Compound (Boolean) Geometry in SketchUp with Solid Tools

Compound (Boolean) Geometry in SketchUp with Solid Tools

When you need to create complex geometry in SketchUp, it is often better to break an item into positive (solid) parts and negative (void) parts that you can then subtract from each other with SketchUp's Pro's Solid Tools. In this example, I am showing this process for a cast steel structural connector, but the principle applies to many other shapes as well. Because this process uses solid geometry from beginning to end, the result is also a solid and therefore easily 3D printable. Side view My model doesn't replicate the geometry of this piece exactly, but this is an example of such geometry Tutorial Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrhfJjT8YBQ Links Some of the tools I used here are: SketchUp's built-in tools: Solid Tools (specifically the Subtract tool) Parallel-projection camera view Hide / show FredoCorner Extension - One of Fredo6's excellent extensions that allows you to round corners ...
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Just Released: Third Edition of “Architectural Design with SketchUp”

Just Released: Third Edition of “Architectural Design with SketchUp”

I am very excited to be announcing the release of the third edition of my book “Architectural Design with SketchUp”! You can as of now find this new edition on Amazon, Wiley and everywhere else where books are sold. It is available as full-color paperback and e-book editions. Since the publication of the second edition in 2015, many changes have happened to SketchUp and in the larger realm of architectural software: Trimble introduced a web version of SketchUp as well as an iPad version that has proven very popular. Real-time rendering options have increased in availability, and point cloud modeling is now often used on renovation projects. Beyond that, many new extensions have been published, others have gone away or have been replaced with built-in functionality, and their underlying Ruby engine has received new and updated capabilities. All of these changes made an update to the second edition necessary, which led to me thoroughly editing and rewriting the entire text. I updated screenshots...
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Using Imported Files in Trimble Creator

Using Imported Files in Trimble Creator

In this tutorial I am demonstrating how you can import geometry that was created in SketchUp (and an image) into Trimble Creator so that we can add parametric behavior to it. I cover the basic import workflow, model cleanup, texturing, and parametric sizing here. Trimble Creator is a tool/service that allows you to create parametric "Live Components" for SketchUp and lets you come up with some cool designs (or product configurators). You can try it for yourself at creator.trimble.com. If you like, you can modify and download the Live Component that I created in this tutorial here. Tutorial Video https://youtu.be/pOpmThy1KA8 Have you tried Trimble’s Creator yet? Let me know below in the comments what you think about it. ...
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Parametric Highrise Models with Trimble Creator

Parametric Highrise Models with Trimble Creator

In this video tutorial I create a parametric massing component (as a Live Component) completely from scratch in Trimble Creator. This allows me to cover geometry, parameters, Boolean operations and various user interface details and general processes. Trimble Creator is a tool/service that allows you to create parametric "Live Components" for SketchUp and lets you come up with some cool designs (or product configurators). You can try it for yourself at creator.trimble.com. If you like, you can modify and download the Live Component that I created in this tutorial here. Tutorial Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciocDOO_ags Have you tried Trimble’s Creator yet? Let me know below in the comments what you think about it. ...
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Trimble Creator: Introduction to Parametric SketchUp

Trimble Creator: Introduction to Parametric SketchUp

In this video tutorial I show how the newly released Trimble Creator works. This tool/service allows you to create parametric "Live Components" for SketchUp and lets you come up with some cool, parametric designs (or product configurators). You can try all of this for yourself at Trimble Creator's live site: creator.trimble.com. If you want to experiment with my models, search for "alexschreyer" there (using one of the left icons). Also, I am collecting all of my Trimble Creator videos in a YouTube playlist. Tutorial Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joc6ouRTaTg Links Trimble Creator - Access the web app here Trimble Creator Forum - A place to ask your questions on SketchUp's forums Node Documentation - The main help docs for Creator's nodes Have you tried Trimble's Creator yet? Let me know below in the comments what you think about it. ...
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