Replies

1. 
   daverichards | Nov 08, 2007 03:54am | #1

   Very nice. I like the wood texture. I hope you don't mind but I reduced the file size a little bit. I will admit that I didn't include the textures or the dimensions. They could be added back in without much trouble and without bloating the file size too much.

    

   Dave

1. 
   Senomozi | Nov 08, 2007 04:40am | #2

   Thanks Dave, I did not clue in that the texture was what was causing the file to be so big.  Next post I'll know.

   Regards,

   Senomozi

1. 
   daverichards | Nov 08, 2007 05:15am | #3

   Actually it wasn't just the textures that were bloating your file. It was also the geometry. Lots of faces and lines. If you poke at the file I uploaded, you'll see that every single "board" in the model is a component. With parts that have identical or mirror image counterparts, the counterparts are copies so they are related. SketchUp only counts the geometry in one instance of a component. Then it just tracks where the the other instances lie. This helps to reduce file size. It also means that when you edit one instance, all other instances of that component get edited, too. For example, suppose you wanted to make raised panels on the ends of the cabinet. The lower panels are four instances of a single component. Draw the raising on one instance (you must be editing that component when you do this) and the raising is done on the other three instances at the same time.

   If you were to draw the joinery in--I didn't--you would find your work very easy because you can actually get at the surfaces that get the joinery. And again, since parts are components, you modify one and the other's of its ilk get modified as well.

   Components can be named so you can identify them in the Outliner or if you use the cutlist plugin. Components can also be saved. Don't draw the same molding profile every time you want to use it. Draw it once, make it a component and save it where you can find it again. Import the component the next time you want it and edit it as needed.

   Or, if you want to resize the piece, it's easy to do. With all the parts drawn as components, you can also pull them away from each other with the Move tool and create an exploded drawing. Important note: the Explode function in the Context (right click) menu does not create and exploded view. It destroys components or groups.

   There you go and don't forget the Design.Clcik. Build. blog here on Fine Woodworking.

    

   Dave

1. 
   Senomozi | Nov 08, 2007 06:20am | #4

   Thanks for the info Dave.  When I designed the vanity I had not learned about "components" yet.  I am about to post another plan for a piece I have yet to build.  You'll see that for that one I indeed used components and used scenes to display different (unassembled) parts.  A trick I read about on this web site.

   Regards,

   Senomozi

2. 
   markg11cdn | Nov 08, 2007 06:51pm | #5

   Thanks for posting this (and thanks to Dave for the revised version). It's very timely for me as I was just starting to sketch out a new vanity for our new master bath.

   I showed my wife the picture you posted of the one you completed and she said "beautiful". I've got a few other projects to finish first but I think I'll be building a version of this vanity in a month or two.

   cheers - mark