@sketch3d.de said:

@tfdesign said:

(ACAD is vector based)

SU too

N.

yes Norb, that's not quite what I meant. You are right, but AutoCAD, apart from ACIS 3D kernel, is primarily a 2D app, and SU isn't.

You also mention that you have lots of plant models too? Plants can use high amountsof memory, because of the modelling of branches. If you think about it, if you have an under spec'ed machine, it will find it hard to draw on power, if using such models. (really you need a Mac Pro for serious CAD!)

Hi Sally! I'm also running 10.6.2, but Im having little problems. What version of iMac are you using? How much memory do you have? Do you have enough disc space, and how many apps do you have open at any one time?

Tom

Cris,

Sketchup always does this, to any imported polygon (ACAD is vector based), and it's especially noticeable on circles and ellipses. Sketchup will break a circle into a default number of 24 sides, but you can change this by highlighting the circle, then inputting a higher number in the vcb, followed by an 's'. The s standing for 'sides' I suppose. Hope that helps

Tom

I had to slip this one in, if it hadn't already been mentioned;

404 Not Found

(www.sis.si)

It's for iPhone rather than Mac, but I'm finding this app rather useful at the moment!

@watkins said:

A listing of available cheap or free CAD software

Yessss.... it's also got my rather embarrassing (and overly enthusiastic) entry for ViaCAD in there too!

Can you not work with vectors instead of a bitmap? i.e. Illustrator files, or even PDF's? On a Mac, you choose "Print Setup" under file, then determine the size of your paper. You can either just print, or save as a PDF.

@drfabinex said:

Tried Viacad already as I mentioned in the first post. It's SKP importer doesn't work with SU7 at all, and a DWG export from SU opened in Viacad crawls, complete with hideously choppy redraws while rotating. Not worth the cheap price IMHO.

Too bad because it looked so promising.

I get the feeling that you don't really know what you want (which I too can also relate to!). All CAD software is a pain in the ar*e. It never does just quite what you want. Then it's a massive investment on top of that. I want a holiday this year, with my kids! You just have to learn the developers ways, and get on with it.

I was going to buy Shark, then I was going to buy SketchUp, then Shark again, then Vectorworks. Then there was whiff that Solidworks were porting to Mac, then they withdrew that statement. It does my friggin swede in!!!

I've got ViaCAD 2D/3D, SketchUp free, MacDraft, QCad and Cheetah3D. I've done pretty damn good with those so far, so I'm sticking with them.

I think this all just applies to big corporations, not individuals. Anyway, who wants to use Google imagery anyway in SU? The images always come out in black and white- not even nice b&w. There is also a corporate version of Google Earth too, for companies that need big GIS-type applications. All that money you pay is probably for the licensing.

Tom.

@bonzai3d support said:

Tom,

Thanks for the suggestion regarding "Ledas." (Yes, we are aware of them...)

Yes, Dimitry seems like a very pleasant and approachable chap. It's really nice to know that there is finally another 3D parametric kernel out there, ready to take on the likes of Spatial and Parasolid.

Hey Guzman, these are really fantastic! Well done to your class!

I'm going to be doing some very similar stuff to this (if we can get the funding), over the next few months, here in Birmingham, using SketchUp with kids from the local schools. So I'll also post back here when the work is done, and link up the results.

I must say, that what really struck me about the first video here, is how the different personalities of each child come out in each of the models. That's really nice. You've got some of the obvious castle type structures, but that simple star shaped 3D Asterisk really intrigued me too- a bit like a Frank Lloyd Wright future vision of the city ("The Living City"?).

Looking forward to seeing what comes next!

regards,

Tom

Thank you TBD. That's very decent of you.

@solo said:

That philosophy is rife in America, see the standards that Walmart impose as an example, soldier of fortune magazine is good, FHM is bad.

I think you are both spot on. I also think Apple are more than aware of conservative middle America. It only takes one whiff something someone decides as vaguely dodgy, and there is witch hunt on, except this time it isn't flaming crosses, it's flaming apples!

But yes- it's a double standard. Ridiculous really.

Hi Bob.

Sorry but I've never tried doing so, because I played with Solidedge way before i'd even tried Sketchup. I imagine the wouldnt be a problem, because both apps read and write the dwg format. There's no harm in just downloading the software and trying it though.

Regards,

Tom

@honoluludesktop said:

It never gets as bad in paradise as it could be anywhere else on the planet:-)

except that you just happen to be sitting on a volcano!

@sepo said:

You keep saying that but we do not have evidence of it.

Mate, you are unbelievable! I don't know what I find more insulting, your arrogance or your "I'm spending all of your lovely money by going skiing every weekend" avatar!!
Jeff is absolutely right. Why don't you just go and look for the evidence- it's right here, right in front of you! I tell you what, I'll hold your hand and guide you to the search field at the top of your browser window. In this window, type; "podium +osx +installer". You then press a button on your keyboard, it's called 'return'! you may have to edit your search options a little. You do this by ommiting certain key words such as "installer"- that's if you are having problems.

@sepo said:

Yes there will be Mac version once we complete Beta.

And will the Mac version installer be fixed too, so Podium doesn't turn off all our plugins all over again?

I forgot to mention that Vectorworks also has translation plugins for SketchUp. Vectorworks is also built on the Parasolid kernel, as used in Solidworks and Unigraphics NX series.

301 Moved Permanently

(www.plm.automation.siemens.com)

(fixed link )

Nice. Very Nice. I just wish I could live in it!