can anyone recommend a good way to export/convert .skp to .dwg
I'm currently running the free version of Sketchup 8.
I've tried searching the forums with no luck (probably just not searching correctly )
currently trying to google search as well, though also coming up short

thanks in advance!

Mike

Thank's for the tips everyone!
I'm working on getting the poly count down a bit, and converting other pieces to components. I'll let you know if it helps.

Hey Everyone!
I've been working on a rather complex model recently, and noticed Sketchup starting to slow down quite a bit. I've built larger models before (this is only a 7MB file, as apposed to some of my 12+MB) and I've not nearly had this much trouble. I am using repetitive pieces, so I was wondering if making them components rather than just "groups" would help.
My current machine is a Toshiba Satellite P775, Intel i7-2670QM 2.2GHz processor, 6 GB Ram. running Sketchup 8.0.1172
I've done my best to clear out any extra and hidden geometries, though it is a pretty high-poly model (compared to what i've done in the past anyways.)

Any Hints, Tips, Tricks, would be greatly appreciated. And if you need me to I can attach the file.

Thanks!
Mike

@Mrosk
Huh... lol that got it to work. which is odd considering i could have sworn i was in parallel before XD
Thanks a Bunch!

@ Jeff
I'm running Win 7, though mrosk had the solution.

Thanks again guys! I appreciate it.

Hello everyone!
I've tried to search the forums for this issue, but i've not quite seem to find what I was looking for.
I'm trying to print a small 2D design (2"x2.4") to scale, however the boxes that would normally allow me to set the print scale are greyed out.
(this is with the Fit to Page and Use Model Extents options deselected).

If it helps, I am using the free version, version 8.0.11752
Wasn't sure if there was one of the features disabled in the free version or not.

Thanks in Advance!
Mike

cool, thanks for the quick reply.
I think I'd seen the Crackberry trackballs before. though if i go with those at least i'll know where to get them cheap

Ok, so i am building a custom keyboard, however I am looking for certain parts, and am not sure where to look. All efforts so far have resulted in squat...lol
so, i thought I'd throw the question out here, and see if anyone might know.

I'm looking for components for either small trackballs or track points. any clues as to where I can find them? I've tried Mouser, digikey and alliedelectronics so far. no luck

the set-up that I am building would have these controlled by the thumbs. sounds awkward, but the formfactor of the keyboard would put these right where the thumbs are in a rest position and the pad of the thumb would rest on the device, i.e. the trackpoint/ball would be roughly parrallel to the ground. the right 'mouse' would control pointer movement, the left would control scroll/zoom function. The overall form factor is inspired by the Datahand series (http://www.datahand.com)though i plan on taking a different implimentation route. Just to clarify, this is not a commercial product i am working on, but a hobby project. This being said, which do you think would be more comfortable, easier to use, etc. : a trackpoint or a trackball ?

thanks everyone!

Mike

@idahoj said:

And this differs from the kind of greed we see by having health care managed in the private sector by insurance companies? Those same insurance companies who are owned by stock holders who expect to see PROFIT from their investments?

lol... very true... I guess despite the Wallstreet Shenanigans from not too long ago, i figured that the private company owners would still be more competant than Congress.

@solo said:

I say let the government run it, they may not be perfect but at least they can be held accountable, at least their motives will be our health and not profit.

If the government were truly accountable to the people, i would agree. but how many people actually vote and exercise that control over their government?

[offtopic,kinda]funny thing about he capitalism comments though, shouldn't the government have let AIG et al fail? instead of wasting trillions into that hole? [/offtopic]

There are a couple things that truly torque me off about this health care bill.
the first, (and i'm not sure if this ahas changed..probably not) is that members of Congress were exempt from the actions of the bill.
the second... there is a reason not everyone has health insurance. an example.. my mother doesn't for the simple fact that she cannot afford it. Nor can her (now ex) husband, who runs his own successful cable contracting company. both of them need it because of their health, but there is nothing they can do to afford it. Forcing t down their throats, and expecting them to pay for it is a load of crap. There is a country (switzerland I believe, could be wrong) that makes it mandatory for everyone to have a certain level of health care, but they (the government) pay for it, and if people want a higher level, they can pay for it.

Based on the way i've seen our (the US) government work, this system will fail, and fail hard. and the reasons all come down to one word: greed.
While I didn't vote for Obama, I did try to give him a chance. But one thing has become clear to me. This health care thing has nothing to do with improving the country, but with checking off something that was on his personal agenda.
I'm one of those that has lost all faith in our government accomplishing anything meaningful. When "Representing the People" becomse an entitlement career, where you are exempt from many of the laws you impose on others, pretty much don't have to worry about answering to your constituants, vote for your own pay raise, etc. its a sign that things need to change. On the same token, I do think the whole 'Tea-Party' movement is a Farce.

In short, i think this Health care thing is a very bad idea, rushed through with little thought to the concequences, implimented by a government that is broken, and only concerned about themselves. Health care for eveyone is a good idea, but the plan that has been pushed through is not.

Thanks for giving me a place to rant on this

From the pictures that you have posted, the rear of the fuselage looks great.
are you planning on modeling a portion or all of the engine as well?

Looks spectacular so far. Can't wait to see the finished version.
are you basing it on RareBear?
http://www.rarebear.com/photos/

Cessna A-37 Dragonfly
can't tell which model
can only see the third image for some reason, lol oh well, i'll try again later

love that aircraft

now that you mention it, i can see the limitations of using a basic tablet for sketchup.
I've always seen there being a benefit to a tablet/multitouch system for use in drafting and engineering. the trick, as you brought up, is the interface. Especially when it comes to the need for alternatives for the alt/ctrl/shift keys.

are there even tablets that can combine multitouch/pen inputs?

has anyone here used Sketcup ona Tablet PC?
if so, how well does it do?

wow... that is awesome
I especially like the shape of the base... it just seems to flow.

yep,
extruded a set of ovals (did the bigger serrations first) and rotated them to line up with the sharpened edge before doing an intersect selected.
lol the body is going to be the hard part

working on a locking Carabiner that has a Kershaw blade and a couple of screwdriver tips.
Attached are a couple of images of the completed blade as well as an image of the carabiner as a whole. I have one of these laying around, and was feeling pretty confident after the model i did for the cheese grater topic so i figured, why not give it a shot.

I welcome all comments and criticisms still got a lot to learn afterall..lol

kershaw.skp

and here is the .skp for any who are interested.
again, any and all comments are welcome
I'm going to try and render this overnight, though I don't expect it to turn out...lol

modelthischeesegrater.zip

after more hours than i should have spent (though i learned alot on how to increase my efficiency) here is my rendition

there are only two things i dont like about it.

1. i wasnt able to finish the bottom side of the grater,
2. I wasn't able to blend the blades to the top surface of the grater (may try again later)

the rest of it though, I added a bit of detail, that you may not see unless you take the model apart or look really close at the wireframe model. so... here are my image shots and file

I welcome (and encourage) any and all comments and critiques

lol wow... I only wish i could get a render as good as Reverse or Jeff's (or anyone's for that matter lol) but i don't think that'll be happening anytime soon.

I'd have posted it last night if i wasn't being sucha perfectionist (bottom face of the grater plate...lol something no- one will likely ever see....), but when you have a 4 week old that is refusing to fall asleep and keeping you up with her crying...lol what else are you going to do. ahhh the joys of new parenthood,lol

what did you use to get the 'psuedo-clay' render, Jeff?