific lengths and positions of both holes and attachments
welded to the subassemblies.

The 3 D perspective would be nice but not neccessary.

Comments? *Suggestions?

It's not a drafting tool. You'll bend over backwards to make it produce
working drawings. Sketchup is more a modeling and visualization tool that
happens to place a few dimensions and notes, sometimes usefully, sometimes
not. It doesn't do angular dimensions, for example.

Egggggzactly. NOT a drafting tool.

"Robatoy" wrote in message
...
On Feb 26, 12:57 pm, "MikeWhy" wrote:
"Lee Michaels" wrote in message

...





Egggggzactly. NOT a drafting tool.


What is it you can do on a CAD program that you cannot on Sketchup?

"Leon" wrote in message
...

"Robatoy" wrote in message
...
On Feb 26, 12:57 pm, "MikeWhy" wrote:
"Lee Michaels" wrote in message

...





Egggggzactly. NOT a drafting tool.


What is it you can do on a CAD program that you cannot on Sketchup?

Where to start? Working drawing sets. Bills of Material. Parametric
configurations. Multiple parts configurations. Editable feature history.
Weldments. Sheet metal. Mate constraints. ... SU is a minimal set for
defining and manipulating simple, static surface models. It is what it is,
and it's good for what it is, but it helps sometimes to keep in perspective
what it is not. What you sketch is what you get, sometimes less. Circles are
pie wedges; curves are straightline segments. When you change a dimension,
the dimension text changes, not the underlying object. You glue things
together, or set them next to each other, they don't move to maintain the
relationship. You sweep a shape, and that's the shape it will ever and
always be; editing the shape that defined the sweep doesn't change anything.
Is any of that a condemnation? I don't think so. "Minimum" usable subset is
still a pretty high bar for getting useful things done.

So, about those angle dimensions. How?

"MikeWhy" wrote in message
...
"Leon" wrote in message



What is it you can do on a CAD program that you cannot on Sketchup?

Where to start? Working drawing sets. Bills of Material. Parametric
configurations. Multiple parts configurations. Editable feature history.
Weldments. Sheet metal. Mate constraints. ... SU is a minimal set for
defining and manipulating simple, static surface models. It is what it is,
and it's good for what it is, but it helps sometimes to keep in
perspective what it is not. What you sketch is what you get, sometimes
less. Circles are pie wedges; curves are straightline segments. When you
change a dimension, the dimension text changes, not the underlying object.
You glue things together, or set them next to each other, they don't move
to maintain the relationship. You sweep a shape, and that's the shape it
will ever and always be; editing the shape that defined the sweep doesn't
change anything. Is any of that a condemnation? I don't think so.
"Minimum" usable subset is still a pretty high bar for getting useful
things done.

Well this being a ww group I was thinking more in lines with wood working
projects. So yes I agree a CAD program absolutely does more outside this
area.

As for as abilities, I have not checked all the plugins and scripst that are
available however there is a dimension plug-in called Driving Dimensions
that let you edit the dimension and that also changes the length of object
that it deminsions.

I am not sure what you are talking about concerning glueing things or
setting them next to each other and not maintaining the relationship. If
you make them into components and make the components into a group they
stay together until you edit or explode them. I may be way off base here.


So, about those angle dimensions. How?

Search for the script/plugin " dim_angle.rb ". Copy it into the Plug-in's
folder and the next time you reload Sketchup 7 ;ppl imder "Tools" and you
will find a new command called Angular Dimension. Choose that command, pick
3 points, and you will get a angular dimension typical of what you might
expect.
Keep in mind however that on this particular dimention that if you chang eht
angle of the object you will also have todo the angular dimension command.

Scroll down the page a bit until you see the file I mentione above. Click
the file name and it will open a page of script. Right click that page and
"Save page As", and save it in the plug ins folder. Besure to add the .rb
extension to the name if it does not do so automatically.
http://www.crai.archi.fr/RubyLibrary...m_arc_page.htm

There are literally hundreds of scripts and plug ins that make Sketchup act
more like a CAD program.

On Feb 26, 1:56*pm, "Leon" wrote:
"Robatoy" wrote in message

...
On Feb 26, 12:57 pm, "MikeWhy" wrote:

"Lee Michaels" wrote in message

.. .

Egggggzactly. NOT a drafting tool.

* What is it you can do on a CAD program that you cannot on Sketchup?

Here's a partial look of the tool kit. Those modules live on another
monitor, but I have dragged them over here to give you some
indication. The pull-down in the centre are all tools/commands missing
in SU...
http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o...t=Palettes.jpg

Keep in mind, that most single tool icons can/will launch a dialog
box, something like this base cabinet parametric. Those exist for just
about any kind of cabinets and commercial/office furniture.
http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o...t=Picture4.png

Another example of a parametric. One of several dozen different stair
designs.
http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o...t=Picture5.png

...and then there is the rendering aka pretty picturesit will create if
called upon. (By a customer who can't decide what wood grain to go
with in her kitchen.)

