CAD for simple 3-D metal & wood projects?

[Leon]

Maybe he has only installed and used the program two times. If you will recall you and I had to install it 3 times before the light came on. LOL

[Leon]

For drawing simple 3D shapes It cant get much simpler than with Sketchup and it can probably meet any future need you might have for some time to come.

[Leon]

I really don't have any issues with snapping while using Sketchup unless the drawing is zoomed out too much and there are several end points that are closer together than the snap cursor. Simply zoom in and there is no issue at all.

[Leon]

LOL I'm a stickler for precision, but WTF do you need better tolerances than

1/1000 inch when woodworking? :~)

[pyotr filipivich]

"Lloyd E. Sponenburgh" on Thu, 21 Nov

2013 07:53:57 -0600 typed in rec.crafts.metalworking the following:

I think that is given away in the name. After all, it is called "Sketch up" not "Drafting".

As any engineer/designer will tell you - everything starts with a "sketch", be it a literal "drawing on a paper napkin" to "it will sort of look like this ..." drawing in a CAD Program. Just show shapes, relationships and maybe some sizes. What will eventually wind up plotted on a C size page started as "isometric" shapes quickly sketched on notepaper, "with circles and arrows and a paragraph ... describing what each one was..."

tschus pyotr

-- pyotr filipivich "With Age comes Wisdom. Although more often, Age travels alone."

[pyotr filipivich]

B-) wood moves that much if you breath on it.

Sides, with wood, "Cut to fit, sand to shape, paint to match." B-)

-- pyotr filipivich "With Age comes Wisdom. Although more often, Age travels alone."

[Steve W.]

I use it a LOT. How precise it is depends entirely on the user. There are tons of add-ons and scripts that can make it much more powerful.

[Lloyd E. Sponenburgh]

pyotr filipivich fired this volley in news: [e-mail]:

To be used as evidence against us! L

[Richard]

I don't use Design CAD for woodworking only.

microns, angstroms, etc?

[Richard]

I did a lot of 3D work on a drafting table, so I disagree with what you said here. A LOT of drafting was done before computers evolved to help out.

[Swingman]

Having a strong background in CAD, I first starting using SketchUp about eight years ago, and shortly thereafter built a $350k construction budget residence, using it to provide the framing plan and all permitting, bidding and construction documents (in conjunction with Layout), I quickly became a believer in the programs power and versatility.

At that time not a single architect I worked with had heard of the program. Things have changed, and folks like this architect have taken SketchUp to a new level, architecturally speaking:

AAMOF, I'm currently actively advising an architect on use of the program, as well as Layout, as we speak, which is poetic justice ... as it is damned hard for a General Contractor/Builder to teach an architect anything. ;)

[Richard]

Oh No, not that Thanksgiving Day Masacree again!

[Leon]

Well, he did specifically say 2-D CAD. I too was formally trained long before computers and drew isometric. But none of my drawings and or the

2D CAD programs let you spin the 3D object or view inside out. ;~)

IIRC AutoCAD LT was able to do isometric drawings but you could not change the angle of view of that object. That was several years ago so maybe things have changed with the software.

[Gordon Shumway]

Tell me what was designed on a board that wasn't 3D??? What did I say that you disagree with... the part about the screen door being useless?

[Leon]

I noticed that this thread is cross posted and apparently some of the AR responders are taking parts of what we say and rewording those comments to compose arguments into what they apparently think makes them look like experts.

[krw]

I think it was Swingman who turned the light on for me, finally getting it through my filter that it wasn't a CAD program, rather a 3D modeling program. I picked it up really quickly after that realization.

[Gordon Shumway]

Are you trying to tell me they are democrats?!

[Swingman]

;)

[Leon]

Well I was trying to not go potty mouth but now it is out there and it can't be unsaid. ;~)

[Gunner Asch]

What is Sketchup Pro 2013? Versus Sketchup Make?

__ "A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." - Heinlein