A Welcome Message to New SketchUcation Members

mike_in_ky

Hi...

I'm new to SU, having installed it only the other day. Since then I have installed FredoScale 2.0 and like it's capabilities. One of my hobbies is CNC machines. I built a 3-axis CNC machine 2 years ago and use it to route wooden plaques. I have to create a file, save as .dxf, then import it into the software that runs the CNC. That software then creates the G-code from the info in the .dxf file and G-code is what tells the machine what and where to cut. I have 2 issues for which I need help.

Since I've been trying to get the hang of SU, one thing that I need to learn to do is develop a template. It seems that when SU launches, the display screen represents about 2 or 3 feet per inch. Once I start, I have to zoom-in a lot before I can really get working since most of what I do involves roughly 8 inches by 8 inches. I'd like the screen axes to be scaled at about 0.5 to 1 inch per inch of display screen. How would I create a template like that?
I have experimented some with TEXT and 3D TEXT. 3D text outlines the letters and I'm not really needing that to happen since the CNC uses a Dremel Tool as the router. I'd like to just use 2D TEXT (stick letters if you will), but can't figure out how to have the text sent to the .dxf file. I am able to get 3D text to be sent to the .dxf file. Also, is there a way to use Push/Pull with 2D text and then have it included in the .dxf file?

Any help would be appreciated.

So far, I really like SU. It seems to be intuitive and fairly easy to use.

Mike

Gaieus

Hi Mike and welcome!

As for a template - that's simply an skp file you can save easily. With your wishes, I would go along these steps:

open a template (Window > Preferences > Templates) that is closes to what you wish
go to Window > Model info and make any changes you feel important (check especially out the Units tab and set your precision, I would suggest turning at least length snapping off etc.)
you can still make any changes especially under stlyes (like turning off profiles if you wish and such), add layers that you always use and many more. Maybe even scenes to represent your top view and all - this is handy when you quickly want to go back to a standard view you are using...
Now draw something that would be about the same size as you work with (a rectangle of 8"x8" would do), press Shift+Z to zoom to its extent (maybe after this, zoom out just a little bit to have a more convenient overall view)
delete your rectangle but do not orbit, pan or zoom away from now
go to File > Save as template and now go back to your preferences (step 1) and choose this newly created, custom template as your default to load SU with.
As for the "2d" text tool - that is not geometry so you cannot use it for what you want.
3D text is made up of "regular" geometry however - and you can practically have it as 2D (with no extrusion) or 3D (with extrusion) as you wish. As it comes in as a group, you can use the PushPull tool only if you go into the editing context of it and apply the tool on its flat faces (double click a group - or component - to edit it)

Rick R

Hi all.
Just joined a few days ago. Rick R from Ontario Can. I have been using the SU for a few months and just got SU 7 pro. I am using it for designing jigs and fixtures for machining and electron beam welding at work and all sorts of other interesting stuff at home. This is a great program to use and now that i have discovered alot of new tools to use I have alot of reading to do to learn how they work, but that is what makes it interesting.

mike_in_ky

Thanks for the great info, Gai. Following your instructions, I was able to set up a template that starts with a scale near where I want it to start. I really do need to figure out how to get 2D text to pass to the .dxf file. Is there a way to make the outlined letters of 3D be as narrow as possible (while preserving the size) so that they almost look like 2D letters? I'm afraid that if the Dremel tool has to route the letter outlines, there won't be enough wood for it to look right. An example of what I need a drawing to look like when it is exported to .dxf is the attachment. An assistance would be greatly appreciated in this regard.

Mike

graphic of example plaque before exporting to .dxf file.

Gaieus

Well, 3D text uses your system fonts (and whatever you still install) so you can have an idea what they exactly will look like. You can always draw your letters of course (or import something from an external application as geometry).

TIG

You can't get SUp's 2D text to export into a DXF, 3D text will export and it can be made 'flat', i.e. a 2D face, if it's given a zero extrusion. It can also be very thin in its width given the right font - you need to use a tt 'stick-font' - either find and download a free one, or if you have CAD it'll probably already installed some too. However, even this flat 'stick-font' will still have a small 'width' to form its shaped faces - this is equivalent to the 'line' in the 'stick-font'... I have Monotxt.ttf, 'Proxy', 'RomanS', 'Simplex' and 'Txt' stick fonts on my PC.

sunalp2

Howdy Pardners, I'm new in this town.

