How can I change the spacing of SketchUp's snap-to grid?
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SketchUp acts like it has an invisible 3D grid that points, edges, and objects snap to. Is there a way to change the grid spacing?
For many of my projects, it would be useful to set the grid spacing at 1.5" while I build the project frame, then 0.75" as I add bolts. This would virtually eliminate my use of guidelines, which would be a huge time-saver.
Thanks for your help,
Joy Livingwell
Gridbeam Solutions -
Hi Joy,
Under your Window > Model info Units panel you can turn off length snapping. This works like an invisible grid if it is on.
Do this in an empty model and when you are done (and maybe after some other changes and settings), save it as a new template under the File menu (don't forget to check the box at the bottom to have it as your default). Then from any new model on, it will be turned off.
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@gaieus said:
Under your Window > Model info Units panel you can turn off length snapping. This works like an invisible grid if it is on.
Thanks for the tip, Gaieus! I turned "Enable length snapping" ON, set the length to 1.5", and SketchUp now aligns my parts more or less where I want them. Woo hoo!
I say "more or less where I want them" because SketchUp still doesn't JUST snap to the 1.5" increments I want, but also to smaller ones. Setting "precision" as large as I can (1/2") helped. I just wish I could type in 1.5" there so my components would ONLY snap at 1.5" increments.
As I suspected, the "snap" feature helped me build my project MUCH faster. Thank you!
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Well, normally I keep that function off completely. I rarely need to have things so regularly aligned so it would be just bothering me.
You can always type the desired values for your move tool - or make both linear and radial arrays if you need them at exact spaces. Since we are in the Newbie forum, I hope it's not degrading or embarrassing for you if I ask whether you know these things - if not, I'd be happy do explain / show.
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@gridbeam solutions said:
....I say "more or less where I want them" because SketchUp still doesn't JUST snap to the 1.5" increments I want, but also to smaller ones. Setting "precision" as large as I can (1/2") helped. I just wish I could type in 1.5" there so my components would ONLY snap at 1.5" increments....
Hi Joy,
Keep in mind that there are two different snapping situations in SU.
Snapping to geometry (endpoints, midpoints intersections with faces etc.) can't be turned off. It's just part of the inferencing feature in SU to let you work/model in a 3D environment. Without this it would be hard to model anything in 3D views.
The other one is length snappingand does not just work on an invisible orthogonal grid. It forces snapping to certain length increments in ANY direction, running from where you start and along the direction you drag the cursor.
It's not suitable for very small increments unless you model very small objects.
Like Gaieus mentioned, you may be better off to turn this length snapping off and to rely on inferencing to other geometry AND to take advantage of copying with the array option (both radial and linear). -
The only time I can envisage using length-snapping effectively is perhaps if you want to draw objects to the nearest 6"... and then setting it to 6" it will jump the ends of lines etc to the nearest 6" step - you can still snap to other objects and defy the inference, but in open-space the lines would always increment to 6"...
Otherwise switch the option off
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Thanks for the tips and clarifications, folks! Very helpful.
What I'm really looking for is a way to make the inference grid default to my increment of choice -- in this case, 1.5" Is there any way to set THAT interval?
Joy
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@gridbeam solutions said:
....What I'm really looking for is a way to make the inference grid default to my increment of choice -- in this case, 1.5" Is there any way to set THAT interval?
As said before by others, set length snapping to 1.5" and when drawing or moving geometry avoid doing so 'off axis' by constraining to the axis of your choice by using the arrow keys or by holding down [Shift] when the 'on axis' color pops up.
The increment will be a multiple of 1.5" or things will snap to existing geometry. The latter though can't be turned off.
In other words: you can snap to 'on axes' n*1.5" or to existing geometry.
To reduce intervening geometry use separate environment(s). So draw inside new groups or components context where at the same time the rest of the model is hidden. -
Set your length snapping to 1.5" and use my WorkPlane with a 1.5" grid set, to to make a planes to snap to to its intersections etc.......
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