General modeling strategy

gmac · 21 Oct 2010, 15:39

ok, I probably don't have to state my noob-ness after reading a bit, but after reading/experimenting/stumbling around in the program I'm curious about advice on how to tackle an upcoming project. its an apartment building exterior w/ a lot of repeating window types, but a lot of unique brick corners and conditions. my challenge in SU so far has been grabbing and sticking to things that I don't want to. so I know i have to use groups and components.

my first effort was to poly line up a bunch of shapes in an autocad plan the brought them into SU, but that seemed to have problems like they didn't push/pull like I expected and it was faster to draw them half the time. But as an architect, a lot of our stuff exists as an ACAD plan and elevation....'now model it.'

QUESTION: if you are building a complex model, is it better to build the pieces outside of the main model then insert them? so use the end model mostly as a landing area for things created elsewhere, thereby keeping that model fairly clean? (that was an old strategy in ACAD 3D when my machine couldn't handle the big models so I built them in pieces.)

or maybe I'd/we'd benefit from some general model building strategies, more general than the individual command techniques.

Thanks, - GREG (uber-noob)

steve2802 · 21 Oct 2010, 16:04

Hi Greg,

I tend to use cad plans in sketchup but always just trace over them. Once I've imported the cad drawing I make sure it is a component or group and then stick it on a layer called CAD. I lock that layer and then work on top of it.

It helps to start with a really clean cad drawing. I tend to get rid of blocks of window frames or anything with excessive detail which is not required for the model.

There are good tutorials of this on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtqJh-DUG30
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsnT8KN8xIM

It looks like you already know about components and groups and you should find that sketchup will handle pretty complex models before it starts to slow down provided you keep the model clean and keep everything in groups and components.

Hope this is of some use.

gmac · 21 Oct 2010, 16:23

thanks, Steve...I will study the tutorials. since my original posting, I've already read and learned a ton. And my impatience probably has caused me to waste some time since I'd already had success with ACAD 3d and naturally expected to hit the ground running here.

my ACAD import problems before seemed to stem from things being or creating things out of plane. I will try the component method you mentioned with the tracing. Is there anything I would need to do (or could do) to lock the tracings on a common Z-level? I was pretty sure the ACAD model before was clean and had a z value of (0) zero.

Really appreciate the help and this forum. huge. thanks, GREG

Gaieus · 21 Oct 2010, 16:54

Hi Greg,

Regarding CAD imports with minor problems, there are a couple of handy (free or low cost) plugins over Smustard.

Flatten - Flattens 3D objects to 2D, placing all entities on the Z=0 plane.
Stray Lines - Label, Select, Delete or Show all the open-ended line segments in a drawing. This is an EXCELLENT script for assessing how much cleaning up an imported CAD drawing will need.
CloseOpens - This script looks for lines that are supposed to touch and don't, and then draws a line connecting the open segments. This is one of several good CAD cleanup scripts.
As for your other question regarding the master plan like workflow - well, I often do that when my model gets really big. But of course, it all depends on the complexity only.

pbacot · 21 Oct 2010, 17:11

Greg,

As they said, the import may just be a trace-over component. Now,when I do import CAD linework to use, I try to make it simple and clean as possible, thinking about the face it will make in SU and how I'll be using it. Then I can take advantage of existing CAD linework and 2d drawing that is better and easier than drawing in SU. Profiles for molding or whole cornices might be an example, besides slabs and walls I want to import for extrusion. I think simply using floor plans from CAD or trying to change your CAD plan drawing technique to transfer to SU can be more time consuming than necessary.

As you probably know, it is dangerous to base the work flow of an actual project on software you are not yet proficient in. I've used SU "on the side" for many projects before committing to it being necessary for presentations etc. Good luck,

Peter

gmac · 21 Oct 2010, 17:16

Thanks Gaieus......my learning curve today is steep. really helpful. not just the plugins, but the general ruby help. lots of info on the Smustard's page.

Cheers, GREG

gmac · 21 Oct 2010, 18:28

@pbacot said:

As you probably know, it is dangerous to base the work flow of an actual project on software you are not yet proficient in.

That's the truth. Though, I seem to learn the most about a program while under pressure to produce. (condundrum) So I imagine there will be a lot of experimentation/learning/backtracking/etc on this. But it's not really my first effort either.

All this mailing is in prep for the final which starts on monday. So I will study all weekend, then when I start I will largely work in a 'safe' file and then copy successful work into a clean file. that seems like safe way to go on this first reasonably big effort.

thanks for all the advice. very helpful. - Greg