Newbie: Snap to line positioning objects
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Well hello everybody, I am brand new to SketchUp and to the SketchUcation Community Forum.
I have SketchUp 8 Pro.
My interest are in 3D printing so I probable never will do a architectural drawing.
I am trying to learn the "Solid Tools" specifically the Subtract tool. I understand the basic function but what I need is precise positioning.
Say I have two boxes one being 10 x 20 x 10 the other 8 x 20 x 5 and I want to subtract the smaller from the larger box using the two bottoms for alignment.
How do I precisely align them? Currently I am having to look at everything from multiple angles to see if my edges align and even then it is sometimes hard to get the lines exactly over each other, or at least for me it is.
I have used other graphic programs where one would just select two edges and there would be an auto align function (button) that would put everything in sync.
Now I just started using SketchUp and the Solid tools so probable I'd eventually learn how to do this but thought I'd ask.
Thanks for the help,
Ralph
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look for instructional videos (on youtube eg) for the Move tool. Grabbing and placing an object precisely and accurately are necessary and basic skills in SU.
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One aid if they are not cooperating: move using the shift key to lock in a direction, then more inferences are available. To move one object down to another grab by a vertex on the bottom and start moving up or down, hold shift then snap to the second object. Plan where you are moving an object from, what's the best spot to start the move. Don't just grab it anywhere. It may not actually be on the moving object itself, but is usually a vertex on some object or another.
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You have some plugins for align
The more tricky is Align and distribute by SdmitchJust carreful of the internal Axis of components (Right Click / Change Axes)following the result wished !
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By chance, are your components glued to the ground plane? Select, right click, choose Unglue?
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Wow, thanks everyone. Sorry that probable was an ignorant question, I am sure with time I would have figured most of it out.
Now that plugin byhttp://sdmitch.blogspot.fr/sdmitch is interesting I cannot wait to see how it actually works.
All of your replies will really help.
Thanks again,
Ralph
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Hi Ralph, hi folks.
I suggest that you learn the basic tools before plunging into plugins, especially for what looks like a very simple task, unless I missed something.
Click in sequence on the scenes tabs of this SU file for ideas.
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Wow Jean, thanks so much. That is a great tutorial.
Luckily we are having winter weather, unlike last year, so I am able to spend some good time just playing with , oh er, I mean working with SketchUp 8 Pro.
Your method would work with the free version and Pro, one of the reasons I went with Pro was the "Solid Tools" specifically for the Subtract method of which I have a new challenge. I just posted a new question about Holeshttp://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=79&t=50714&e=0. My top surface has some bumps so I cannot just push object one through object two, or I would have to know how to make some dimples on the top inside surface.
Thanks once again Jean.
Ralph
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