Learning Sketchup

[chopnhack]

I was able to model my darksider on sketchup. Give me your expert critique. I would like to know any tips to make the process faster, things you would do differently etc. Thanks

Model

Also, how do you get the model to start on scene 1?

[RAFlorida]

chopnhack, the link

doesn't work, at least not for me.

edit: "Sorry, we are unable to retrieve this document."

[LarryG]

I can't access the model file, either.

Animations will start playing on whatever scene is currently selected, so click the "Scene 1" (default name: you may have renamed it) tab before clicking Animation, Play. Once I have an animation working the way I want it, I always select Scene 1 before saving and closing the model. The next time I open the file, it'll come up ready to play from the beginning.

[paultnl]

good for learning

I have just found this http://sketchupforwoodworkers.com/

[chopnhack]

Sorry about that guys, the link should be working now. Cool, thanks Larry I will remember that. Nice find Paul

[LarryG]

That's a simple model but broadly speaking, it looks very good.

I don't know what to suggest on making the modeling process go faster because I don't know what specific methods you used. I do see that you have isolated the major elements into separate components, which is good -- that's a critical part of developing a good SketchUp model and being able to edit it efficiently.

A couple specific suggestions

1. After you draw the initial round shape of something like a handwheel or the ends of the throat plate opening, select the circle or arc, right click on it, select Entity Info, and increase the Segments value from the default (usually 24) to something like 72 or even higher. This will smooth out the rounds and make them look less "blocky."

2. At the throat plate opening, where the straight sides adjoin the semi-circular end, there is a vertical line. Right-click on the line and select either Hide or Soften for a more realistic appearance.

Otherwise ... lookin' good! BTW if you don't already know how to use the FollowMe tool ... get familiar with it NOW. It is incredibly powerful, can do some amazing things.

[chopnhack]

Thank you Larry. That is the first rendering of something I have done that I actually knew what steps to follow - i.e. - making components, copying and moving and rotating to keep orientation, etc.

Methods: I first measured the saw and then in sketchup starting the shapes via rectangle tool, push/pulled into dimension, used offset on back side of the cast iron section to define the side walls before push/pulling the bottom into thickness. The handwheels I had some fun with. I tried the follow me tool. I went to a catalog that had cross sections of handwheels and imported the jpg in, edited for size, then used some tape measure lines to define some areas and with line and arc tool, drew in an outline of a flat section without the crank handle, that I modeled free hand and attached later. I used follow me on a circle to rotate the flat model into existence.

I didn't know how to account for the castings on the underside properly so for simplicity I omitted them, the top I believe was only around 3/16" thick overall, but again for simplicity I made it thicker because around the throat and miter slots its at least 15/16". I also didn't think the innards were game for my skill level ;-)

Also, after creating the model I realized that the main cast iron section actually has a beveled front edge. I tried to add it back, but since the miter slots are there, simply drawing a line on the top face and front face of the table wouldnt work. I am thinking about trying push pull from the side, just drawing a line to create a small triangular section, then pushing it all the way to the miter slot, but I see a potential for failure there as well...

I will look for the line in the throat plate, thanks! The purpose of this is to eventually model a wide table conversion for the saw.
Thanks for you input Larry