[Vanity Submission] Medicine Cabinet

nlalston

I had uploaded a version of my first SketchUp project design, a short while back, but some couldn't open it because of the fact of it being saved in the 2017v format. This time, I saved it in the SKU 8 format which, hopefully, will work for others.

As had been mentioned, in my previous post, I know there are mistakes with this design, but hope that it will be enough to gain some insight on what I may have done wrong, with it.

For one thing, I have downloaded the CutList plugin, and had hoped to be able to generate a sheet goods layout of my plywood pieces. I understand that some users do not care for that plugin (one Youtube video presenter referred to it as being flawed), but I also have read where others really liked it. I would love to be able to gain a handle on how to have plywood pieces automatically laid out on the sheets. I don't know if the difficulty I am having, with that, is due to a problem with my design, or what.

Input would be greatly appreciated.

Here, is the attachment: Vanity.skp

mwm5053

Well it's a good beginning, but a few CC I noticed off the bat and it will directly affect Cutlist, You need to understand what cutlist is looking for in the model. It works well for those who understand and spend time learning how the plugin works.

You should have each piece you are going to cut in the shop as a separate component. The top looks to be 2 pieces and unless you intend to use a French cleat the back of the top shouldn't be beveled.
IMO you have used a large group for the entire piece you don't need to do that unless you plan to combine it with other vanities in a model to keep them separate. 3. You should watch or read about components and their axes. You can change them. and when you copied the front doors you should have flipped them along the red axes so they where opposites or mirrored so if you make changes they appear correct.
It's a good start and only speak from lots of frustration in the beginning of learning SU A fellow here name Dave R has a blog on Fine Woodworking website you should check out, and SU has some very simple videos that will teach you the basics if you want this to work for you especially if you plan to build your own projects.
One more thing when you learn enough to start using Layers ( very advantageous thing to learn) ALWAYS draw on Layer0 never on a Layer of it's own once you have the "entities edges and faces combined to make a component then and only then you can put it on a separate Layer that will save you a lot of headaches later.

Good luck

nlalston

@mwm5053 said:

Well it's a good beginning, but a few CC I noticed off the bat and it will directly affect Cutlist, You need to understand what cutlist is looking for in the model. It works well for those who understand and spend time learning how the plugin works.

You should have each piece you are going to cut in the shop as a separate component. The top looks to be 2 pieces and unless you intend to use a French cleat the back of the top shouldn't be beveled.

IMO you have used a large group for the entire piece you don't need to do that unless you plan to combine it with other vanities in a model to keep them separate. 3. You should watch or read about components and their axes. You can change them. and when you copied the front doors you should have flipped them along the red axes so they where opposites or mirrored so if you make changes they appear correct.
It's a good start and only speak from lots of frustration in the beginning of learning SU A fellow here name Dave R has a blog on Fine Woodworking website you should check out, and SU has some very simple videos that will teach you the basics if you want this to work for you especially if you plan to build your own projects.
One more thing when you learn enough to start using Layers ( very advantageous thing to learn) ALWAYS draw on Layer0 never on a Layer of it's own once you have the "entities edges and faces combined to make a component then and only then you can put it on a separate Layer that will save you a lot of headaches later.

Good luck

Many, many thanks.

I knew that I had done some things wrong, but didn't know exactly what. I appreciate your clarifying the errors.

Regarding that beveled piece, on the back of the case, I didn't know (until you had offered the term) that it was called. French Cleat. But that piece will be married to another beveled mating piece, which will be secured to the wall. This project should be a fair bit heavier than the cheap, somewhat smaller one which had been purchased a few years back, from a local home center.

Currently, I am in the process of studying up on not only Components, Groups and Layers, but on everything - on SketchUp - that I can get my hands on. My 1st generation IPad has become my near-constant study partner, and on it I have recently imported a good number of YouTube videos, on SketchUp. I'm also beginning to immerse myself into Timothy S. Killen's 'SketchUp Guide For Woodworkers'.

What I MAY do is to move away from my present design effort, and work on another design of the same project - this time, however, being mindful of staying with a proper focus on components. This project is a very simplistic one, which wouldn't necessarily warrant a sheet goods cutlist. But I just want to gain a confident, working relationship with that plugin, for larger, future projects which would really benefit the builder, from having such a layout.

mwm5053

Good luck, this is a good place to ask for help anytime

mwm5053

Thought you would be interested maybe you have already seen these videos just ran across them on YouTube. If I'm not mistaken Joe Zeh is the author of Cutlist (if I am wrong I apologize to the original author) He's the guy I learned SU from. A woodworker.

Dave R

Joe did a cutlist extension but not the CutList extension available in the EW.

mwm5053

Oh thanks Dave I wasn't sure