Drawing a vertical rectangle
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I remember the frustration of trying to follow a tutorial when I was learning SU and not being able to do super simple things like you describe. It was torture. It's gotten much easier since then, but the challenges have continued to grow.
I'd also add the trick of drawing a horizontal rectangle then pulling it up. Useful since in a 3D program, you hardly ever really just want a vertical rectangle.
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Sometimes, when the model is already quite complex, and no matter how you orbit, you can hardly get a good view to draw a rectangle plane (or circle), it is still easier to draw it on the horizontal plane and rotate it.
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I usually find it easy to draw the vertical line, then the bottom horizontal line, hit R and then connect the two points. It makes for a nice neat vertical rectangle and ive gotten used to it to a point where i can do it in just a few seconds.
Much faster than making it flat on the "ground" and rotating it in place. Plus it makes it simple to make vertical rectangles that dont fall on the red or green axis. Most of the time anyways, sometimes it wants to make a rectangle at a strange angle, then i have to beat SU into submission.
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I've always thought the tendency for favoring the blue axis was a little strong.
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Hi,
Tankyou for your prompt replys.
I knew there was better ways to do itBest regards
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Good morning Gentlemen (08:00 GMT),
This is my first posting, and so if I get the protocol wrong then my apologies.
I use the measure tool to draw planes in any orientation and at any height. Using the measure tool, 'draw off' construction lines off the appropriate axes. For example, if a rectangle/square is required on the blue/green plane, then select the green axis and pull up a construction line from the axis. Then select the blue axis and draw across a construction line from the axis. You can trace along the green axis when pulling off the blue axis to ensure that you are pulling the construction line in the right direction. Better defined inference points can be created at the points where the construction lines cross the axes by creating construction lines along the axes (use the measure tool, and click at two points on an axis).
Variations on a theme:
Use the protractor tool to set the orientation of the bottom edge of the rectangle/square before drawing up and across.
Use more than one construction line to set the upper and lower edges of a rectangle/square on a plane.
Use absolute [x,y,z] and relative <x,y,z> co-ordinates to create guide points at any point in 3D space. Draw off guide lines and use the protractor tool and snap to the guide points to create planes at any point and in any orientation in 3D space.
You can enter values into the VCB to size the rectangle/square as you go.
Kind regards,
Bob -
Interesting approach, Bob, but as I understand your method, instead of using construction lines and then filling the rectangles by tracing these lines from intersection to intersection, you could (at least in some cases) use the real lines as well thus sparing some steps.
Maybe I just overlooked/misinterpreted (-understood) something.p.s. glad you had your first post - hope that you will start posting more regularly (especially for these interesting ideas
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Dear Gaieus,
After having created the outline of the rectangle/square using guide lines (construction lines?), I use the rectangle tool to make the plane by snapping to the intersection points along a diagonal. The method using guide lines allows one to create construction planes at any point and in any orientation in 3D space. This is useful if one needs to create a 'sketch plane' for an extrusion (such as a hole cutter) to intersect with existing geometry. If you use the VCB box as you go then the last step (using the rectangle tool) defines the plane nicely.
I am using Sketchup and AutoCAD to mass model a new high speed rotating table for a geophysical fluid dynamics experiment. Once I am happy with the configuration I will switch to Inventor which is a parametric 3D modelling program with all the bells and whistles. Inventor uses sketch planes to create geometry and so my approach might be coloured by my familiarity with this software. Why am I using Sketchup when I have Inventor? Because it it is so quick and easy to develop ideas using sketchup, and at the configuration stage I do not need the detail available with Inventor. I am also using sketchup to design a new extension (kitchen and bathroom), which is the reason I started using sketchup in the first place
Thank you for your welcoming remarks. I decided to contribute because I should not like to be considered a 'lurker'.
Kind regards,
Bob -
Bob,
I wasn't criticising your method (indeed, the forums are great to learn new techniques, tips & tricks every day) I was just thinking about the usefulness of it (without actually trying).
your reply explains a lot (I actually draw "auxiliary" faces quite often, too).
Finally there is nothing bad in "lurking" at all - I do that at forums where I go to "learn" (like the KT forums that I especially like).
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I think this is part of the power of SketchUp, but also part of the frustration for new users. A rectangle is probably the simplest thing to draw and there are about five different ways to do it described above.
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Dear Gaieus,
Not to worry, I did not take your comments as a criticism, but merely a request for clarification.
I think this site is a wonderful resource for the Sketchup user, and I would like to thank you and all the other contributors for all your hard work.
Kind regards,
Bob -
Hi folks.
Dont forget that one of SU strength is the possibility of orbiting, zooming, panning, changing scene while in the middle of an operation like drawing, scaling, moving, rotating, etc.
Try the following:
1 - With the standard Iso view, start a rectangle
by clicking to set the first corner.
The rectangle will have a tendency to be drawn
on the horizontal plane (red-green axis).2 - While still in the drawing process, orbit so
the red-blue plane is mostly facing you.3 - Complete the rectangle. You will see that it
is now drawn on the vertical red-blue plane.Just ideas.
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