Rounded corners?

mkultra72 · 11 Oct 2011, 00:09

How do i make the corners of my house rounded in the same angle/size? There must be some shortcut to make one rounded corner and the program understands that the other 3 corners should be exactly the same?

I've watched a few video tutorials, but they didnt say anything about this, or maybe they did and i didn't get it haha.

Thanks.

mitcorb · 11 Oct 2011, 01:59

You have two, maybe three possibilities. Without at least an image, I am guessing.
Depending on complexity:

Starting the house from scratch, you apply an arc to each corner of the plan profile. You then push pull the whole profile up as one "box". Or wall by wall if you are showing thickness.
Perhaps the house is already prepared with all sharp corners. Then place a 2d arc on top and push/pull the unwanted fillet down to the ground.

If your model is being prepared in architectural scale, that is, using inches or millimeters for input, then you are most likely going to have some issues with small, or very narrow faces on these radiused corners, unless you specify the arcs at maybe 6 or 8 segments. Maybe fewer depending on how close you will be viewing the finished product.

I would be remiss if I did not mention that there is a Plugin that can do this. It still requires practice and judgment, and finsl results are not necessarily instantaneous. I would suggest, however, if you are new to Sketchup, to do as much with native tools first.

If you would post an image, it would be helpful, and others can also comment.

mkultra72 · 11 Oct 2011, 03:16

@mitcorb said:

If you would post an image, it would be helpful, and others can also comment.

The image would just be a flat rectangle since i've just started

I know i can create arcs, but if i do them manually they wont look exactly the same.

TIG · 11 Oct 2011, 08:24

You need to set common points using guides...
If you have lots to do and the corners are maybe not 90 degrees you need a 'fillet-tool'.
There are several available...
Typically you activate the tool type in a radius and pick two coplanar lines and they get filleted with a radiused corner.
Try my 2dTools - Fillet tool [it works in all planes]...

mitcorb · 11 Oct 2011, 11:35

Hi, mkultra72:
I was anticipating that you would come back with more questions. What TIG pointed out would be the way to go. His "2d tools" set is very handy, especially the fillet.
Quoting you:
"I know i can create arcs, but if i do them manually they wont look exactly the same." Technically, if you built them in the real world they wouldn't be exactly the same, either.

The stuff I said before assumed the radius of the arc would be very small. Of course, you could use any radius with the Fillet tool.

mkultra72 · 11 Oct 2011, 12:54

Many thanks to both of you, i will try your 2D Tools TIG.

Dave R · 11 Oct 2011, 13:17

FWIW, if you do draw the arcs manually, there's absolutely no reason they can't be all the same.

Jean Lemire · 11 Oct 2011, 15:21

Hi folks.

See this SU file for ideas:

House with rounded corners.skp

mkultra72 · 11 Oct 2011, 19:04

@jean lemire said:

Hi folks.

See this SU file for ideas:

Thanks a lot Jean! That's very helpful!

What a lovely community