@TIG, This is indeed good news however I am running Sketchup8, pro version and when I export to 3D dxf with the intent to waterjet cut, we see both the segments and the true circle - meaning we still have to modify the dxf so its acceptable to the waterjet software (running a version of Mastercam). Is this a version issue or just an artifact of the 3D export to dxf? Note: setting parallel projection and standard view "top". Thanks in advance!

Hi Sketchucation Folks,

I have the Pro version. Is upgrading to a newer Pro version free? If not, how much does it cost?

Secondly, I see there is a new release. Are there any plans to do true circles in Sketchup? I'd gladly pay for that. My sources for waterjet/plasma cutters tell me they need true circle (autocad format) drawings for such cutting thus everything I do needs to be redrawn. This is both expensive and frustrating.

Thank you, Keith

Yet more data. I scaled another 10 and still had the issue so perhaps there is a limitation akin to the minimum bend radius in metal of a given diameter and guage? Interesting.

I should say TIG was spot on. My original drawing was 1.5". I scaled up 10 and still had the issue. So I guess I need to go bigger? Are those types of issues (the kink in the joint) resolved by going bigger or is a fundamental limit approached?

Whoa Nelly, What a bunch of great feedback! I knew about the small scale issues so I x10 and still had issues. Thomthoms tool rocks - found the issue - though I'm not sure how to fix it other than to the decrease the "bend" radius in the PVC elbow joint. I'll be trying that momentarily. Still - its seems like it (the attached file) should have worked.

PS: Fleshed out my profile.

Cheers, K..

elbow_not_a_solid_1.skp

Question: is the follow-me tool prone to leaky objects? The reason I ask is that even simple shapes, like a PVC elbow, are leaky. I've tried 20-30 times and two of the total are not leaky but as soon as I subtract a solid to make a hole, the whole object turns leaky and I can't subtract any more. Objects constructed with follow-me look good but tend to be leaky. Maybe another question is: Is there a better way to do solid subtraction?

Hello SketchUCation. Solids are such a pain in the behind. Are there any plugins to help with determining where a solid has gone astray (keeping it from being watertight)? Seems like "follow me" should work but even the most simple example leaves me frustrated. Thanks for any input.

K..

Now I am having a big problem turning things into components. I select the objects, then Make Componet but it doesn't seem to take. I've done it several times and I see the component in the component list but its empty! This is maddening. Additionally, I can't delete any empty components from the model components (using components in the tools menu) This is maddening right now. Any hints you might care to share?

Ok thanks, that clarifies some incorrect assumptions on my part. I started out using groups and components but once they become nested its a pain to edit something at the inner most level of nesting so I started using layers but I see now that was in error. So to clean up my drawing (if its now even possible) I need to go through and make every thing a component or group. Actually, that's a good question. What's the difference between those two?

You are correct. Say, as I've gotten more adept with SU, especially with placing pieces of my model in different layers I am coming up with a troublesome problem: I make all layers invisible so I can work on one layer. But while I'm working on that layer I'll get a warning message that my drawing is interacting with geometry on a hidden layer (I'm paraphrasing of course). Then, when I make other layers visible, I notice other layers are total corrupted. Should that be happening? Is there something I don't understand about the way layers work? Thank you very much - again.

Dropped it in the folder and restarted. No angular tool. Are there any other incidentals? Perhaps it doesn't work with 8?

Cheers, K..

Gai... Don't want to use PayPal on principle and if you want to use a credit card it makes you go through PayPal.

Thanks, I'll give layout a try. Quick question. Do you know whom I can send a message to about buying a premium account? It seems you only accept paypal and I want to pay with a credit card. Sorry for going off topic.

Hello All, I am finalizing some patent drawing with sketchup. Everything looked well until I went to export to pdf: everything comes out in landscape mode and there doesn't seem to be a way to tell the 2D exporter to export to portrait mode. Is there a solution that I'm missing or do I need a plugin or other special tool?

Thank you kindly, Keith

Really I've tried. No where to be found on my pro version bought-and-paid for Sketchup 8. Is it a plugin that I must download?

Thx K..

Ahhhhhh, I forgot about the make a component thing. Left Sketchup for a month and forget everything!

If I make a rectangle and extrude it into a cube then that should be a valid solid right?

I never make rash promises. It may be done in two weeks but it'll be close. What r u coming to CO for? Don't tell me mountain biking (cause I'm an avid biker). Chin-chin, K..

@TIG, Gai The last tip (moving an easy to remember distance along an axis) is what I've been doing but I think I probably need to start thinking more in 'components'. I've shied away from them until now. I 'm not sure what you meant by 'combo hides'? Did you mean 'component hides'? Thanks again guys for all the help. When I get this thing done I'm having a party - you're all invited if you're anywhere near Palmer Lake Colorado. Cheers, K..

Wow! Great tips Togluddite (and also Gully etc who also contributed)! 10 seconds of reversing the faces and the subtract worked perfectly! I never noticed the color difference - figured it was just SU coloring. 10 seconds later the subtract worked perfectly!

Now let me ask a philosophical question. I find that at times I need to create something off to the side. Problem is, I always have a heck of a time putting whatever it was I created back in the right place. It seems things never line up - even with inferences. Is there a way to say, "remember this location" so I can snap back to it? How do you professionals attack such problems?