Problems doing small size scaled models line tool etc etc et
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Can any one advise me as to what i must do to be able to draw lines to build the model i am creating when, after finding out that the model must be 3 13/16" long and 2" wide by 1 13/16" high, the said line tool seems to stop or extend but never goes to the point i need, say a line of 3" in total, will either come up to short or to far, WHY???.
When i found this out, i re scled the model upwards using the scle tool, this after a fashion, seems to work, but, what a rigmaroll to have to go to, just to get the size and shape of said model correct, then i am hoping that, by re scaling it back to its original and correct size, all add ons etc etc etc, relating and with the model, will all come out to the correct models scale and over all size.
Is the above, what is required to make a small model, or, can i get pro7 to relate building of models in smaller sizes, by being able to alter its inabilities to give correct line lengths and also, do correct circules and the like, without being to small or to large, in all, pro7 is very irritable in producing models in smaller sizes; hanks for any and all help in this matter, hope my problem as i have protraed it here is easy to understand.
Regards to one and all in this matter, Tom... :smile: :sunglasses: -
Short answer: Scaling up, modeling, then reducing down is the current solution. Al parameters you have created should work just fine after downscaling.
I will try to explain through my shared displeasure on this matter.
Sketchup has several-shall we say- limitations?
One of these is the minimum face size being approximately 1/16". To overcome the empty face result on a small model you will have to scale up. Work in proportions, rather than real world scale. One way is to work in metric, since it is a matter of multiples of 10.
My personal opinion is that this is a hypocrisy, or an accommodation for the large audience that uses feet and inches.There is another limitation of very large expansive models having a clipping problem, where the camera sees inside the model while navigating in the workspace.
The other limitation on large models is confusion on the "center of orbit" if that makes any sense--and this is just my observation.
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As far as the line tool not wanting to stop at the length you want, I quit trying to get exact sizes by clicking on the size I want and just get the line started and maybe near the length, then type in the length you want on the keyboard and hit enter. It is also good to use the tape measure tool lay out the line or what ever then snap to the guideline it creates.
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To recap...
Type in exact sizes rather than trying to 'pick' them.
Don't try to model very small things... Sketchup and OpenGL will baulk at faces < ~1mm / 1/16" - so FollowMe etc will miss these small faces out etc etc.
The simple fix is to reset your Model's Units to cm/m [without any units shown] and then to model as if you are in mm... When you're done you Scale the parts so they are then the required 'real' size...
I see you talk of 1/16"... You make your life difficult working at small sizes in fractional inches... You need to scale up all values to a factor YOU remember, work in those 'scaled' dimensions, and then Scale back to suit at the end.Oddly when you scale down the model the tiny faces are kept just fine!
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Well, can i first say how wonderful it was to get reply`s back so fast, and so very helpful indeed; my most grateful thanks to all you chaps who gave answers to my problem, it would appear that i will indeed carry on in the ways you have outlined above, this has sorted out my worries and i will now get to work with as i stated, gratitued and thanks to you all...................
Tom... :smile: :sunglasses: -
Hi folks.
To allows for more fluid line drawing, uncheck "Enable length snapping" in "Menu Window --> Model Info --> Units".
To ease in scaling up or down, use the metric system and pretend that meters are millimeters. Scale by 1/1000 when done. The Scale Tool will not accept 0.001. You will need to do it in two steps: 0.1 then 0.01 or the reverse. If you use the imperial system, scale by whatever factor you like. When done, measure one known line with the Tape Measure Tool. You will see the value used by SU in the Measurement Window. Type what you really want in it and validate by a press of the Return key or the Enter key. When asked if you want to redimension the model, click Yes.
Just ideas.
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Could it be that you have snaps on to something like 1/16" or maybe higher, like 1/4"?
You should check, Window, Model Info and Units to see what your snaps is set to, me I always have the snaps to off.
Ken
Edited : Oops! Didn't finish reading your answer Jean.
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