How do I twist a bar?

Khai

yes... thats exactly it..
and where I utter a huge DOH
here's me looking a plugins, drawing helix's and trying to extrude along them and all manner of clever ways...

and it's that simple..... thank you

chrisjk

Or if you don't mind a plugin, here is one using Fredo's Scale plugin - Box twist. I made the initial bar by repeated alt-Push/Pulls to subdivide it before twisting. The only bore is hiding all the lines, I have done a few in the pic.

Screen shot 2010-02-12 at 14.13.41.png

Gaieus

Plugins can be (and generally are) very useful when it comes to more complex tasks but sometimes it is easier and faster to do it in the "old fashioned", native SU way.

Not to speak about it that one should really learn to understand how SU works in order to be really productive (and even to be able to use plugins effectively and efficiently). So although I do "admire" all those clever people supporting us with these beautiful tools, I also like to know how they work in reality (I mean what and how they form in SU actually).

FredoScale?
Yes, exactly!

TIG

Try this method...
Beaten to it by others

chrisjk

Gai,

I kind of agree with you except for the fact that I think many of the plugins do stuff that I think SU ought to have as built-ins. However, as you frequently demonstrate it isn't a lot harder to do quite complex things with the toolset as provided. It's a bit like the discussions that arise in woodworking between the handtool enthusiasts and the power tool users.

Gaieus

@tig said:

Beaten to it by others

Like each of us actually, as Boofredlay has a nice tut about this already:
http://www.sketchucation.com/creating-a-twisted-bar-in-google-sketchup/

@ Chris: I totallyagree, some "basic" stuff should indeed be integrated. We can't even weld lines in native SU for instance!
But then also, this place (the "Newbie" forum) is for learning the basics, too.