I could be more specific, but I don't have that kind of time.

r

"Robatoy" wrote in message
...
On Feb 26, 1:56 pm, "Leon" wrote:


Here's a partial look of the tool kit. Those modules live on another
monitor, but I have dragged them over here to give you some
indication. The pull-down in the centre are all tools/commands missing
in SU...
http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o...t=Palettes.jpg


Ok, but I am talking from a ww project point of view. I do realize that CAD
programs have lots more tools, I'v been using a bunch since 1997 myself.
;~)




Keep in mind, that most single tool icons can/will launch a dialog
box, something like this base cabinet parametric. Those exist for just
about any kind of cabinets and commercial/office furniture.
http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o...t=Picture4.png

Another example of a parametric. One of several dozen different stair
designs.
http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o...t=Picture5.png


Take a poke here,
http://www.crai.archi.fr/RubyLibrary..._sections.html ther are a
bunch of plug ins that make Sketch up more fashonable. ;~) there are
several "stair" plug ins.



...and then there is the rendering aka pretty picturesit will create if
called upon. (By a customer who can't decide what wood grain to go
with in her kitchen.)

Sketch can do that with the correct chosen material.



I could be more specific, but I don't have that kind of time.

Understood

r

Robatoy wrote:

What is it you can do on a CAD program that you cannot on Sketchup?

I could be more specific, but I don't have that kind of time.

From here it looks more like when you do find the time, Swingman makes
you look rather unfamiliar with SU's capabilities.

Not sure what you use all that fancy CAD software for that SU can't do,
but it must be pretty technical? Don't you build counter tops?

--
Jack
Using FREE News Server: http://Motzarella.org
http://jbstein.com

"MikeWhy" wrote in message
...
"Lee Michaels" wrote in message
...

I have been reading the Sketchup posts with interest. I got a question
for you Sketchup enthusiasts.

How appropriate would Sketchup be for metal projects to be fabricated by
a welding shop? Specificaly projects made mostly with square tubing.

Their would need to be detailed information. This would include some odd
angles, very specific lengths and positions of both holes and attachments
welded to the subassemblies.

The 3 D perspective would be nice but not neccessary.

Comments? Suggestions?

It's not a drafting tool. You'll bend over backwards to make it produce
working drawings. Sketchup is more a modeling and visualization tool that
happens to place a few dimensions and notes, sometimes usefully, sometimes
not. It doesn't do angular dimensions, for example.



Ummm My Sketchup does angular dimensions.

MikeWhy wrote:
"Lee Michaels" wrote in message
...

I have been reading the Sketchup posts with interest. I got a
question for you Sketchup enthusiasts.

How appropriate would Sketchup be for metal projects to be fabricated
by a welding shop? Specificaly projects made mostly with square tubing.

Their would need to be detailed information. This would include some
odd angles, very specific lengths and positions of both holes and
attachments welded to the subassemblies.

The 3 D perspective would be nice but not neccessary.

Comments? Suggestions?

It's not a drafting tool. You'll bend over backwards to make it produce
working drawings. Sketchup is more a modeling and visualization tool
that happens to place a few dimensions and notes, sometimes usefully,
sometimes not. It doesn't do angular dimensions, for example.


One of the thing that I could never get use to in version 6 was the
three dimension presentation. Each time I used it my edges were in
different plans.

With version 7 this seems to be corrected and you can make some pretty
good old fashion 2d drawings.

"Lee Michaels" wrote

I have been reading the Sketchup posts with interest. I got a question
for you Sketchup enthusiasts.

How appropriate would Sketchup be for metal projects to be fabricated by a
welding shop? Specificaly projects made mostly with square tubing.

Their would need to be detailed information. This would include some odd
angles, very specific lengths and positions of both holes and attachments
welded to the subassemblies.

The 3 D perspective would be nice but not neccessary.

Comments? Suggestions?

Just give it a try and see how it works for you ... occasionally use SU to
send drawings to machine shops for beam/truss hangers that we need to have
fabricated for embedding into foundations.

Admittedly very simple fabrications, the one below was drawn on my laptop,
real time on site, while the Engineer watched, and the pdf export was sent
using my cell phone as a tethered modem ... a couple of years back what took
30 minutes would have taken a week, and cost a helluva lot more.

http://www.e-woodshop.net/files/SaddleHanger.pdf

Basically, for 2D shop drawings like this I haven't found anything that I
can't do quicker with SU than with my CAD programs, and, as you say, the
added and easy 3D ability is just a mouse move away and an added plus.

BTW, the machine shop didn't blink an eye ... then again, I'm always amazed
to find a machine shop that actually does business via e-mail and even knows
what a pdf file is.

YMMV ...

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 10/22/08
KarlC@ (the obvious)