Traditionally Architects are a frugal lot – with their own money at least.

The paradigm of ‘Poor Architect’ has been well represented on the many low cost CAD forums for many years.

Perhaps the blistering initial and ongoing expense of Autodesk and Graphisoft backed drawing systems has widened the fiscal gap between the struggling majority and the affluent few within the global Architectural profession.

With or without “dwg / dxf’ SketchUp free version still must be seen as more then a cup half full – it is delivered as an ever improving product brimming with features.

Indeed SketchUp free is a generous gift by any standard.

It represents an ongoing philanthropic endeavour by a commercial colossus, the benefit of which is greatly appreciated the world over by many Students, Artists, Craftsperson’s, Architects and the like– SketchUp free brings the world closer to expression and exploration of talent regardless of comparative wealth.

Google warehouse is testament to that and to magnitude of this donation the Arts.

Accordingly I offer a big hearty thank you to Google and their SketchUp team.

Cool

Most probably my explanation was a little cryptic.

For some reason occasionally a subcomponent that is meant to reference to parent component X=0 and stay there does not (main parent component X=0).

The problem only becomes apparent when the main component is moved.

The sub component which is meant to stay fixed on the main component X=0 axis moves within the overall component space to an arbitrary X location when the main component is moved.

I am not sure why this happens. The X=1-1 to define X=0 (parent component space) seems to correct the problem.

ps. I have only seen this X Axis mix up when building components but never when changing the values in the user dialog boxes on a built component.

Besides the Dynamic Spiral Stair previously posted there are now 3 Dynamic Straight Stairs available on Google 3D Warehouse.

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=1b309728e1f2b6fde650492e45fb14f&prevstart=0

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=c1e4befdfbfd283135b07d6213c348&prevstart=0

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=42901e807d76b0a6135b07d6213c348&prevstart=0

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=ad112e50de6f7ed6135b07d6213c348&prevstart=0

Re-posted from the Dynamic Components Section of the SketchUp Forum

Besides the Dynamic Spiral Stair previously posted there are now 3 Dynamic Straight Stairs available on Google 3D Warehouse.

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=1b309728e1f2b6fde650492e45fb14f&prevstart=0

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=c1e4befdfbfd283135b07d6213c348&prevstart=0

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=42901e807d76b0a6135b07d6213c348&prevstart=0

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=ad112e50de6f7ed6135b07d6213c348&prevstart=0

I'll post this in the components section as well.

Sometimes setting a value (eg. Position X = 0cm) for an embedded component doesn’t hold when later moving the overall Dynamic Component around the SketchUp virtual world. The Dynamic Component part of SketchUp seems to prefer values it calculates. One solution then is to force a calculation (eg. Position X = 1-1). This works for me.
Hope this helps someone else.

Thanks Al Hart.

Hey Jim…
Looked at your new Spiral Stair where you “Can set height, deg. of rotation and inner radius” I know it is still in development, great stuff mate. Thanks for the link.
http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=c4c3a9d5968b6f0aced20b565511c17b

For anyone who has not found the new Spiral Stair Dynamic Component (it is a gem) here is the link: http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=1b309728e1f2b6fde650492e45fb14f&prevstart=0

Note: This slick component is always built/rebuild at 0,0. Setting the inside radius to zero reveals the central post.

The idea seems to be that after the stair is built/ rebuilt you move it to the desired location simular to some ruby scripts. Simply explode the finished stair and use the ‘follow me tool’ to run a handrail with any profile along the provided handrail lines. Very slick.

This Dynamic Spiral Stair Component achieves a simular result to what would be a very sophisticated Ruby Script without the need to know a programming language (in this case ruby). It is visual programming at its best (you don't have to be a programmer to use it).

For me the Dynamic Components in SketchUp 7 represents a quantum leap in SketchUp development. The interface for the Dynamic Components creation and editing is relatively simple yet allows access to formula, condition creation and other sophisticated paraphernalia.

Thankyou SketchUp Team.

