@deanlegg said: Is it possible to import solidworks files into SU? Not directly. Third party software may be used to convert the file into something that Sketchup recognizes - like Frederik mentioned. Even better, if you have access to Solidworks, you can save the file as DWG (or DXF, STL, etc.), and import that file into Sketchup. If you don't have access to Solidworks to convert the file, feel free to PM me the files and I can help you.

Thanks for the info, I will investigate further

Thanks Rich

@ely862me said: Might be some layer problem ... There are no layers other than Layer0 (at least in the downloadable version - especially regards to deanlegg's comment here). Also no disappearing and everything works fine here...

if the DXF/DWG does not work for you or if you do not have access to the DWG-Editor of SWX, you can also export from SWX to STL and import the STL file in SU by installing the STL f. SU plugin. hth, Norbert

That's very true but even if you just use it as a general guide line (almopst literally): to snap to its edges/endpoints etc. when overdrawing something, it may still be more accurate (and faster) than tracing blurry images.

That projector Valerostudio linked to is just a light, a mirror and a lens. The original artwork needs to be printed on paper so it'll project whatever you printed.

I stand corrected

@deanlegg said: Hi all Anyone recommend a good chair while designing , mine makes me hunch my back I seem to try and get in the screen Are blow up gym balls any good? Thanks dean Hand to elbow straight. Arm at 90 degrees. Top 3/4 of the LCd should be at the eye level. Memorize shortcuts without looking at keyboard. Get a good mouse with many buttons on it so you can assign it for shortcuts. Chair should have good back support and legs should not be dangling from chair. 90 degrees is best. If you are getting lower back pain, then ball is good. upper back then the tips above will help. Never tried that chair , looks interesting but his position is all wrong. You shouldnt be looking that down. Oh, and pls for the love of good try to refrain from using a laptop for drawing ,etc. Get an adjustable height CAD LCD screen.

@david. said: . I know because I've used mid-range and high-end GPU's. The high end GPU made a huge difference in SU performance. Hmm this is interesting news to me. I'm about to purchase a PC for sketchup (and rendering with Indigo 3.0) and hadn't factored in a powerful GPU.. In fact i was planning to go with the fastest CPU i can afford and use ivybridge onboard video. It would be great to hear some experiences from people who have actually tried i5, i7, overclocked cpus and various GPUs... I've done a mountain of research but very little evidence points to any particular setup being ideal. Overclocked sandybridge EE, probably? My everyday workstation is new, 6-core xeon (watercooled), quadro 4000, SSD, etc. Of course it runs sketch up very well, and is awesome for rendering, but it cost a fortune...well above my home pc budget! i think i might have to head to a few shops and take along free sketchup and one of my models with lots of 3d trees!

Here's an overview of methods of installing plugins: http://www.thomthom.net/thoughts/2012/01/installing-plugins-for-google-sketchup/

Hi Jean Yep I found the same ,but was hoping for something a bit more detailed I know I'm being lazy and cheeky, maybe I have to draw it myself I was just hoping to do it quicker Time to get my Artisan head on Thanks Dean

Hi All I used TIG's explanation and it worked a treat The cut marks didn't line up perfect so I measured the pieces together and then taped them together Thanks again Dean

As has been said... a CNC machine uses special code ['gcode'] BUT there are converters in its software to allow certain file types like DXF to be converted to that special code... so you need to find out what types of file this specific CNC machine can take in and translate... Converting the SKP to 'gcode' direct is an option, but most machines include translators for some file-types [not SKP unfortunately]

@deanlegg said: Marian can you show me how you keep your inlet ducts square as mine always go rounded So I put them on after sds Cheers Dean I'm planning on addressing that exact thing my tutorial thread.

Ah ha That makes a lot of sense Thanks for the quick reply Pete

Ok this is about my 50th attempt... not quite up to solo's A few questions When you are doing the model and then sds to check I press return to get back to the model but when its been sds and the then painted I don't know how to return to the model This was only with 2 iterations Cheers [image: NEHB_dog.jpg]

Tgi3D SU Amorph's "view locking" feature also makes it very easy to draw curves in 3D. Simply draw the curve and "view lock" it from an angle you like and adjust the topology in other views. You can change the view lock to other views as you continue. Remember Ogan's palamar knot in the Speed Modeling Challenge #38 - Fishing? It would have been a lot harder to draw the initial topology of the knot without the "view locking" mechanism. [image: 9QTE_palomar3.jpg] Below is the video of how "view locking" works. [flash=480,385:3f72q944]http://www.youtube.com/v/0q4HLBfZCV8?fs=1&hl=en_US[/flash:3f72q944]

you can import this model in a game called rFactor and drive it.

Thanks. We are all fine. I am however sore as hell from doing volunteer work. Just bought a chainsaw too so I plan on getting a great workout the next few months. As far as my avatar goes I did not do that one with SDS. It was done with spheres, shapes, intersecting and the Round Corner plugin. I did have to do some manual stitching of the mesh after using Round Corner as some of the intersections were not "happy". Here is the original thread I started with the smiley before I made it my Avatar. Hope this helps. If I get some time I might try to recreate it in a tut.