Here's how to make the scaling easy...
-start from your real-world scale
-draw a line exactly 1" long near 0,0,0
-Using the text tool, click the midpoint of the line so it says 1" then click in space. This marks the line so its easy to find and so you remember how long it is supposed to be.
-get the tape measure tool. Click one end of the 1" line, then the other. Type '200' and hit enter...sketchup will ask if you want to resize the model...say yes. Now the model is scaled up 200x.
-do your trim work
-get your tape measure tool, click one end of your 1" reference line (that is now 200" long), then click the other end and type '1' and hit enter...sketchup will ask if you want to resize the model...say yes. Now the model is back at the original scale, no muss, no fuss!

Happy Sketching, and ask back here if you have any other q's!

Sketchup has trouble with small faces. Try scaling up your model by 100x, perform the trim operation, then scale back down.

That plugin sounds like the cat's meow for makerspaces. I recently got access to a Shopbot via a local makerspace, so I'd be interested. I bet many makerspaces/hackerspaces would be interested in it. Here's a list of them throughout the world: http://hackerspaces.org/wiki/List_of_Hacker_Spaces

Rendering 2 pt perspectives in Twilight only work if you do not adjust the scene (panning/zooming) after clicking the 2 pt perspective button. Definitely a limitation since its hard to get the scene just how you like it without adjustment.

On the photo-matched texture, try right-clicking -> Make texture Unique before rendering.

An aside...questions like these are usually answered faster on the Twilight forum

Hope that helps!

Oooh, that looks awesome, Fredo!

Ok, no problem. I did find some tutorials that answer some of my questions on the Paracloud website.

That looks amazing! Can you tell us a little about the workflow between Paracloud and Sketchup?

I'm into 3D printing with Sketchup, and one of the neat things about 3D printing is that it can easily manufacture complicated models like those you posted, in fact its cheaper to make things that way because it uses less material. Do you know if anyone has 3D printed such models?

Just downloaded this -- thanks Rich and TIG!

Wow, nice job, Eric. Lots of subtle details show up in the wireframes, it looks a lot simpler than it really is like good designs should!

@cotty said:

Very helpful (e.g. for artisan proxy creation), thank you very much!

Exactly...Thanks TIG!

Felipe, I've used Sketchup for jewelry design by scaling up the model to work, and back down again to export without any problem.

Do you have a specific file you're having trouble with? If so, please share it with us, and we'll get you sorted out!

Hi Rick, welcome to the forum!

I've sent you a PM with my email address.

That is called a 'Fillet' tool, TIG's 2D Tool set has one, search the forum for the download link

the Curviloft plugin has a button to do that....search the forum for the download link

ParametricCopy will do that and more

Thank you all for the encouragement, it makes me want to pursue this further!

notareal, I totally agree, top view really 'makes' the design. I like the interior Sketchup view as well.

Hellnbak, yes it can be made larger, in fact the next one will be 8" diameter vs. the 6" diameter shown. It is coated with a clear finish and can be cleaned with soap and water - in fact one company that sells 3D printed objects recommends using a dishwasher!

Mike, I'll post back here when its finalized, I'm still working on the details and pricing.

Wow Dale, that's a compliment I'm not sure I deserve. I am happy so far, but its not done yet! Thank you.

Don't feel dumb, we all start somewhere!

Yes, both will, and here's how with Curviloft. I just used basic curves for this illustration.

You'll need a plugin, either Fredo6's Curviloft or TIG's Extrusion set.

Yes, if you use the Full Color Sandstone material from Shapeways. It requires only one texture in Sketchup (combine them first if you have two or more) and converting to VRML in Meshlab to make it work, here's a tutorial. Its quite a bit of messing around, but it does work.

i.materialise will take your Sketchup file directly, but since their pricing promotes big projects, it will cost more than Shapeways.

I urgently needed a few days off work, but I knew the Boss would not allow
me to take leave. I thought that maybe if I acted "CRAZY" then he would
tell me to take a few days off.

So I hung upside down on the ceiling and made funny noises. My co-worker
(who's blonde) asked me what I was doing. I told her that I was pretending
to be a light bulb so that the Boss would think I was "CRAZY" and give me a
few days off.

A few minutes later the Boss came into the office and asked "What are you
doing?" I told him I was a light bulb.

He said, "You are clearly stressed out. Go home and recuperate for a couple
of days." I jumped down and walked out of the office.

When my co-worker followed me, the Boss asked her "...And where do you
think you're going?"

She said, "I'm going home too, I can't work in the dark."