Section tool(s) enhancements
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I have some ideas for what could be great enhancements for the Section Tool.
The ability to have more than one section plane active simultaneously.
The introduction of SECTIONAL VOLUMES.
By this I mean that any closed volumetric geometry can be designated as a SECTIONAL VOLUME.
Where a SECTIONAL VOLUME intersects with other geometry everything inside the SECTIONAL VOLUME is hidden and sectional cut lines are displayed at the intersection of the SECTIONAL VOLUME and the intersecting geometry.Multiple SECTIONAL VOLUMES active simultaneously.
This would allow highly complex and interesting cutaway models to be produced.Filled section cuts.
This could possibly be achieved by some sort of intersect with model plane/geometry where the user is able to determine what parts of the intersection to keep and what to delete.
This would have to be linked to the section plane so that when the section plane is moved a warning is displayed that section plane geometry is linked and that it will be deleted if the user moves the section plane.
It would also be necessary that the 'section cut geometry' is completely hidden when the sections are turned off.It would be interesting to get comments on any and all of my suggestions from the community and from the boffins at SketchUp.
Maybe some of these things are possible already, if so please elaborate.
With thanks,
ole
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At least number 1 is already possible by using groups or components, and most of the others can be fairly well achieved by nesting groups.
TIG has made a quite well functioning Section Cut Face RUBY script, that can be downloaded from Didier Bur's Ruby Library Depot, or the Scripts forum under the Ruby Discussions subforum.
Anssi
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I thin you are right, olenordmandsen.
currently I only use the section tool to check things in my models. for grafical use (presentation I mean) however it is not really usable - especially because of the visible geometry within cut "walls". that just doesnt look good.
if SketchUp would display closed geomety in a section as solid object, you needed to be extremely accurate with defining face orientations (what I am always doing anyway - spending huge amounts of time reversing faces, even if it is coloured later on...
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I could use that script nr 1, but cannot find it on Didiers website. Does someboy have a link
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@ever said:
I could use that script nr 1, but cannot find it on Didiers website. Does someboy have a link
What I meant that for placing multiple sections or sections that only affect parts of the model, no Ruby is needed. See attachment for a simple example...
TIG:s SectionCutFace ruby script that I mentioned makes a face to fill the gap left by a section plane in a hollow wall, for example.
Anssi
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@ever said:
I could use that script nr 1, but cannot find it on Didiers website. Does someboy have a link
Here is a link to it in the Ruby Forum here.
http://www.sketchucation.com/forums/scf/viewtopic.php?f=153&t=1517 -
@olenordmandsen said:
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2.
The introduction of SECTIONAL VOLUMES.
By this I mean that any closed volumetric geometry can be designated as a SECTIONAL VOLUME.
Where a SECTIONAL VOLUME intersects with other geometry everything inside the SECTIONAL VOLUME is hidden and sectional cut lines are displayed at the intersection of the SECTIONAL VOLUME and the intersecting geometry....you are reading my mind!!! this would allow for many fantastic results, once accessible from within ruby, this could be very helpful for shaping - like now it's possible to use a section plane as a virtual push/pull but in any direction, having complex cutting geometry available, we could quickly take out parts of a building with visual feedback...
and of course you could achieve this by nesting group with individual section planes, but it's very complicated to move them planes
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