SketchUp for Design

The following simple code snippet takes any objects (groups or components) that you have selected and drops them to the ground (i.e. moves them to z = 0). I find this quite useful sometimes to just make sure that all those objects in my model are actually on the ground plane and not 1/64″ above or below it. Just keep in mind that this routine uses the lowest point in an object’s bounding box. Select the object to see how that (blue) bounding box looks like before you use the code.

This video provides an introduction to Ruby scripting with the Ruby Code Editor extension in SketchUp. Scripting in SketchUp is also a good “intro to coding” exercise because you not only learn a usable scripting language (Ruby), you can even use it to create 3D models that you can manufacture (e.g. 3D print) afterwards.

Every once in a while it’s very useful to be able to precisely control the view in SketchUp. One of those cases is when you are creating a turntable animation video of an object (like the one shown above). The snippet below allows you to set that up by creating pages with defined view parameters.

I came across brick wall designs today where the architects were considering various options with pulled bricks. This design approach has been used before in many different ways but the basic principle is always the same: In a brick wall that is dominated by stretchers, you insert strategically placed headers which then protrude a little […]