Making a 'solid' dome

[keea1111]

Hi,

I have been making monolithic dome designs, and since the new sketchup 8 came out with the new 'solid tools', they would do easily what I've been doing with 'intersect model' to create windows and doors on a round surface, by insetting the shape into the dome. Same concept as with these solid tools, but for some reason it is not allowing me to do this function. When I try, a pop up window says: One or more of the selected objects is either not a solid or is locked. The non-solid/locked objects will be de-selected before this operation is performed.
Here is how I've been making my domes, and maybe there is a better way to make them so that they become a 'solid' or 'unlocked' object: I draw a circle, make my vertical center line, draw a temporary rectangle from this center line, so I can then draw my arc on this flat surface. I erase the unneeded part of this rectangle. I now have a solid face from the arc to the center, and then I simply use the 'follow me' tool by selecting the circles perimeter line...and 'poof' there is the dome. I can't just make a half sphere, or I would use the 'dome' plug in, I need to make custom dome shapes. I would really like to use these new SU 8 tools, but it is not allowing me to. Does anyone know a better way to make custom shape domes that would respond the the solid tools? OR maybe another setting I'm missing..thanks, Keea

[d12dozr]

Your method sounds solid ...just make sure you draw the rectangle to the midpoint of a segment of your follow-me circle, not a vertex. Another thing to check is that all the small faces are being created...Thomthom's new 'Solid Inspector' might help you with that.

[pilou]

A drawing is better than a big speach
It's difficult to follow a long text

Ps You have this thread of anthology