Design Archives – SketchUp for Design

Trimble Creator: Introduction to Parametric SketchUp

October 12, 2022October 23, 2022 by Alex SchreyerNo Comments

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joc6ouRTaTg In this 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 designs (or product configurators). You can try all of this for yourself at https://creator.trimble.com/. If you want to experiment with my models, search for "alexschreyer" there. Also, all of my Trimble Creator videos are contained in this YouTube playlist. Have you tried Trimble's Creator yet? Let me know below in the comments what you think about it. ...

Placing Wind Turbines with my Random Tools Extension

September 23, 2020September 22, 2020 by Alex SchreyerNo Comments

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHuqTEaOtI0 In this tutorial I use the example of a large wind turbine array to show how useful my Random Tools extension for SketchUp can be in making things look more realistic - by rotating turbine blades in this case. Steps The three main steps to prepare a component for use with SketchUp's Random Tools extension are also illustrated below. For this example it is best to use a component, not a group. As I show in the video, grouping the rotor blades will not allow the extension to properly place its center at the rotation axis. Therefore, start by selecting the rotor blades and the axle and using the "Make Component" tool. In the Make Component tool, we then need to place its axis at the center of rotation. Click the "Set Component Axis" button and then place the axis as shown below. Now you can use the "Randomize Objects" tool from the Random Tools extension to rotate the blades...

Attractor-Based Scaling with Scale By Tools

August 10, 2020August 29, 2020 by Alex SchreyerNo Comments

https://youtu.be/QRle49KTceY A new feature of my Scale By (Image/Attractors/Equation) Tools SketchUp extension is the ability to transform (scale/rotate/move) objects by proximity to other objects ("attractors"). Not sure what this means? Check out the tutorial video above that explains the basic functionality. You can learn more about this extension on its page and the reference manual. ...

Making a 3D-Printable Patterned Panel (with Scale By Tools)

July 27, 2020August 29, 2020 by Alex SchreyerNo Comments

https://youtu.be/UmvTROcPETY This video tutorial revisits a parametric 3D printable panel that I created a while ago using plain Ruby code. You can explore the original 3D model using the viewer below. Just click the image to start it. Since the underlying code is now included in my Scale By Tools extension, I used it to re-create the same panel. Watch the video to see how you can very easily create the same design (or whatever else you want) with it. You can then 3D print it, laser cut, CNC cut, or use a waterjet cutter to create this panel out of many materials. ...

Just Published: Two New SketchUp Extensions (Random Tools & Scale By Tools)

July 8, 2020July 5, 2020 by Alex SchreyerNo Comments

I just published two new SketchUp extensions that were both based on Ruby code that was either previously posted on this site or in my book, Architectural Design with SketchUp". Random Tools Ever wanted to place large swaths of randomly-arranged grass in SketchUp as shown in the image above? Have you been frustrated by textures that repeat a bit too much on copied wood boards? Do I have an extension for you... Read the announcement Scale By Tools Using the provided tools, you can scale, move or rotate objects based on an image or a mathematical equation. For the equation, you can choose between a trigonometric function or a power function. It is also possible to use image data to push/pull faces or move vertices, which can be useful to create ripples on water or a heightfield topography. Read the announcement...