Best practice for drilling multiple holes?
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But file size won't.
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Dave R: I did as you suggested. This version has 5-segment outer arcs, 3-segment inner arcs, and 16-segment holes, for a grand total of 446 faces. That reduced the file size from 176 to 104 KB for the 2-hole component (made of 2 instances of the 1-hole block, plus 1 each of 2 end caps).The holes in the 1-hole block are 4 separate holes that I pushed through. Would using a hole component instead make a significant difference in file size?
Gaieus, the time savings of not having to manually punch 4800 holes to make this batch of punched tubes (not to mention 7200 holes in my next batch of tubes) makes the duplication-of-segments methods VERY much worth doing. So I'm VERY glad the guys suggested it.
Jim is right: a dynamic component for gridbeam sticks would be terrific! I don't have SketchUp Pro; would someone be willing to make this from the sub-components in the attached file?
The component, which is made from a duplicated tube body unit plus 2 end caps.
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Joy, just for clarification, you could create a long section with multiple holes in it without punching them all by simply copying the single-hole element as needed without making it a component first. Then delete the coplanar edges. Or you could take your existing component copies and explode them to end up with a long piece of tube with all the holes.
Hopefully someone will make your DC for you but even if they don't, you've got something very simple to work with.
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@gridbeam solutions said:
I don't have SketchUp Pro; would someone be willing to make this from the sub-components in the attached file?
Here's the DC. I could not keep the quote marks in the Component names - I got an error when trying to edit Components that used them, so I had to remove them. Let me know if you'd like it modified in some way.
To use (in SketchUp Free) open the Component Options window from the menu Window > Components Options, type in a value, then press Apply (or Enter.)
You can always open the Component and explode everything inside it, then run TT's Cleanup script if you'd like to then disable the DC and reduce the poly count.
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@jim said:
@gridbeam solutions said:
I don't have SketchUp Pro; would someone be willing to make this from the sub-components in the attached file?
Here's the DC. I could not keep the quote marks in the Component names - I got an error when trying to edit Components that used them, so I had to remove them. Let me know if you'd like it modified in some way.
Thank you, Jim! This is GREAT! I just tried it out and it is SO EASY!
I have modified the component name to "1.5-inch aluminum gridbeam", as the beam width and hole spacing are important to users. (There are other sizes and materials of gridbeam.)
I notice that this component's "length" parameter operates in multiples of the base unit, rather than actual measurements. If I want to make a beam 1 foot long, I must specify a length of 8, rather than 12" or 1'. I don't know much about dynamic components -- is there a way to make the component so users can specify the length in feet an inches? Making the length specification more straightforward will make the component easier to build with, which will make it more accessible.
Again, thank you VERY much, Jim, for creating this gem!
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Another newbie question: How do dynamic components work with parts list generators? I'd like to be able to generate a parts list for a project -- NOT a cutlist, as I want to list the component sizes -- something like this:
3 count 1.5-inch aluminum gridbeam 4 feet long
4 count 1.5-inch aluminum gridbeam 2.5 feet long
4 count 1.5-inch aluminum gridbeam 2 feet longHow might I do that using dynamic components? (I'm on a Mac, so not all parts list plugins work for me.)
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@gridbeam solutions said:
is there a way to make the component so users can specify the length in feet an inches?
Yes, but it becomes more difficult if there need to be partial units. For example, using the 1.5" base unit, would the DC need to work for a length of 5"? If so, then a fractional-unit component would need to be introduced.
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@gridbeam solutions said:
How do dynamic components work with parts list generators?
Several reporting scripts already exist, and it would be fairly trivial to write a script customized to your Components.
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Jim, do you have a suggestion for how to make a DC made up of a number of smaller components show up in a report instead of reporting the lowest level components?
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One obvious solution would be to give the top-level Component some attribute. If the report script finds the attribute, the script would just skip iterating the sub-components.
Alternatively, sub-components could be named using a special characters (end_plate, for example) which the script could easily check and not count as it builds the report.
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@jim said:
@gridbeam solutions said:
is there a way to make the component so users can specify the length in feet an inches?
Yes, but it becomes more difficult if there need to be partial units. For example, using the 1.5" base unit, would the DC need to work for a length of 5"? If so, then a fractional-unit component would need to be introduced.
Gridbeam doesn't need partial units. The beam lengths are always multiples of the beam width -- usually, but not always, even multiples.
