Combined a Vray render with an AO export direct from SU24.
![](/uploads/imported_avatars/upload/2cde590848b478d382d186ea9f7f6116_208.jpg)
Best posts made by Dave R
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"Watt" Micrometer
A model of what is probably the first micrometer ever made. It's dated England about 1776 and attributed to James Watt although evidence shows it likely wasn't made by him.
A larger version of this image is available here.All the screws are made and holes threaded. 28 component definitions, all solids.
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Steam Engine Machinist's Model
A machinist's model of a twin cylinder steam engine designed by Joseph Bernays in the 1870's. The original was displayed in Paris at the Universal Exposition of 1878.
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A Recent 3D Printing Project
This is a heel strap for a wheelchair to prevent the user's feet from sliding off the foot plate. It's designed to install easily with no tools required except scissors to trim the strap to length. The clips with snap on covers are 3D printed to fit off the shelf polyurethane toothed belting.
From the SketchUp model.
Partially assembled.
Temporarily installed on a chair. Ignore the dog hair.
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RE: Steam Engine Machinist's Model
Another two cylinder engine just for the fun of it.
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RE: "Transforming Colors into Materials: A Plugin Inspired by Adobe Kuler"
Until such time as someone figures out and writes an extension to do that you can do it natively. I imported your first two images as images into SketchUp. Then select a random color from the native Colors collection and added it to the model. Under the Edit tab I selected the eyedropper to sample a color, named it, and then clicked on the Create New Material button.
Rinse and repeat for the rest of the colors.
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RE: ExtensionStore interface issue
@nickchun you might try updating to the latest version of the Sketchucation ExtensionStore tool. The latest version is 4.4.1
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Fixing Stuff Around the House
I needed to replace guides for the locking bars on some windows in the house. The OEM parts haven't been available for years so it was SketchUp and my 3D printer to the rescue.
An original that is close to neededing replacement.
My SketchUp model. I couldn't see any practical reason for the curvy bits or the notch so I simplified it which also made it easier to print.
And the replacement installed.
Latest posts made by Dave R
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RE: [New Plugin] Windows Builder
@criba there are a number of other extensions for making windows. Look here at the Sketchucation ExtensionStore and in the SketchUp Extension Warehouse.
You might also look at the 3D Warehouse. Loads of window components available there. Many of them are dynamic.
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RE: How do I show hidden geometry in LayOut?
@kzrdvd also note that the viewports must be rendered as Raster in LayOut. Hidden Geometry will not be displayed in Vector or Hybrid.
Do you really want to show all the hidden geometry in the model or are you wanting to show hidden features as I have on the left in this image?
This requires a different method if this is what you want.
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RE: Steam Engine Machinist's Model
Another little machinist's model. The flywheel on this one is 35mm diameter.
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RE: Layout viewports becoming disabled - will not connect to ref - work around, I have to replace the viewport
@schaferron1 said in Layout viewports becoming disabled - will not connect to ref - work around, I have to replace the viewport:
The files continue to show up as embedded. How do I remove them all together or is that necessary?
If you aren't actually using the reference anywhere in the LayOut file, clicking Purge at the bottom of the References panel will remove them. If Purge doesn't remove a reference and you want it gone, you have to remove it from any pages where it might be used, first.
It doesn't make sense to keep references to files that aren't being used. Doing so just bloats the LayOut file. It's all liability with no asset. The same applies to unused content in SketchUp.
@schaferron1 said in Layout viewports becoming disabled - will not connect to ref - work around, I have to replace the viewport:
How do you purge the Default Tag Geometry
I didn't purge the Default Tag Geometry. I just removed tags from the edges and faces in your model. ALL edges and faces should be created and remain Untagged. I did it using TIG's Default Tag Geometry from the Sketchucation ExtensionStore.
I used TIG's Purge All to purge unused content from the model. You can do the same thing with Model Info>Statistics>Purge Unused. I use PurgeAll because it also creates that neat reoprt to show how much hoarded stuff got purged.