I'm just starting out building tracks for GTR2 & GTL and I hope to make most of my scenery with sketchup.

mike_in_ky

TIG...

Thanks for your reply to my 2d text issue. I'll have to play around with fonts to see if I have something that will work. Is there a simple way to convert a 3D structure to a 2D one in SU?

Mike

Insomnacious

Hello everyone, I've been using 3Ds Max for years and recently I've decided to change it up a little!

TIG

@mike_in_ky said:

TIG...
Thanks for your reply to my 2d text issue. I'll have to play around with fonts to see if I have something that will work. Is there a simple way to convert a 3D structure to a 2D one in SU?
Mike

You can set 3D Text to have no extrusion so it is effectively 2D already ?
There are various 'flattening' scripts about that take selected geometry and make all of its z-values=0/
BUT use them with care: your 3D model might just squash to nothing !
This one-liner pasted into the Ruby Console + <enter> will make all selected edges 'flat' in the Z...

m=Sketchup.active_model;s=m.selection;es=[];vs=[];ps=[];p0s=[];ves=[];ts=[];sa=s.to_a;sa.each{|e|(es<<e;vs<<e.vertices)if e.class==Sketchup;;Edge};vs.flatten!.uniq!.each{|v|ps<<v.position};ps.each{|p|p0s<<Geom;;Point3d.new(p.x,p.y,0)};0.upto(ps.length-1){|i|ves<<Geom;;Vector3d.new(ps[i].vector_to(p0s[i]))};ves.each{|ve|ts<<Geom;;Transformation.translation(ve)};m.active_entities.transform_by_vectors(vs,ts);s.clear

BUT use with care [2] ! You were warned...

mike_in_ky

TIG...

Thanks.

Mike

KXI System

@unknownuser said:

Hi all,
My self Jone and I have just recently join this site. I am here to interact with people and definitely get the information regarding this community. Glad to join this site.

Hey Jone, if you want to talk to people head on over to the corner bar!
(or just follow Boofredlay (Eric)

shangzheng

Hi newbie here from Malaysia.
I am using SketchUp in Mac Bootcamp with VE-Plugin (a plugin for IES-VE simulation software).

Nice to meet you all here.

Gaieus

Hi shangzheng and welcome. Hope you will enjoy here!

Mosmi

Hi all!
I just joined this group. I have been working on Sketchup for almost 2 years now...and have managed to create some models. Currently I am working on a project that has long lengths of road that need to draped around a terrain.
I am having problems post draping.Although the lines are all joined in Autocad..they seem to disintegrate after draping, and hence I am having troubles filling in the material.
Any suggestions?

Gaieus

Hi Mosmi,

With such a file, better than somehow upload it (if it's not too large, here) I cannot really suggest anything.

mailandrex

ehi guys!!

i just discoverd this amazing forum and i'm so happy!!
my name's andrew, i'm 23 and i'm from italy.. i live-work-study in milan.. i dunno if u know it.. whatever..
i'm studying architecture and i'm also workin' in an architecture studio.. i'm lovin' it..

i'm using SU since 2005.. nobody knew it.. but i loved it from the very first time i used it
i hope i will learn how to use it better thank to u guys!!

bye y'all from italy

PS sorry 4 my english people.. :S

gmac

Hi,

New user, I'm about to buy 7pro. I will also be buying a rendering package at some point, but thought I'd get used to SU first for a while. But mainly I know that with new software, means some new hardware as my old set up is aging to the point of uselessness. (had been doing modeling in ACAD with another rendering tool so am comfortable with modeling in general.)

So If I'm buying a new laptop, are there threads that you can recommend to do some reading? (video setup, processors etc) Happy to listen to any product suggestions or warnings too. But content to read up if i know I'm looking in the right place. (I am continuing to use the search function as well)

Thanks for all the input. I have a lot to learn and catch up.

GREG

KXI System

Hey Greg,

I like new computers too, but if you want to run SU on a laptop its just a heads up that you need to by a 3-button mouse with it.
As for specs there is one right here to help you.

batkid22

Hey guys, newbie to the forum, but I have been using skethup for a few years. Hoping to tap into the brains trust, and hopefully aid some people as well. Look forward to working with you guys.