Thus for 1.5" beam, lengths might be 1.5", 3", 4.5", 6", 4.5 feet, 8 feet, etc. For a beam 2" wide, lengths are always multiples of 2".
Same for metric: If a beam is 40 mm wide, the beam lengths will be multiples of 40 mm -- again, usually even multiples.
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@jim said:
@gridbeam solutions said:
How do dynamic components work with parts list generators?
Several reporting scripts already exist, and it would be fairly trivial to write a script customized to your Components.
Thanks! I installed Cut List, tested it, and it did exactly what I wanted.
And thanks to the tips you gave Dave R, I now know how to get SketchUp to list only the parts I want counted.
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There is another option to size the Component - the Scale Tool.
In all, there are 3 possible ways to size the component. 1) Enter a value in an input field, 2) Select a length from a drop-down list, or 3) use the Scale Tool. Unfortunately, the 3 methods are mutually exclusive.
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hi guys,
i´ve a slightly different question, but it´s about the "holes" too
( i don´t want to make another new useless thread )
it´actually talking about perforated plates.
i´m newly owner of 1001bit pro plugin, but found it can do just square holes.
when i make them an old fashioned way like here, sketchup collapses many times
do you know why, because my laptop works like a charm?
your valuable tips are very appreciated.
cheers!
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Make the flat face.
Draw a circle the required size.
Select its face and 'delete'.
Select the circle and Move + Ctrl offsetting the copy the required amount to the side [X/red].
Immediately type 12x [or whatever number is needed to array the circular holes across the face]
Use a fence to Select all of these circles.
Use Move+Ctrl again to array these in the opposite axis [Y/green] the required number of times NNx.
If the original face in not rectangular now manually Erase unwanted circles or parts at edges etc/
PushPull the face to make a 3d perforated panel.
Make it into a Component so its geometry is kept separate and if it'll be used several times you only need to edit one of them...
Use a sensible number of segments for these circular holes, because geometry that's not needed will kill [or at least hamper] Sketchup. You can of course use any shapes holes you like, and also have varying X and Y offsets
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George, here's an alternate way that might be useful.
Draw one hole and make an array. Use Delete Coplanar Edges to get rid of the unwanted edges. This means you need only delete the face inside one hole.
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hi tig,
thanks for a quick answer and amazing tut.
i didn´t think a large amount of circles can cause any "nausea" to this excellent problem
nevermind, next time i have to be careful with that.
have a nice weekend, and hope like the tiger !
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hi dave,
thanks for another valuable tip on how to make performated plates.
glad to be here, to learn from you guys !
hope to use 1001bit pro on another occasion.
cheers! -
If you Move+Ctrl to array-copy a hole across a face then the hole occurs in the copies too...
You'll only need to erase the face of the 'parent' hole that's used to make the various copies in my tut... -
hi guys ,
i ´m often forced to import preworked vector 2D design, logo etc. to sketchup, and i do it via DXF file.
when 2D design contains minimum poits, it become deformed after inport to SU.
but when i fill my design with points,import is fine, curves are smooth, then i like to use WELD plugin,
it´s take an hour to turn separate line segments into a continuous poly-line
is there any other way, how to import vector design into SU in perfect shape with minimum points please?
i´m sure it can be solved, but not without you !
note. i´ve been just tested a few plugins below.
( a new weld plugin and vertex tool didn´t help, WP never beep when done, clean up plugin is a great and fast tool,
but it joints only straight segments (lines) , rounds ones leaves untouched ( arcs ),
recurve 1.5 doesn´t help with a large amount of lines, i works for 50% with a small groups of both types.
thanks in advance for sharing your wisdom
note: the two ways bellow are okey, but they don´t solve plenty of points of final design in SU
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Open your EPS file in Illustrator and select all.
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Go to Object>Path>Add Anchor Points. (by default when you click this it adds an anchor point in the middle of every other anchor point you have) The smoother you want your curves the more Anchor Points you will want to add.
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Then go to Object>Path>Simplify and check the "Straight Lines" box. Bring your "Angle Threshold" down to 0. You can check the preview box and see how it looks.
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Export as a .dxf/dwg file and insert into SU.
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Redraw one line so SU will recognize the shape and fill.
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EPS to WMF
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WMF import in AutoCAD
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Save as DWG 2004 version
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Import to SketchUp
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