Whats a good plugin to create windows in buildings?
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Windows, glass curtains, etc?
I realize I lose a lot of time with windows in Sketchup. Because I create the window frame as one group. Then each window sliding pane is another group. And inside those, are the window glass panes.
When I copy a window to another part of the house, if the size is a bit different, I must enter each window group to change the sizes... it takes a lot of time when you must do it for several windows.
Now, I do have 1001 Bit original toolset, which creates window frames, and yes, I know about creating a window frame, then entering the group and creating the sliding window frame with the same tool.
And YET:
1 - when you have a window with two sliding window frames, when both sliding windows are in place, the central part of each frame should be juxtaposed over the other, not side by side, which is what happens when you divide the central face in two, with 1001 Bit.
2 - You cant set the materials, Each time you create a new frame, you must enter the groups and set materials. If you have lots of different and more complex windows, this can get VERY time consuming
I wonder if there is not a more refined window creation tool. Like those from BIM software. No need to get THAT complex, but something more along those lines. Btw, automatically creating window glass with THICKNESS (and painting it as glass both inside and out) should be a possibility too.
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i think that windows as dynamic components would be a good solution. however, i never got to create any dynamic component in sketchup and my workflow is similar to yours, so i'm in fact commenting just to see the replies from others.
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Pella and Marvin have some dynamic windows (and doors) which have different configurations etc. and may be useful depending on the types of windows you're trying to create. there are a few other manufacturers with sliding door components which could be sized to be a window.
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Yes, building windows in sketchup can be a pain in the A$$, especially if there are a lot of them.
I have implemented Lattice Maker in my workflow as follows:
- I draw a simple rectangle (or the shape of the opening) to have a face.
- Next I select a range of faces drawn for windows (generally, all windows on the same side of a building
- I then apply lattice maker, which lets me decide thickness and size of frame, the thickness of the pane, and also materials for frame and panels.
-voilĂ widows made
Lattice maker can be found here: http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?t=28223
Use at own risk, may cause addiction!
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@gullfo said:
Pella and Marvin have some dynamic windows (and doors) which have different configurations etc. and may be useful depending on the types of windows you're trying to create.
these are users here at the forum? Or at 3D Warehouse?
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Pella and Marvin are two USA based window manufacturers. Another is Andersen. They may have insertable components on their websites.
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You might try this, window tools makes frame glass and mullins http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?t=12869
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a dynamic component would be good otherwise, you might want to try the stretch function in FredoScale:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?t=17948
with that, you can resize things without scaling undesired parts.. (place a divider in the place you'd like the stretching to occur)
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Of course, this may not have all that you are looking for, but Windowizer, by Rick Wilson, at Smustard? Only because the thread title suggested it.
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Windowizer
WindowTools (and Door Tools by the same author)
The suite of window/door/frame tools in 1001bit pro -
@unknownuser said:
a dynamic component would be good otherwise, you might want to try the stretch function in FredoScale:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?t=17948
with that, you can resize things without scaling undesired parts.. (place a divider in the place you'd like the stretching to occur)
+1 on the Fredoscale. Thanks for that tip about dividing Jeff - a d'oh moment for me...
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With respect, I cringe when I read the title of your thread. What do you mean by good? and what context are you proposing to use such a plugin for?
You lose a lot of time because you lack an understanding of who the drawings, you are producing, are for. Are you producing Working Drawings? or are you producing Preliminary Design Drawings?Mixing Windows with Glass curtain walls is like trying to mix oil and water. No typical residential window, is not going to preform as a Glass curtain wall installed in a 50 story Highrise.
You also capitalize glass THICKNESS. I have never tried to show the thickness of a sheet of glass, particularly difficult in the old days, using a 4H mechanical pencil
Drawings consist of 2 parts Specification and working drawings. Specification normally describe the quality of the materials used. The working drawings are concerned with how the Window is going to be attached to the structural frame of the building.If your are producing Preliminary design drawings "less is more " less detail is actually more desirable, it will reduce the file size in SketchUP. Imagine how much you can reduce the file size of a 50 story highrise using a simple sheet to glass in the exterior openings versus showing a detailed curtain wall profile.
Also showing Glass THICKNESS, is not a good thing if you intend to render Glass using Vray.
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