Sketchup for metal buildings?
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I wanted to say hi to everyone here and ask some of the SU masters why has some of the metal building companies not looked into using SU more? I worked in drafting for more than 17 years for two pretty major companies and just this last year was laid off due to my multiple sclerosis and lack of work. Luckily I have been approved for disability so I will able to provide for my family and this also give me time to explore my love for cad and design when I’m able. I worked with AutoCAD 14 all the way to AutoCAD 2009 and used programs such as MBS and Quest ware. In my option with what I have seen so far with the plug-ins and ruby scripts for SU a couple of industry aware users could come up with a solution pretty easily! With the two automated cad programs I mention above in my option try to do to much at once. I don’t think you will ever eliminate the engineer or the detailer so why try? I say give the detailer something like SU with a load of useful tools and make everyone happy!! I have uploaded a small building I detailed a while back for one of the companies I mentioned and all together it took me about two weeks and I drew it in SU in about 2 days with a very limited knowledge of SU! Sure I use the cad drawings to look at that were already detailed plus I didn’t put the purlins or eave strut on yet but all the same I think it could be used! Please excuse my spelling; spell-check is angry at me today!
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Hi folks.
You can download the "Construction bonus pack" for SU 6 at this address:
In it, among other interesting stuf, are a lot of steel shapes like WF, HSS, etc.
If it do not download at the correct place, simply transfer or copy the whole directory in the Component directory of SU 7.
Just ideas.
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Just to let you know, I did an architectural renovation to a metal building as a real project.
Although I was less interested in the deep detailing, like fasteners and gusset plates, and more in the massing of the existing structure, as it affected my additions and modifications, I used the simple Sketchup toon shading in order to present my ideas to the client/ user. These presentations were very helpful in developing and explaining my design.
It also helped me to determine how to draw the required CAD drawings.But your premise about the usefulness of Sketchup in the metal building industry is right on.
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