@schaferron1 said in Layout viewports becoming disabled - will not connect to ref - work around, I have to replace the viewport:
It looks like once I unlink the skp. files all of the viewports that were linked to that skp. file become blank. Is this to be expected?
No. That's not to be expected. Did you unlink or did you relink? It implies there's something changed in the SketchUp model from when the viewports were setup.
@schaferron1 said in Layout viewports becoming disabled - will not connect to ref - work around, I have to replace the viewport:
How can I determine which viewports are linked to these purged unlinked skp. files?
Purge only removes unused references in LayOut. If there is even one viewport linked to a SketchUp reference, the reference will not be purged. The same applies with purging unused content in SketchUp. Only components, materials, and styles that are not being used in the model will be purged.
As for identifying which reference file a viewport is linked to, you can select the viewport and look at the top of the SketchUp Model panel. Or you can select a reference in the Reference list and look to see what is shown selected on the page. If nothing is selected, go through each page selecting the reference and looking to see what is selected.
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RE: Layout viewports becoming disabled - will not connect to ref - work around, I have to replace the viewport
@schaferron1 You have two similarly named but different SketchUp references in the LayOut file. Some of the viewports are referencing a different SketchUp file. There's no reason to expect those viewports would link to this file directly. You could relink the 07-10 file one file to this one.
What are the complete paths for those .skp file? Is there a reason for having two different SketchUp model references?
I note you've modified the Camera properties for some of the viewports. That can create problems.
I did my usual cleanup process to the .skp file. Lots of incorrect tag usage and a fair amount of unused content that could be purged.
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RE: Why is LayOut so slow in 2024?
@djh OK, this is what I got after sending your model to LayOut. I only did the one scene but rendering as Hybrid was almost instantaneous. I set Line Scale for the viewport to 2 pt and used A0 paper to make it large.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/kzpt1in2jl12y9ifeq6y5/DJH.pdf?rlkey=bht6vawz32jzi7ggrgtzf2cpt&st=0mey22sa&dl=0I do see incorrect tag usage and some unused content that could be purged. Most of the textures in your model are not very high resolution. At 1000 dpi, the "Sketchy Siding Scale" should be 0.25 cm wide.
The largest texture in the model is for the cover of a book and that book's spine is all that is visible. I don't really think that most of your textures will hold up if printed at 1000 dpi
If this SketchUp file is causing LayOut 2024 to run slowly on your machine, I'd suggest it's time to upgrade the machine.
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RE: Why is LayOut so slow in 2024?
@djh I'm about to start with an online student but when I finish I'll look at your file.
And thank you.
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RE: Why is LayOut so slow in 2024?
@djh said in Why is LayOut so slow in 2024?:
How do I share the .skp file
Upload it to DropBox or We Transfer and share the link.
@djh said in Why is LayOut so slow in 2024?:
I'm in the middle of a big project and it makes problems with the fonts to start with different software and hardware
I haven't suggested starting with different software. I've only suggested that things can likely be optimized to improve performance.
BTW, I just made a PDF export from LO 2024 from one of my models. Is the quality high enough for your needs?
Watt Micro.pdf -
RE: Why is LayOut so slow in 2024?
@djh
In LayOut's Preferences switch off the Experimental Graphics Engine.If that doesn't improve things, go back to using SketchUp/LayOut 2023.
@djh said in Why is LayOut so slow in 2024?:
Nvidia doesn't support it anymore. i'll have to trust Windows or Dell, I suppose.
That doesn't bode well for improving speed. If the graphics card is so old that Nvidia is no longer supporting it, Windows and Dell won't be supporting it either. It also doesn't sound promising for getting higher quality exports.
@djh said in Why is LayOut so slow in 2024?:
I'm printing a book.
At 1000 dpi?
@djh said in Why is LayOut so slow in 2024?:
I'll look for a tutorial.
If you share the .skp file I'll take a look at it and give you suggestions for improving your model. I expect that unless you're willing to update the hardware to something current, optimizing the model is going to be especially critical.