What about install DraftSight for OSX? It is an AutoCAD LT clone and it has an OSX version. You could at least open the DWG and see what the text is.

Not sure if this is the look you are after but the SuperHatch in AutoCAD might be able to do what you want. This took about 5 minutes once I found what texture I wanted to use.

Using this with filled walls and true color hatches would/could produce favorable results.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Wow, that's pretty slick.

I wonder if AD plans to bundle this with AutoCAD Mac like they do with AutoCAD on the PC? That is that you get Inventor Fusion with your copy of AutoCAD.

@d12dozr said:

The advantage that Rhino (or similar tools) has over SU in this case is resolution is set when you export, and you can adjust it automatically. In SU, you have to preplan the resolution, and its not easy to edit if you need to.

Its also worth noting that only the model line segments need to be smaller than the printer resolution on curves - on flat surfaces the segments can be as long as you need them to be and the model won't look faceted.

Good info, thanks. I have a friend looking into this (3D printing) and I will pass along.

I like it too. I wish I had a reason for it but I don't Such a clean interface and very usable. I guess I could make a use for it. SU does pretty much what I need (arch wise).

@unknownuser said:

If something go wrong...
I ever think something like SketchUp ability + Moi curvy nurbs is ideal. Join force?
I bet they would gain a good amount from something like Kickstarter.com

basically, Moi is already that. I mean, it's not exactly sketchup like but at the same time, it does have a similar feel.[/quote]

@d12dozr said:

@unknownuser said:

...Still not a real curve...

3D printers all have a print resolution. You just need to make sure your line segments in SU are smaller than that resolution. For example, Shapeways White, Strong & Flexible material has a print resolution of 0.2 mm, so you just make sure all your line segments are smaller than .02 mm and you're good.

Also, when you export to STL (which is what format most 3D printers use), the model is converted into a mesh, meaning true curves are lost anyway. This is true even if you model in Rhino or any software that uses real curves.

This I was not sure about, I did mention that I had not tried 3D printing myself. Good information for sure, thanks

@unknownuser said:

@unknownuser said:

Really, that fixes it? Never would have guessed.
Still not a real curve, no matter how many times you roll your eyes.

you have to use another software if 100% true curves are required.
simple as that.

Yes, I mentioned that already.

Really, that fixes it? Never would have guessed.
Still not a real curve, no matter how many times you roll your eyes.

@jgb said:

@unknownuser said:

@alan fraser said:

SU to .stl

That works great except that SU still won't do a real curve no matter what format the file ends up in. Not sure how this will effect the end result as I have not tried a 3D printer yet. Thanks for the link though, seems to be a slick little plug-in

Up the segment count on arcs, curves and circles, say around 120 or more. Way higher if high resolution is needed.

@alan fraser said:

SU to .stl

That works great except that SU still won't do a real curve no matter what format the file ends up in. Not sure how this will effect the end result as I have not tried a 3D printer yet. Thanks for the link though, seems to be a slick little plug-in

Not on it's own but this is where I would use AutoDesk's 123D. It is a perfect fit for this.

@jgb said:

So, does SU create .STL formatted files?

And did you see the price of the ABS filament? $21.50 / lb YIPES!!
Time to cannibalize my weed whacker.

Yeah I share that problem My 1st color inkjet cost almost that much. It would be really good for custom Lego parts, you know, for the kids

@marian said:

@unknownuser said:

Don't be surprised to see more affordable 3D printing soon.
Not big parts but 6"x6"x6" parts.

Solidoodle

Solidoodle

(www.solidoodle.com)

Damn...I want one. Too bad I need the money for boring stuff like living.

Don't be surprised to see more affordable 3D printing soon.
Not big parts but 6"x6"x6" parts.

Solidoodle

Solidoodle

(www.solidoodle.com)

@jgb said:

An area where SU shines, but is very unknown is 3D Printing.

