Conundrum using advanced Plugins

pbacot · 18 Sept 2014, 18:26

Somehow using 1001bit tools always takes me partway there. An example: using create rafters on a simple roof, how poorly the hips and purlins are handled compared to best practices or even so-so construction in reality... so yes it gets the basic geometry there but then I have to create components and duplicate, rotate, explode redraw so much. Sort of a "can't live with em, can't live without em situation". Lots of power there, just being wishful it finished the job.

JQL · 18 Sept 2014, 19:17

Couldn't agree more...

Specially if you're talking about BIM plugins! They are fast at modeling things that are not really how they are going to be built.

I tell you how I feel: The best plugins around are the line tool, pushpull, the group and component, hole cutting components and all the abstract geometry plugins, like joint push pull, fredo scale, curviloft...

Then there are those that really really make a difference now and then Section Cut Face being the top one along with edge tools divide face and inspect (I have high hopes on Skalp, but suspect it will make me model differently... I'll take a look at it when there's a trial).

Nowadays you can't live without a render plugin too so I'd recommend Thea to everyone.

All the other plugins facilitate your life so much you wouldn't consider living without them, but I must admit that every new install of sketchup, narrows my plugin list more and more, and I use more and more the native tools.

The only ones that make me run away are the BIM kind of plugins. They make you design their way, not your way, but that's fair though, because for that you have Sketchup already!