Please alow myself...
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...to introduce myself.
Hi. My name is Sean but everyone just calls me by my last name "Titmas" or some variation thereof(don't worry, I'm not easily offended). I downloaded Sketchup over a year ago and because of the dinosaur of a PC that I had at the time SU didn't get used at all. I did have some expirence with AutoCAD 1998-99 and knew that what SU had to offer in the way of 3D ability and short learning curve were powerful tools that I should be using. Well all that changed 3 months ago when I upgraded to an Acer laptop, set up dual monitors, and downloaded SU 6. Now i spend about 1-3 hours a day using/learning SU in addition to my regular work schedule. I'm a self employed carpenter/cabinetmaker and want to use SU to improve the way I do business. I know SU is a powerful tool and that I will benefit from using it however I will need some direction in how to use it to best suit me. That's where this forum comes in and I look forward to learning all that you have to offer. -
Hi Tom..Welcome...
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Sorry Sean..I was talking to Tom at the time...Welcome SEAN! -
Hi Titmas (then let it be
) and welcome!I'm sure you will find some good advices here - there are a couple of quite active woodworkers in the forums who would most probably help you with anything specific - while all the "rest of us" with anything general.
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Morning Titmas,
Welcome from a fellow woodworker.
cheers
Alan
http://www.hand-cut-dovetails.com -
Hi Sean -- welcome to the forums.
It seems to me that there are two primary ways users utilize SketchUp. First is to visualize a design - allowing a preconceived design to be seen as a virtual 3d object. The second way SketchUp is used is as a design tool where the design is developed as the user models.
From my years on this forum & its predecessor, I'd suggest more people use it for the first. That probably relates to many of us around here aren't designers but still find producing SketchUp visualizations useful, or have jobs where we model other people's designs. Those that are designers may still design on paper and then use SketchUp to 'test' an idea or model it so the design can be visualized by others.
Using SketchUp as a design tool is actually quite different. It's the old "two steps forward - one step back" trial & error approach of exploring ideas in real time with continual reassessment based on what the model visualizes for you as you create it. Just as with designing using pen & paper, what a designer needs to 'see' something informative in a few 3d forms in SketchUp can be quite different than what is needed to communicate a design to others. SketchUp really can be a personal tool.
Both approaches are completely valid and many of us use SketchUp both ways. I'd suggest look at how you've been using SketchUp so far and try to expand your skills in the direction you've been less focused on. All of us can get better at the visualization end and all can get better at using SU to think through a design and explore possibilities.
Regards, Ross
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o.O a wood worker. Ive been involved in woodworking in some fashion or another since i was about 5 years old and my grandfather first let me use the drill press. Ive made everything from a drinks bar to a woodshed and alot of things in between, yet i have yet to use sketchup to create a design.... Maybe i just like to do things using a measuring tape, square and the plans in my head, but i should give SU a shot.
The last thing i ever made was a coffee table which i managed to sell for $300 USD, and it was a 45 dollar highschool project.
Im in no way an expert, nor do i claim to be. It would seem that im a jack of all trades, because i never seem to master anything before i move on to a new venture. Maybe i have a slightly prolonged version of ADD?Anyways, as far as SU goes, the easiest thing to do would be to take your knowledge of woodworking and create models one plank at a time.
If you dont mind watching videos (its what i did) check out Aidan Chopras videos, he created them to go along with hie Sketchup for Dummies book: -
Welcome titmas. Yes there are some great woodworkers here and you will get all kinds of help.
Check out this simple rolling drawing shelf I designed in SU then built.
viewtopic.php?p=3427#p3427The great thing about SU is you can label your components whatever you want and with the Outliner keep them all organized and at your fingertips.
From there you can break apart your model and start getting dimensions etc...
Good luck and I look forward to seeing some of your work.
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Boofredlay,
I like the style of the rolling shelf you designed and built. That is where I think SU can work for me, giving the client a 3D visualisation of the project before I make the first cut and giving me a cut list all with the same model. My current project (2 window seat cabinets) will be the first one built from a SU model.Ross,
Thanks for laying out the two common approaches to SU. I still use pencil and paper to sketch out the basic idea of my project but than use SU to flesh out the details.alan,
I really like that jewellery box you made. Cheers -
Welcome, Titmas.
I'm sure that you will find, as I did, the friendly folks at this forum to be very helpful. A great place to learn.
Nick
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