Replies

1. 
   chuckvandyck | Mar 23, 2022 07:11pm | #1

   https://youtu.be/AVb8ZBAOD0I

   Great primer.

   I recommend following his advice and watching once through before modeling along. Like anything, it takes a bit of practice. Once you have the basics you can find an answer to just about any roadblock you hit using google. When I was learning sketchup and fusion I tried to spend an hour or so a night for a couple weeks. Its pretty fun problem solving at times.

1. 
   rich57 | Mar 24, 2022 08:16pm | #5

   So are you a Fusion user now or Sketch up? Thank you for the recommendation. I have not even looked at Fusion.

1. 
   chuckvandyck | Mar 24, 2022 09:48pm | #13

   I use them both. If the goal is just to quickly see proportions and what not, sketchup is definitely the way to go. For instance, I'm working on a murphy bed for a client. In about 10 minutes I was able to share a drawing that clearly showed a scale drawing without getting into any mechanics or joinery.

   I mostly use fusion these days when creating a file for the shaper origin.

   I like a few print outs of a sketchup file that I can just take notes by hand over when working. I work full-time in the shop and having these sketches is a necessary tool for staying organized and on track.

   
2. 
   daverichards | Mar 23, 2022 10:28pm | #2

   You might have a look at this: https://www.tauntonstore.com/woodworking/fine-woodworkings-google-sketchup-guide-for-woodworkers-basics-dl-067125
   Although it's older the content is still appropriate.

   Also take a look at the Design. Click. Build. blog
   https://www.finewoodworking.com/blog/design-click-build

   If you have specific questions you can get in touch with me and I'll help you out.

1. 
   rich57 | Mar 24, 2022 08:17pm | #6

   Thanks Dave! I'm digging in!

1. 
   daverichards | Mar 24, 2022 08:36pm | #9

   Good luck Rich.

   FWIW, if you want to see a few examples of furniture and other stuff I've modeled in SketchUp, here's a link. Anyone can learn this.
   https://flic.kr/s/aHsjpUPdd6

   I would suggest that you look at the various options and see what you prefer. I gave F360 a try but found I dislike the extra work one needs to go through to create and modify a 3D model compared to the way it works in SketchUp. Too much data entry in F360 for my taste.

2. 
   chriscosentino | Mar 24, 2022 09:07pm | #10

   Dave probably doesn't remember this, but he helped me out with a project in sketchup about 8 years ago. Basically re-drew the whole piece for me (correctly!) So he's not lying when he says he'll help you out. He's the sketchup pro!

1. 
   daverichards | Mar 24, 2022 09:32pm | #11

   Hi Chris,

   That was a long time ago. Good to see you're around.

   I gather you've switched to F360. I wonder if you could share some images of woodworking projects you've modeled in it. Maybe something with some details like this Sheraton Table. https://flic.kr/p/qWhNnH

   I see a number of recommendations for Fusion 360 but never any results from actual users.

   Hope you're doing well.

   d

1. 
   chriscosentino | Mar 25, 2022 11:32am | #14

   Thanks Dave,

   I have not tried anything as complex as a Sheraton Table, as I'd never be able to make a real one! :)

   But I am gonna give it a go in Fusion 360 this weekend if I have some time.

   In the meantime, here is a little router base I modeled up for my handheld router.

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgLYeXaO7FM

2. 
   daverichards | Mar 25, 2022 12:57pm | #17

   Thanks Chris. I'll take a look at your video.

3. 
   chriscosentino | Mar 24, 2022 05:12pm | #3

   If you are new to design software in general, I would start with Fusion 360 from AutoCad instead of Sketchup. I used sketchup for a number of years for trying out different designs and I always struggled with it. I found modifying the designs could be very frustrating. I finally spent some time learning Fusion 360 and now that I have gotten the hang of it I will never use sketchup again. Fusion 360 has a "Free for Personal Use" license. There are hundreds of videos on youtube about using Fusion 360 for woodworkers.

   Good luck with whatever you choose!

1. 
   rich57 | Mar 24, 2022 08:20pm | #7

   Thanks Chris. I think I'm more confused than ever but I will take a look at it. Really appreciate the different view point!

4. 
   nsomnius | Mar 24, 2022 07:44pm | #4

   Everyone will have their own opinion but from what's been said thus far, I'd like to suggest a middle point between Sketchup and Fusion. Viacad. I've struggled with Sketchup on and off over the years when it comes to modifications to the project. Fusion makes this easy but requires a lot of up front planning and preparation. Viacad is quite intuitive and capable. It's not as slick and refined as Fusion but it spans the divide in terms of minimal frustration, in learning, in design modification and in capability. It's also very easy to muck up a drawing accidentally in Sketchup, one thing that really turns me off about the program. Fusion is practically foolproof by contrast. Viacad is pretty hard to mess up but it's possible. Good working habits will prevent that.

   I may be wrong but I used Fusion's free license for a year and then I was asked to pay in order to keep using it.

1. 
   nsomnius | Mar 24, 2022 09:48pm | #12

   Fusion 360 free personal license can be renewed each year, I've just learned.
   It's a bizarre amount of power for free and is in constant development. I think that the learning curve is a lot to start with though. It is a lot of fun if you get into it that kind of thing.

5. 
   rich57 | Mar 24, 2022 08:24pm | #8

   Thanks for the additional information. I haven't heard of Viacad, but I will do my research.

6. 
   esch5995 | Mar 25, 2022 12:06pm | #15

   For those commenting about the difficulty in modifying designs in SketchUp, I will say once I learned to use groups and components properly things become immensely easier and the frustrations melted away. I recommend designing as you would build i.e. Each individual piece is a component or at least a group. You can then combine these groups into more complex assemblies and these are made into components or groups just like you would in the shop.

1. 
   daverichards | Mar 25, 2022 12:57pm | #16

   Good description.