For anyone like me who wanted PDF manuals for SketchUp7, Layout2 and Style Builder but didn’t know where/how to get them (again like me) here are the links:

The download page is http://sketchup.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=36213

“To download the PDF version:

PC:
* Google SketchUp 7 and Google SketchUp Pro 7.
http://dl.google.com/sketchup/gsu7/docs/en/SketchUp7Help.pdf
* LayOut 2.
http://dl.google.com/sketchup/gsu7/docs/en/LayOut2Help.pdf
* Style Builder.
http://dl.google.com/sketchup/gsu7/docs/en/StyleBuilder1Help.pdf
* Google SketchUp 6 and Google SketchUp Pro 6.
http://dl.google.com/sketchup/gsu6/docs/ug_sketchup_win.pdf
* LayOut (beta).
http://dl.google.com/sketchup/gsu6/docs/ug_layout_win.pdf

Mac:
* Google SketchUp 7 and Google SketchUp Pro 7.
http://dl.google.com/sketchup/gsu7/docs/en/SketchUp7Help.pdf
* LayOut 2.
http://dl.google.com/sketchup/gsu7/docs/en/LayOut2Help.pdf
* Style Builder.
http://dl.google.com/sketchup/gsu7/docs/en/StyleBuilder1Help.pdf
* Google SketchUp 6 and Google SketchUp Pro 6.
http://dl.google.com/sketchup/gsu6/docs/ug_sketchup_osx.pdf
* LayOut (beta).”
http://dl.google.com/sketchup/gsu6/docs/ug_layout_osx.pdf

Thankyou SketchUp Team.

Thank You tomot for another great ruby script.

The finished file as shown was 1.3Mb.

Taper maker can be found on the Ruby forums. The following exert from a post by G.Terry Ross from the Ruby forums gives the links.

“by max-cx on Tue Jul 01, 2008 3:33 am

%(#008000)[I have written some plugins targeted for architectural ironwork design which may also be useful in other contexts.

The first plugin draws curves typically seen in traditional metalwork (e.g. Bernoulli and Archimedean spirals and sine and cosine waves). In contrast to other curve drawing plugins, users input desired curve dimensions instead of parameter values for mathematical equations.

The second plugin draws tapered cross-sections (e.g. rectangle, square, hex, etc.) along an existing path.

The third plugin - of interest mostly to blacksmiths - calculates the amount of stock material required to forge a taper (and optionally the cost and weight).

These plugins and a user guide are available free of charge on my website] http://www.drawmetal.com/ .

Examples of metalwork fabricated from models that used the plugins can be seen at http://www.drawmetal.com/gallery .”

I think your textured threads are clever and effective.

I played at modelling a bolt and nut not long ago as a symbol on a sketch design set. Build the thread with the 'Taper' and 'Helix' scripts then use the Intersect command to do the rest. From memory I used a hexagon for both ends of the thread. The Scale tool could adjust the threads per inch/mm on a cut off bit of rod saved as a component and exploded for any other thread drawings.

Thanks to:
'Taper Maker' Version 1.0 June 2008 2007-2008 G.Terry Ross
'DrawHelix13' Version 12 4/8/2004 Peter Brown
'SketchyBevel' 2008 Chris Phillips

Thank You! Yet another very impressive plug-in.

Brilliant! Thank you.

It is a shame SketchUp doesn't import EPS files directly or any other 2d vector/filled plane format (svg, wmf, emf, and so on).

I find this a big deficiency in an otherwise impressive piece of software. Sketchup ignores the windows clipboard making it a solitary runner as far as workflow is concerned. Interaction with other software is at best clumsy.

SketchUp Layout shares this contempt for the Windows clipboard. Logo’s, clipart, symbols and the like have to be reengineered.

Interaction with both programs is an exiting experience unfortunately punctuated by awkwardness when one tries to employ the benefits of other software.

Above all the requests for SketchUp development I would like to see this issue addressed.

Hi again matteo,

Unfortunately I havn't used the airbrush stylus.

On the Bamboo Fun there is provision for running your finger around a circular area at the top - or tapping the top and bottom of it. Personally I find this a little clumsy.

Perhaps I will give the touch scroll area on my notebook a try to scroll and zoom - never occured to me before.

Regards,
digby dart

Hey matteo,

I have always used a graphics tablet for 3d work even as far back as DynaPerspective on a Wyse 286 in the late 80's.

Wacom are my preferred choice. I have owned different sizes but found that I mainly used a tiny portion of the bigger ones. Currently I just use a small Wacom Bamboo Fun connected to my notebook - it goes with me everywhere. Great for freehand sketching (eg ArtRage 2) and Sketchup work.

Some tablets I have used are more sophisticated able to sense things like pen tilt as well a pen tip pressure. The Bamboo Fun only does pressure on either end. There are no batteries in the cordless pen - instead the pen converts the magnetic field from the tablet into electricity to enable the cordless pen to wirelessly transmit back to the tablet. This results in a very natural, light weight and sensitive pen instrument.

The tablet draws its power from the USB port.

It takes a while to get used to but with practice it proves fast and intuitive. I now find using a mouse awkward.

Regards
digby dart

This is a big time saver and a joy to use. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much wikii.