Last summer I attended a seminar on the new version of SolidWorks. If I had the money, that is one app I would buy! (Wash my mouth with soap )

However, at the seminar were 2 3D Printers displaying all sorts of very intricate objects, most with intertwined parts that were molded in place, not assembled after printing. One printer was able to make models with a volume of upto 2ft X 3ft X 1 1/2 ft deep, in multiple contiguous materials from soft aluminum to hard plastic to very pliable silicone, all integrally bonded, like a 1 piece wiper blade. It used inkjet technology and upto 7 material cartridges. Needless to say, I was blown away, but at $250,000 I had to put my credit card away.

What's this to do with SU, you may ask?

I asked about what the software could handle in terms of complexity, and the answer was
"whatever you can create in Google Sketchup and scale to fit"
then pass the SU file through a (still in development) translation app to create the 3D "print" file.

It seems that SU was simplest in creating the models , while SolidWorks was better at engineering the models for conventional computerized machining. At least for now anyway.

@thomthom said:

it's partially parametric. You can change edge length from the Entity window, arc segments - there is Dynamic Components - there are plugins that generates parametric geometry (I made a utah teapot plugin with parametric properties - I'm working on Bezier Surface where meshes are parametrically controlled with bezier curves and modifiers.)

cool, I will check those out. But what about sending those models to be created? Like to a 3D printer. Sure not all need that but some do. A stl file from SU will be all but useless from my understanding. Thanks for the info.

Good read John, thanks for posting. I think the author is making a bad comparison though. SU is not a parametric 3D program and probably never will be. It seems that 123D, being based on Inventor, is geared to a different audience. Its file export formats point to this as well. One can do "part" design on SU but there might be a better tool for that need. I would also not look to 123D to model a house facade. Sure I can drive that nail in with the side of a wrench but why would I want too?

@jbacus said:

Another good perspective from the CAD industry press. I'm sure Roopinder would appreciate it if you guys read his post and gave him your thoughts on the deal.

john
.

No more evil than Apple, Adobe or MS. All 4 are pretty much the same imho (the big players). AutoDesk has done better with recent products. 123D suite, AutoCAD WS (web/iOS/Droid), SketchBook mobile and so on. I think they need to look at LT's price again with recent free LT clones in the wild. Hard to pay for LT when DraftSight is free (unsupported).
But yes, they do their job.

@valerostudio said:

I knew I would stir the pot with that Autodesk comment.

Do I love Autodesk, no.

Are they pure evil, kinda.

But all I am saying is that I would rather trust the future of SketchUp in the hands of a company that deals with this kind of software. I don't know Trimble from a hole in the wall. I have never ever heard of them mentioned on this forum or any other site for that matter. From the looks of their website, I fear for what SketchUp will become. I trust AutoCAD and 3D Studio and Photoshop to do its thing day in and day out without fear that in 2014 the software is no longer available or gets turned into a land surveying program. That's all.

I just want my little old SketchUp friend to be safe and unharmed.

Meh, I have no issues with their products. I start the day, fire them up, do my work and go home.

@valerostudio said:

Autodesk or Adobe are the only two company's I think should have got their hands on this.

SketchUp is being used every day to make design decisions, visualize ideas, and document creative thoughts. I think a company that is closely aligned with this industry should be handling what happens to it after Google.

@thomthom said:

What worries me here is that I don't see the relevance of what they do with what I'm used with for SketchUp.
Will SU transform into a different type of solution? Will it fragment into specialized editions?

My feelings as well

I agree, it's just easier to start from scratch. Something good for an intern to do

@gaieus said:

I've given up on this already. It's like laser scanning vs. taking manual measurements and building the footprint yourself (a bit referencing to this topic, too). By the time you process your data and can start cleaning it up (which, at a first sight looks a task worse than redrawing that image from scratch in SU), you are so frustrated that you wish you'd never even heard of raster to vector "scams".

A trailer (mobile home) for hipsters???