A Welcome Message to New SketchUcation Members

Rick R · 13 Jan 2010, 18:19

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 · 16 Jan 2010, 02:06

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

Gaieus · 16 Jan 2010, 02:09

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 · 16 Jan 2010, 09:03

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 · 16 Jan 2010, 10:20

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 · 16 Jan 2010, 19:29

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 · 18 Jan 2010, 09:04

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

TIG · 18 Jan 2010, 12:17

@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 · 18 Jan 2010, 23:37

TIG...

Thanks.

Mike

KXI System · 20 Jan 2010, 01:18

@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 · 23 Jan 2010, 23:27

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 · 24 Jan 2010, 07:53

Hi shangzheng and welcome. Hope you will enjoy here!

Mosmi · 2 Feb 2010, 16:52

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 · 2 Feb 2010, 19:24

Hi Mosmi,

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

mailandrex · 3 Feb 2010, 23:54

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 · 4 Feb 2010, 18:44

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 · 4 Feb 2010, 23:19

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 · 9 Feb 2010, 09:03

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.

Gaieus · 9 Feb 2010, 10:54

Hi Mike and welcome!

hiptech · 10 Feb 2010, 01:02

Greetings Everyone!

Started using SketchUp a few days ago and like a drug addict, I just can't get enough. I'm a former mechanical product engineer and come from a world of Pro/E, Acad, SolidEdge, etc. This is by far the most intuitive program and I'm really enjoying it.

BTW, I've been working on modifying my entertainment center using SketchUp first and have run into a few minor questions... guess I need to post it in the appropriate area so as not to offend anyone?

Thanks and look forward to mingling some more.