A Welcome Message to New SketchUcation Members

Asuka Jr.

Hey all... I'm a total noob here. I've done some playing around with a 3-d program called anim8or, and had heard of SketchUp on an old tv profile, most likely about the whole autistic user thing (it's been a while since), but only decided to download and try it today.

I'm currently obsessed with some serious modifications of Nerf Maverick guns (trying to make one self-contained semi-auto, using compressed air or CO2), and designing and implementing Steampunk mods to them. I thought I might be able to use SketchUp to 'trial and error' my appearance mods (the Steampunk stuff), but of course that means I need to:

Learn how to make things in SketchUp
Learn how to manipulate things in there as well, and
Make an accurate model of the toy as it exists (pre-mod)

Sadly, I've always found it difficult to learn by going through tutorials (though the starter ones I went through were well done, but I'm impatient ), and generally prefer to dive into a project I actually WANT to do, and then start over as necessary to undo irreparable errors as I learn how to do things... I know, horrible way to learn, eh? But I usually get frustrated with not learning things that ACTUALLY immediately apply to my desired project, just to get to where there might be things I DO need for it... sigh.

So my problem is this: After having figured out that I had to cut the inside hole of a cylinder BEFORE pulling it into 3d, THEN make it into a component, I made the 6 barrels of my maverick, then had a heck of a time getting them even close to the right locations (leading to first question: is there any way to get it to allow me to move to wherever I want the object to be, instead of snapping to axes, object points, random passing dust motes, etc?), once willing to leave them where they lay (including the one that insisted it was aligned with an axis, but was visibly a small amount lower than the others), I then added the secondary cylinder to bind them together as a unit, but this needs to pass through each cylinder... leading to my second question. Is there some way to erase a segment of an arc, without losing the remainder, and thus allowing me to get rid of the parts of the cylinder on the inside of my barrels, while keeping the parts binding the outsides together?

Sorry it's so long, and I'll be happy to edit/move/delete this whole thing, if this is too much for this part of the forum...

Thanks in advance for your patience...
Asuka

(P.S. How do I add an avatar to my account? I went to where I THOUGHT my account info et al would be, but couldn't find an option to customize avatar... or anything else for that matter... )

Gaieus

Hi Asuka and welcome.

Here is where you can edit your avatar:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/ucp.php?i=profile&mode=avatar

As for your rather specific questions - best would be to ask them in a separate topic (these posts will soon be buried under new members' posts) but first of all, attach some images and maybe even the problematic parts as skp file (below the text area you are writing your post, there is an "Upload attachment" tab). Sometimes it's hard to exactly imagine where you slipped away from the right track

Asuka Jr.

Thanks for the help finding my settings! (^_^)

Sorry for being a dunder head... All I needed to do was hit myself in the head, and go through the basic tuts... sigh. A huge THANK YOU!!! goes out to Erick Lay for his awesome tut on text carved into a cylinder! The 'Intersect Model' was just what I needed. Now I just gotta get everything aligned. I'll leave this forum, and be sure to address future queries in other places. Thanks for your patience, and sorry for being a dork... (T_T)

Asuka

striderhaynes

Hi,

I am a new user of this forum, and am excited to have such a vast network of SU users to learn from.

That said, I thought I'd ask my first question. I am currently having an issue with the gradient background in my model not always showing up, and sometimes showing up on half the screen. It changes as I orbit around the model (most of the time it just doesn't show up at all). I've attached an example image of the problem. If you look closely, you'll notice that the blue gradient background is not showing up on the right side in this image (there's a hard vertical line where it's cut off. Interestingly enough, I've also found that less of the background shows up the higher the print quality setting. I did a test print on "draft" and the whole background showed up, while a test print on "extra high" showed only a little of the blue gradient background on the left hand side of the image. Any thoughts on how to solve this problem?

Thanks, and I'm looking forward to participating in this forum!

striderhaynes

Background Problem

KXI System

Hello, yea I'm new.

Don't like to talk about myself.

solo

@unknownuser said:

Don't like to talk about myself.

You just did.

KXI System

@solo said:

@unknownuser said:

Don't like to talk about myself.

You just did.

UGG darn it! might as well get it over with.

here is just a REALLY BAD VERSION OF HOW I LOOK LIKE:

At least I don't look like that guy>

mysus82

Just dropping by to say hi. Yes I'm a newbie but I'm quickly learning the software. I hope I can help those that are more noob than me

remus

Welcome kenneth, im sure you'll be able to find someone to help, theres plenty of people of all abilities here.

KXI System

@mysus82 said:

Just dropping by to say hi. Yes I'm a newbie but I'm quickly learning the software. I hope I can help those that are more noob than me

Read "Google Sketchup For Dummies" I learn enough from it. I went from a total noob into an experience SU-er in 1 week.

My_Big_Horse

Hello: I just joined am am having a great time. The vast knowledge of everyone combined is fantastic; thank you(s)

TODD
Ann Arbor, Michigan USA

Rich O Brien

Welcome to SCF

noche

Hello, I'm pretty new to the software, but I am getting the hang of the basics.
I hope...

Anyways, it was a pleasant surprise to find this place.
Everything was actually understandable without a headache.

-Noche Niche

mm5949

Hi.
I have spent a few days learning the basics, but I see I have LOTS to learn.
My primary interest is in using SketchUp for woodworking projects (personal stuff, not professional).
I hope you all can help me learn. Thanks in advance,
Mel

Gaieus

HiMel and welcome!

It's not as bad as it looks - provided you hang around the forums enough!

shawneftaxias

hello im new here and also to sketchup.

i was sent to this site by rick from Smustard. i was looking for an addon or script that would help for metal scroll work.
i bend square stock from 1/8 to 1 inch for book/bible stands, plant boxes etc. i use allot of Fibonacci Spirals (golden spirals) in my drawings by hand. this is just a hobby as I`m an ironworker by trade. i would love to use this drawing tool for my designs.

my wife gave me a drawing tablet for my laptop at Christmas so here I am.

thank you in advance for any help or pointers.

Gaieus

Hi shawneftaxias and welcome.

Say hello to Rick from Gaieus!

And download these plugins - you will LOVE them:
http://www.drawmetal.com/download

(also, look around the site - very interesting and you will see a lot of familiar things)

shawneftaxias

wow, what else can i say.

now the time to learn how to put these new tools into practice.

i think you will be seeing allot of me around the site.

Gaieus

I actually meant the drawmetal site as they seem to be "colleagues" of yours but of course, we won't kick you out from here either.

scottysprings

Hey everyone, I actually just downloaded SketchUp last night and came here looking for some guidance and inspiration with the program. I'm more into graphic design than 3D rendering but I'd like to get to know the program. My ultimate goal is to be able to render buildings and structures (specifically sports venues).