It works for me. Thanks. I like shortcut plugins which don't need my attention.

For 3d Carving, I am using the following process: SketchUp Pro ---> (export as IGES using IGES plugin) ---> MasterCam. --> Thermwood CNC For 2d Cutting with drawing based control of cutting depths and tool use: SketchUp Pro --> (export dxf) ---> Thermwood CNC Thermwood CNC's can accept DXF drawings where the drawing layer tells the G-code generator what to do. I wrote a Sketchup guide for my specific Thermwood CNC. Some information is applicable to other CNC's. http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=183&t=51468 I hope it is of some help to people trying to navigate the software end of cnc machines.

@honoluludesktop said: I didn't download the pdf, but why not draw a circle then scale it along the major axis? Of course I only needed to approximate an ellipse with two arcs for dimensions. I liked it.... maybe it is stupid.

Tube Along Path will accomplish this also. There is also Pipe Along Path. Lines to Tubes and the two I mentioned have slightly different results under certain circumstances.

Welcome to SketchUcation... I like your screen name: Ctrl-Alt-Elite Let us know if you have any questions. Feel free to post pics of your work too!

Hi, Architeuthis: Here is a current topic with links to learning. See the response from Gaieus: http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=79&t=36926&p=325388#p325336

There is a free tool called weld.rb available at Smustard.com It lets you selected connected edges and weld them into a 'curve'. Arc etc are already curves BUT this lets you combine arcs and other lines into a single 'curve'. Most of the EEby... tools need you to select 'curves'. Even if you want one straight side you need to Divide that edge into 2 or more pieces and then make a curve of its parts using weld. A 'swept mesh' is what you get when you use a tool like EEbyRails - the faceted surface the mesh, and it sweep along the rails...

@sdmitch said: Alt+Backspace is the keyboard equivalent. I didn't even know that. Ctrl+Z does the same. If you already started a line for instance (or pretty much any operation) but do not want to finish it, press the Esc(ape) button.

Hi Zenn (and welcome). Well, there are good plugins - all depends on what input data you have however. If nothing, it is just eyeballing in SU as well and you can do everything with the sandbox tools.

[image: HLEW_2011-04-17_173117.png]

i need some help with this problem. When creating iregulate shapes, how can i match texture with the object faces? (i tried with holding Alt between one face and another...the pattern isn't accurate) [image: AK4E_butoi.jpg]

Instead of modification of your model consider consider: moving copy off to side and delete all edges except the inside and outside and then use the sand box tool to drape those on to a new surface and replace the image you are using with that surface

You can try something like this free good one BBFlash Back Express I have not seen your file because I suppose that is not in SU6 format ?

Yes. Coping a molding profile like that is faster with Solid tools. If I had a lot of molding to cope, I would probably do it once, convert the coped molding to a component and then use that one piece of molding for any other pieces that need coping using Make Unique and resizing as needed with Move. I have run into a few cases where Solid tools "breaks" a solid component/group and leaves it unsolid. I reported it and it was confirmed as a bug so hopefully a fix is on the way. I'll cross my fingers that they add the option to leave things as components, though.

@gaieus said: Me oops,. i meant who uses free version...

Hi Donna, I made this rock by attaching a texture in sketchup and then rendering it with Kerkythea. ( afree program) Rendering is the only way to go if you want photorealistic. ( I have only approached semi-realistic.) [image: jpU0_rocks.jpg]

I did not mean the 3D View of the model but the way its scenes are arranged inside the model itselfin order to make it possible to export an animation of the model. It was for another help forum question actually.

I often just guess in the surrounding buildings from site photos and google aerials...doesn't take much time since detail isn't important just form. [image: vPbU_LCSB-optD1_siteREV2a-tn.jpg]