Hello and maybe 2 stupid questions
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Hello, My name is Keith. I've been using sketchup off and on for a year or two. I'll be honest, I still find it tedious and that leads me to my questions. (Background: I need to make 3D metal frames. From the renderings I will do the welding.) Question: Is Pro really worth it and do many of the plugins require Pro? Money is tight right now and its pricey. Question 2: I'm very interested in Tak2Hata's Building Structure Tool plugin but I can't seem to find the actual location to download it. Where should I be looking? Thank you kindly, Keith
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Hi Keith and welcome.
Q1: With pro you get Layout, Style builder, some importers/exporters and the solid tools, but almost all the plugin will work with the free version.
Q2: it's here. To find a plugin just press the big red button named "plugins index" on the top of the page and scroll the thread. -
In terms of making models, the 'solid tools' are the only extra in SU Pro. If you find yourself doing lots of intersecting geometry (and them deleting the 'offcuts'), they can be very useful - but the intersection method can almost always achieve the same things (if you don't mind the extra work required for the 'cleaning up').
There is also a plugin "Bool Tools", available for only $10 that can add pretty much the same features to SU 'Free' - though I have not used it myself, so can't comment on its effectiveness or compatability.If your models are only for your own reference, then Layout and Style builder are probably of little use to you. They are designed to make the process of producing documents with multiple views and 'artistic impressions' easier - so are really just for making 'pretty' documents for showing to customers, or drawings for sending to the 'shop floor' when someone else is doing the manufacture for you.
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