Do i need plugins do so modeling with sketchup?

Tekkybot

ok. what is soap skin and bubble and how does it apply to modeling with sketchup?

thomthom

ok. what is soap skin and bubble and how does it apply to modeling with sketchup?

If you need a approximation of how tensile structures behave, that's the tool for you. And that's the original intent of it. I've used it specifically for such a task. I had to model up some 'umbrellas' as a roofing system for a street. We found a solution that didn't use glass, but transparent film which was pumped up by air. SSB saved me a whole lot of work for that.

Tekkybot

so its not for like modeling curves? what about tools on surface? and skin?

thomthom

You can use SSB to create organic shapes. I've used it to create ponds some times. Drawing the outline of the pond, use those edges to SSB and apply a negative pressure.

Tools on surface allows you to draw lines and shapes on curved surfaces, as oppose to normal SU tools which require a flat plane.

Skin I haven't used. But I think it generates a surface out of a selection of edges and curves..?

jeff hammond

some examples of how i use skin and soap skin bubble.

skin does basically what it sounds like it would do..

say i'd like to put a surface to cover up this hole: [EDIT] i should've exaggerated this more in the example but those two sides aren't parallel.. they're closer together at the bottom than at the top.. otherwise, i'd just use push/pull here

i can manually connect the vertexes:

or i can use skin.rb:

after soften/smooth:

i choose which method to use based on the amount of connections and/or complexity..

for soap skins, i mainly use them as a visualization tool.. (and i don't think the author had this use in mind but it works for me)

say i have a complex hole to fill:

skin wouldn't work here and doing this manually would be a major undertaking so i use a soap skin:

after some pressure adjustments and soften/smooth i have a very fast method for visualizing this shape:

Tekkybot

good post jeff

Tekkybot

i should rephrase what im asking... what are the STEPS needed to take to blow up a bubble when using soapskin and bubble? ? what exactly, do you DO? i notice that s/b has all these extra icons in the folder that don't appear in sketchup for me after checking the s/b menu. maybe this is why i cant get s/b to work?

Gaieus

You need to activate SSB at Preferences > Extensions (then maybe even the toolbar at View > Toolbars)

pilou

And a little tut for use it

mfarooqi

@unknownuser said:

And a little tut for use it

Thank you MAN..