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    New to Sketchup. Trying to model a paraglider

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    • A Offline
      andy1979
      last edited by

      I am new to skethcup and have been trying to draw a paraglider. Can anyone give me advice on this. I have looked at numerous designs but I run into problems when trying to bend the design into the parabolic shape.

      Thanks
      Andy

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      • soloS Offline
        solo
        last edited by

        Show us what you have already.

        http://www.solos-art.com

        If you see a toilet in your dreams do not use it.

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        • A Offline
          andy1979
          last edited by

          This is what I have so far. I can't figure out how to get this bent into a parabolic shape. I have seen plugins that will do it but I am using SU8 free edition and can't figure out how to get plugins to work.

          Andy


          nucleon TOP with cells.skp

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          • A Offline
            andy1979
            last edited by

            This is my second attempt. I like this version better but I need to pinch the outside corners down without distorting the center line of the model. I tried this via the scaling tool (while holding ctrl) but could not get both ends to pinch at the same angle

            Andy


            Paraglider idea.skp

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            • TIGT Offline
              TIG Moderator
              last edited by

              @andy1979 said:

              This is what I have so far. I can't figure out how to get this bent into a parabolic shape. I have seen plugins that will do it but I am using SU8 free edition and can't figure out how to get plugins to work.
              Andy
              You probably have too many 'ribs' in the 2d 'plan'.
              You also need some 'cross-section curves' to define the 3d shape.
              When you have those you can look at Curviloft/EEbyRails/etc to try to make a 3d mesh from the 3d curves...
              Plugins are straightforward...
              Follow the installation/usage instructions that come with them on their download page...
              Typically you put an .rb file, or file[s]+subfolder_of_other_support_files [extracted from a zip file], into Sketchup's Plugins folder and restart Sketchup.
              The tools then appear in perhaps extensions to be activated, or maybe a menu and/or a toolbar etc - see their instructions as they can vary...

              TIG

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              • TIGT Offline
                TIG Moderator
                last edited by

                After I posted your new post arrived.
                If you are happy with that extruded shape then a few tips.
                Get your axes right - at the moment it's lying on its back edge.
                Ensure all faces are oriented so the front is 'out'.
                Now round off the edges...

                I suspect that a combo of the two tries so far with the use of a 'meshing tool' might give more what you're after...

                TIG

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                • A Offline
                  andy1979
                  last edited by

                  Maybe another newb question, but how to you round the edges?

                  Andy

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                  • TIGT Offline
                    TIG Moderator
                    last edited by

                    Find the RoundCorner plugin...

                    TIG

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                    • pbacotP Offline
                      pbacot
                      last edited by

                      Andy,
                      You have the pro's help here, but maybe I can add something. You can make a component from one-half of our model, copy and scale by -1 and have symmetrical parts. Then you only work on one half, the other side will update accordingly.

                      To see some basics on fabric shapes, see Daniel Tal's video here:
                      http://sites.google.com/site/3dbasecamp2008/all-sessions-2008/working-with-terrain-and-other-irregular-surfaces
                      towards the end. Oldie but goodie. Then going to Curviloft and Extrude by Rails & other plugins you can expand on your organic modelling abilities.

                      Peter

                      MacOSX MojaveSketchUp Pro v19 Twilight v2 Thea v3 PowerCADD

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