Make drawings faster

ipsketchpi

Hi

Any suggestions how to work faster with drawings- all these measures, views etc to make it look good in layout takes a lot of time. Is there any plug in to make some kind of 50/50% automatic drawing generation like it is in Solid Works our Autodesk Inventor?

Thank you

Dave R

It would be helpful to see exactly what you're doing now and to know what your workflow is. There are a lot of things you might be able to do to speed up the entire process but since I don't know what you are doing, I can't make exact suggestions.

Here are a few general things that work for me.

I only use components (no groups) and I make sure to save those components I can reuse so I don't repeat drawing them.
I create the model in situ. I do not draw components and then assemble them. Assembling all the parts after drawing them is a waste of time, too much work and opens up possibilities for errors.
I use layers to control visibility of components. I sort out the layers so related components are on the same layer. For example, table legs are on one layer, apron components on another and so on.
I create scenes to show the various exploded views of assemblies and parts as well as the overall view of the model.
I don't send to LayOut until I have at least most of the scenes created. this helps to reduce the trips back and forth between SketchUp and LayOut.
In LayOut, I leave all views set to Raster until I've finished everything else. Then I convert to Vector or Hybrid as needed.
Once all the views are created, I go through and insert dimensions where needed. I use a combination of dimensions and leader text for dimensioning because that's the way my major client likes it done. I have come to prefer it as well.
Don't be overly redundant with dimensions. It creates clutter and wastes time.
Once I've completed the text, proofread it and am satisfied, I convert the views to either Vector or Hybrid as needed and start rendering. At that point I can go get a cup of coffee or something to eat and let the computer chug away.

ipsketchpi

Hi Dave

Thank you for advice. I use to make technical drawings for production, so that producers can understand what I want from them to be produced. I find very difficult and very tunefully to use SU for such things like- hatch section, detail views, measures like arc length..etc Can you send me some of your nice drawings so I can see how you use SU. Please take a look attached on one of mine latest nightmare. Simple part but details views just kills me.

Model -Sign-.pdf

Model -Sign-.layout

Dave R

That does look nice. good work.

I can't post the LayOut files I've done because they are all for other clients. You can get some of them here, though. This one would be a good example.