1001bit sketchup 02

1.0 Introduction

Welcome to this plugins tutorial for SketchUp. SketchUp is so easy that most people can pick it up without much training. But of course, a structured course helps you get to speed...fast, properly. In this tutorial, we will explore some commands which will do more complex 3D modeling faster with the help of some plugins.

So let's get started. Fire up your SketchUp by double-clicking the tool on your Desktop or from the dock if you are an Apple OSX user.

2.0 Initial Setup

Before you jump straight in to build that dream 3D model, take a moment to do the initial setup. You only need to do this the first time you use SketchUp.

Click on the screen menu Window/Preferences and click on OpenGL. Make sure that the “Use hardware acceleration” is checked. This is vital. If you don't check this, you will notice that your screen refreshes will be slow.

What if this option is grayed out? Well, you are in trouble. Your computer doesn't have OpenGL capabilities. Reinstalling the correct video card driver may help. In the worst case scenario, you have to change your graphics card. It is recommended that you should consider Nvidia or ATI Radeon powered graphics cards.

The next thing you want to do is to set your working units. Click on “Template” and followed by “Architectural 2D Millimeters”. (This is one of the localised Templates included in your SketchUp when you install using our SIACAD Installation DVD)

In order for this to take effect for all new models you work on, click on the File/New menu command.

That's all you need to do. And this has to be done only during the first time you use SketchUp. Let's move on.

Note: Click on SketchUp / Preferences. OPENGL is normally set up correctly by OSX so you don't need to fiddle with it.

SketchUp with 1001bit Pro Plugin SIACAD Pte Ltd of 12

3.0 Tool Palettes

The designers of SketchUp want the software to be as unintimidating as possible, hence your initial workspace will have only the “Getting Started” tool palette.

This is insufficient for most of our work so let's uncheck it to turn it off and check the “Large Tool Set” and the “Standard” tool palette.

We will first cover commands from the 1001bit Architectural Tools. You will notice its long horizontal Toolbar.

You can also switch it into few shorter separate toolbars from the Plugins menu > 1001bit Pro > Manage toolbars. This pops up the 1001bit.com Manage toolbars. Select Separate toolbars then click the “Save settings” button then “Exit”.

You will be prompted to restart SketchUp for the toolbars to take effect.

4.0 Hip Roof

We will now open the file hip_roof.skp from the folder _Sketchup on the Desktop.

Left-click the surface of the profile with the Select tool.

Select the Create hip roof tool

From the screen menu, left-click on Plugins > 1001bit Pro > Roof > Create hip roof


This will pop up the Create Hip Roof dialog box.

Change the values as required then click the “Create Hip Roof” button.

Now you undestand the sequence, do try with a more complex roof shape.

5.0 Rafters, Battens/Purlins

Let's add rafters and battens to the roof.

Since the roof and fascia are grouped together, right-click the roof then left-click Edit Group.

The pitch is also a Group so you need to right-click again and left-click Edit Group to select all the faces.

Once your have selected all the pitched faces, left-click the

Create rafters, battens/purlins tool


This will pop up the Create Roof Rafters and Battens/Purlins dialog box.

Try other Rafter type by left-clicking the “>” buttonChange the values as required then click the “Create Rafters, Battens/Purlins” button.

6.0 Create Metal Decks

Let's create metal decks. Open the file metal_deck.skp from the folder _Sketchup on the Desktop.

Select a surface then left-click the Create Metal Decks tool

Set the values as required then left-click the “Create metal deck” button.

Next, left-click the start point of the metal deck followed by the intended direction of the ribs.

Let's try on the other faces, ie. side wall and roof. Take note that after the start point, the ribs direction follows the direction of your cursor.


Start point

Start point

Start point

7.0 Divide Panels

We will now open the file panels.skp from the folder _Sketchup on the Desktop.

Left-click the surface of the arced profile.

Select the Divide panels tool

This will pop up the Panel Divider dialog box. Change the values as required then click the “Create Panel” button.

8.0 Create Grilles and Screen

Now, left-click the rectangular surface.

Then select the Create Screen tool

This will pop up the Create Screen dialog box. Change the values as required then click the “Create Opening” button.


9.0 Create Louvres

Next, left-click the long rectangular face.

Select left-click the Create Louvres tool

This will pop up the Create Screen dialog box. Change the values as required then click the “Create Louvres” button.

10.0 Create Profiles on Plane

We will now open the file profile.skp from the folder _Sketchup on the Desktop.

Next, select the panel by window from point A to point B.

Select the Create Profiles on Plane Screen tool

This will pop up the Create Screen dialog box. Change the values as required then click the “Create Opening” button.


A

B

Once the profiles are created, you may need to erase the face within the profile. Right-click the face then Erase.

11.0 Create Profiles on Plane

Let's open the file edges_profile.skp from the folder _Sketchup on the Desktop.

From the screen menu Edit > Select All. Then left-click the Edges to Profiles tool

This will pop up the Edges to Profiles dialog box. Change the values as required then click the “Create Profiles” button.


12.0 Create Grooves on Faces

Open grooves.skp next. Let's create some grooves on the faces. Left-click the faces and click the

Create Grooves on Faces tool

Change the values as required then left-click the “Create Grooves” button.

Pick the intersection of the guide line and vertical edge for the start level.


Start point atIntersection

13.0 Create Ramp

We are now going to create a ramp. Let's open ramp.skp from the same folder _SketchUp.

We are going to make it slope up. First thing to do is to pick the arc.

Left-click the Slope Edges tool

From the pull-down menu, switch to carpark ramp to preset the Gradient 1 to 8.3. You may change the Height and the Gradient will automatically set for you.

Next, left-click the “Slope Edges” button. Pick the Start point (A) followed by the End point (B).

Once the arc slopes up, left-click the Extrude Along Path tool

When prompted whether to “Maintain vertical section profile?”, left-click the Yes button.

Next, pick the profile of the ramp. Then pick a reference point on the profile.

Finally pick the start point of the ramp (lower end of arc).


B

A

Before After

12

3

Once the ramp is created, erase the ramp profile.

14.0 Create Staircases

Let's create staircases. Left-click the Create Staircases tool

Scroll to the right and look for Type of staircases that you wish to create then left-click the “Build staircases” button.

This pops-up the Create Staircase (2) dialog box. Change the values as required then left-click the Create Staircase button.

Pick the origin of the staircase then choose the angle you wish to position it. Once you have dynamically set the angle, left-click to confim the position.

Let's create a Spiral staircase.


Erase

1

2

Scroll to the right and look for staircase type “11” then left-click the “Build staircases” button.

This pops-up the Create Spiral Staircase dialog box. Change the values as required then left-click the “Create Spiral Staircase” button.

Left-click to position the spiral staircase.

15.0 Create Escalator

Finally we are going to create an Escalator. Let's open escalator.skp from _Sketchup folder.

Let's left-click the Create Escalator tool

From the custom setting 1 pull-down menu, let's select the 40” escalator


Change the value in the dialog box as required then left-click the “Create Escalator” button.

Pick a point on the lower floor followed by the upper floor. Once the escalator is created, erase the floors.

16.0 Conclusion

We have come to the end of this SketchUp with 1001bit tutorial. We are confident that you have learnt a lot and have found both SketchUp and 1001bit Pro very easy and productive to use for your designs. There are many more tools, tips and tricks but as SketchUp and 1001bit is so intuitive, you will be able to pick that up along the way. Until then, have fun using SketchUp and 1001bit Pro!


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1

Erase

1001bit sketchup 02

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