Replies

1. 
   MaxYak | Oct 31, 2006 04:07am | #1

   Yep, I've found it sufficiently powerful for my purposes (creating simple woodworking designs), once I learned all the features.  I'm still struggling with some stuff, but am confident I'll figure out how to really use it pretty soon.

   It's a much easier learning curve than a couple other 3D programs I've tried (notably AutoCAD 3D and Alibre).

       Mike

   To the man with a hammer, all the world is a nail.
2. 
   mudman | Oct 31, 2006 04:58am | #2

   I've used it and it is a great product for the price (do you mean Sketchup?). Free!!

   I wouldn't use it for joinery details, I could draw it much faster. But it is good for a quick look at the form and poportions. There are people on this site that are able to do amazing things with it, but I think that they are using the pay ($500) version. They also have a lot of patientce.

    

   Pardon my spelling,

   Mike

   Make sure that your next project is beyond your skill and requires tools you don't have. You won't regret it.

1. 
   MaxYak | Oct 31, 2006 10:16pm | #3

   Actually, I have been using it for joinery details.  I agree that it is faster to draw by hand, but that's true of any computer drawing program I've encountered.  The advantages of putting in the time to draw the thing online are the ability to look at it from any angle and easily make modifications.

   I'm finally starting to figure out how to easily modify my drawings in Sketchup (the free version).To the man with a hammer, all the world is a nail.

2. 
   RonInOttawa | Nov 06, 2006 01:47am | #8

   Yes, I meant to say Sketchup! Sorry if I caused any confusion.Thanks for the replies. I think I keep noodling with it for awhile before I make up my mind. After all, I can't argue about the price!Regards,Ron

1. 
   killenwood | Nov 06, 2006 03:05am | #9

   I've used SketchUp for about 2 years. I would never go back to 2D CAD, although it was a steep learning curve. I agree with many of the above comments about it taking quite a bit of effort and time to get comfortable with it.

   Contrary to some comments above, I can do detail and joints faster in 3D than by hand. As a result then, I have full-size prints outs for templates which I use for marking out the joints in the shop. This has changed and improved my construction. Also with the X-ray viewing capability, I can "check-out" the joint connections and verify their integrity.

   I've done dozens of detail furniture designs in SketchUp, one of which is attached.

   Tim

   
3. 
   bigw00d | Nov 01, 2006 08:59am | #4

   how do you get this google sketchpad?

1. 
   EF | Nov 01, 2006 10:49am | #5

   Go to:http://sketchup.google.com/And check out the 3D Warehouse too. You can see and copy what others have done. One of interest is this "room" of wood working tools:http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=562198362f9c4d0b31ef15b1ca497f9For tutorials I like:
   The self-paced ones under "help" in the program
   and then:
   http://sketchup.google.com/tutorials.htmlWork thought them all but I really like number 5 "Textures: An Introduction" since I want to model my house and doing it from a picture makes it realistic. And no I'm not claiming to be good at using it yet.
   EdwardEdited 11/1/2006 3:58 am ET by efEdited 11/1/2006 4:29 am ET by ef

   Edited 11/7/2006 4:41 am ET by ef

4. 
   Rich14 | Nov 02, 2006 09:21am | #6

   Ron,

   I have the full SketchUp program. It, and the free version, has a VERY steep learning curve. But once you start to get the hang of it, it is a superb tool.

   It is very easy to see relationships between structures that you would have had a very hard time appreciating before rotating the object in 3 dimensions.

   You really need to give yourself many hours looking at the tutorials as many aspects of the way the program works are non-intuitive, ESPECIALLY if you've had any experience with a 2-D CAD program or drawing program such as Adobe Illustrator (or similar vector programs). SketchUP is NOT either of those.

   Once you appreciate how it works (and that DOES take days, if not weeks) it is very clear that the SketchUp way is far superior to habits that CAD and Illustrator have given us. It's meant to quickly "rough out" three dimensional structures (of course it can also deliver beautiful, complex renderings). And a piece of furniture or a single joint is as much a structure as a building.

   Don't expect quick results, but you'll find you'll get much further along in the computer model if you completely forget about accuracy in the early stages of any drawing. Start any drawing by first creating a rectangular solid, then use the program to "pull" and "push" regions and "subvolumes" of that original solid shape around into the general figure that you need. Then you can adjust dimensions and further refine relationships.

   The SketchUp "community" is very helpful in giving advice on their website. And questions range from the most basic, such as how to draw or move or break a line to very sohpisticated rendering advice.

   Rich

1. 
   mudman | Nov 07, 2006 12:17am | #10

   You state that Sketchup has a steep leaning curve. As far as 3D modeling software goes it seems to be one of the easiest to use. I have used Solid Works and Inventor a fair amount and THOSE have STEEP learning curves. The dificulty to learn seems to be poportional to it's versitility.Pardon my spelling,

   Mike

   Make sure that your next project is beyond your skill and requires tools you don't have. You won't regret it.

5. 
   4DThinker | Nov 02, 2006 05:48pm | #7

   I've used sketchup a bit at work before (site license), and I just downloaded the free version from Google to play with.

   Of course there had to be a reason it is free, and I found it trying to model my latest thoughts.  Turns out it can't surface a 3D curved surface.  Picture an arm to a chair with a slight curve from front to back.  Then put a convex arc left and right across the top of that already curved arm.

   Still, not bad for a free program. It does take being able to think in 3D to do much with it.  I wrote a 3D cad program once, and do admire the interface they came up to work all 3 dimensions.