Thanks TIG. I just discovered this and I'm shocked - this can be what I have been looking for a long time - to put a data in the groups, but without the hassle of the components!

When You need real precise geometry - real curves, circles and etc. When You need geometric and dimensional constrains, real holes that can be changed easily, BOM, associative drawings of your 3d model.
SketchUP - fast, easy and use it to sketch your ideas.

In both cases I used "Merge coplanar faces". Seems Blender exports differently each format or it is maybe a format specific thing.

I tried importing 3DS and Dae exported from Blender. The mesh topology is different - quads vs. triangles. What do You think - pros and cons?

Blender_Import.zip

@ktkoh said:

I am curious why use groups instead of the components most of us use?

Keith

I have tried to implement components, but this created more problems than any good - I'm mixing a lot of components in different levels within one project and finish with a big mess. Groups allows me to have the same names for different groups and to copy and modify them freely.

Thanks for your response. The way boardmaker draws boards is perfect for me. It would be helpful to have an option to predefine the thickness of the board - the second part when it asks for a thickness. Because we are working with panels with a given thickness. Just as an option - sometimes it is better to draw freely. And a drop-down list with common names and the the same for the layers.

Seems the plugin doesn't care about length snapping option. Also uses only "," to enter dimensions.

2.5.2 or 2.5.3?

Sorry, but I don't have experience with CAM and CNC. Maybe somebody else can answer - I'm also interested in this. Waiting for a long time somebody to take SketchUP more seriously in this area and develop the needed tools and plugins.

@tig said:

I'm on to it...

@unknownuser said:

Thanks Marcus.
No need to worry Mike, I am severely twisted. Oh, did I mention that I worked on that one in front of the mirror.

So, You guys are trying to kill Us waiting for this gem!! Please, stop!!

Yes, Yes!!!

http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?t=24593
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=20347&start=15

Alibre > stl > SketchUP

http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?t=24515
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?t=8447
http://sketchuptips.blogspot.com/2010/03/sketchup-stl-importer-redo.html

@ktkoh said:

Here is a plugin I wrote that allows you to rename the board and places it on a layer of the same name. To use right click on the board component after it is made and select board to layer from the context menu.

Keith[attachment=0:3qj13aul]<!-- ia0 -->BoardToLayer.rb<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment:3qj13aul]

Thanks, but this only works on components. And I have all the layers already set up with the template. There is an excellent plugin for creating named groups - http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=23582
and another one - http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?t=9318
And the best is a combination of both plus the board maker - in one step I can create a panel with a set thickness, give it a name from the drop-down list and choose the layer for it. And I have to type the names in Cyrillic - big headache to switch the keyboard and a lot of errors! So, having a list to choose from is a huge time saver!
Dave, I would pay if it has this options plus ability to set default height. All other woodworking plugins are not suitable for my work - no mortise and tenon, no dovetails, no real wood - just MDF, HDf and MFB, slides and lifts and a lot of banding.

It would be handy to add this options:
Make groups/components
Ask for a name
Ask for a layer

http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?t=29018

Use this plugin to check it - http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=30504