It is currently being updated almost daily.

If you are ok with spending a few bucks, FluidImporter Lite imports OBJ and works really well.

I use QFT: http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=348501#p348501

There is also TriangulateFaces, but QFT works faster for me: http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=175613#p175613

As part of using components, consider making very simplified proxy components to stand in for the complex components like your columns. If you make the proxies with the same relative origin and axis locations as the complex ones, you can easily swap one for the other using Select Instances and Replace Selected in the Components window.

Also make sure you eliminate any unseen geometry. If details you are drawing won't be seen up close, make them simpler. The bead along the length of the crown molding doesn't need to be made of a large number of segments. Eight will probably do. If the insides of closet doors won't be seen, they don't need to be detailed on the inside.

It's fun to see the materials as you go but resist the urge to paint as you build. Save painting for the end.

By the way, keep up on correcting face orientation as you go. It's a lot easier to fix it as you go along than it is to go back and fix it.

Either way, I'd only model half of it since it is symmetrical.

You might be able to use Bitmap to Mesh.

As Chipp said yes it's a plugin! And free! 😉
In fact there is even 2 different plugins as some Moi Members are very productive
in this field! Elephant and a variation of Elephant! (Maybe only one with the soon new beta V 4 ? )
But don't forget with this sort of thing : it's more easy to use a "node(s)" than build its own one! 😉
Because you must have a little practice training before obtain a true gem! 💚

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/FREMO_Alsfeld_DSB_NSB.jpg/1280px-FREMO_Alsfeld_DSB_NSB.jpg

@annanikolson said:

Hi guys. I'm new to the forum, but I already have a little experience with sketchup. My question is probably more practical. Will it be convenient to use sketchup in the development of 3D models for a 3D printer? I recently bought it, and now I have a question - should I continue working in sketchup or master some new program like 3dsmax.

I just read several articles about 3D printers, about their device, about nozzles, filaments and much more. But I don't have a clear understanding if I can continue working in sketchup normally, or will it be a "pain"?

I have been 3D printing already 3 years and I am using pretty much only Sketchup for modeling the 3D printed parts. Sketchup works really well if you plan to print functional parts. In some cases I have been using some other 3D modeling software but this has been mainly when I have downloaded some parts from Thingiverse and I have needed to make some modifications.

Hi,

I cant seem to get the correct name to appear on my components area. Sometimes they show a skp-name which I have not asked for, sometimes they show the name I have given. But Actually all the components I have changed the name.
Also how to change by Unknown to that I want it to say?

Thanks

screen shot

OBJ is another 3d data file.
In Pro you can export in that format.
There's an OBJ importer available...
http://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pln=obj_importer
It has the option to flip the YZ axes as well as choosing units etc...
It's slow, but free.
There's also a paid importer by Fluid, that is faster.
http://www.fluidinteractive.com/products/sketchup-extensions/fluidimporter/

A "trick" I use when I have to have high poly models in SU is to set the view to wireframe select all edges and hide them.
It makes it a bit faster since SU doesn't have to draw every edge in the viewport.

Hello.

Visit this page https://www.facebook.com/Phraisan/?fref=ts

@frederik said:

This is the first release they've been able to make in the right time, which means that the next version (SU2016) will get released in 12 month time...

That's not good enuf. I want it no later than Jan next year.

@pbacot said:

Can't on a Mac.

Ditto. The values I type are ignored, they don't appear in the VCB and don't affect the point's location.

It makes sense to import vector lines if you need to be able to edit them or want to use them to flesh something out to 3D. If layers are a problem for you, clean them up or get rid of them before making the DWG file.

When you have the feet selected you see the available modifier keys at the bottom of the screen. They have their uses. Like moving up the face of a building etc.

Set the eye height at any time simply by typing the value and enter.

The Eye tool is basically looking from your head, so you are able to look up and down as well as side to side. Whereas the feet keep your eyeline level until you change it.

Thanks for your time and help.

@syburn said:

Wow, There are some impressive sofa renderings from the Magician of a guy called Alvis. But I love all these ebooks that are available these days. Will these ebooks show me similar ways to make tufted sofas like Alvis?

3D SketchUp Community for Design and Engineering Professionals.

This book is by Alvis. So maybe.

I also do that cleanup and renaming. It is key to know what is happening. My outliner structure is as clean and tidy as can be. I try hard so there is not a flaw when I get to construction documents stage, on my projects.

However as you might now, an architectural project takes a long time to deliver and I often work on more than once at a time with very short delivery times as can be. There is simply no time to check on all components and all groups names. This is where messy stuff starts to happen and so, at least, I know my outliner structure is coherent even if everything is named Group and Component#1. I often create groups for organizing stuff, for drawing stuff in 5minutes... I simply press a key and keep on modeling inside the group. Fast as hell and not dangerous.

However I use components for 2 typical situations:

Elements that repeat through the project

Doors and Windows; Hardware; Sanitaryware and taps or sinks; Render proxies for furniture and vegetation.

Special spaces that I save as Xrefs

Outer building shell (for masterplans); Kitchens; Bathrooms; Staircases; Elevators; Halls; any other interior or exterior space that needs a lot of detail and I can isolate on a separate model binded to one or several other models.

Note to Dave

I do see the point of only using components. It's just that with so many of them and with such jumping through projects something will be messed up.

Note to Trimble

Most of my component problems would be solved with a simple thing - when making a component wich name already exists, why not ask if user wants to make it unique based on the name. It would look like this:

"A component with that name already exists. Do you want to replace that definition with your new component?"

Existing Answers:

"Yes" and "No"

Possible Answer:

"Make Unique"

The result would be a component with the name that exists and the next available "#n"

Thank you again for your wonderful tips Dave and Pbacot and I'll be seeing you around.

João