Convert Sketchup SKP files to DXF or STL

Guitar-list has developed this free plugin script for sketchup. The plugin is compatible with Sketchup 6, 7, 8 and Sketchup Make (Sketchup 2013) as well as sketchup v.8 M3, v.8 M2 as well as Win & Mac.

With this sketchup plugin script the users will get rid of the problem for exporting free version of sketchup to several CAM programs as CAM program does not support the native Sketchup (SKP) file format. This plugin facilitates to export your Sketchup model as a DXF or STL files recognizable with most CAM and 3D printer software.

In order to apply this script, the sketchup users have to copy this file and turn on Sketchup and there will be an extra menu option (Export to DXF or STL) available in the Sketchup Tools menu.

There are five export options:

• STL triangles. Apply it for Makerbot or Reprap style 3D printers.
• DXF polyface mesh. It is useful for replicating your original Sketchup model.
• DXF polylines: Exports the outlines of each face like a polyline, a bit helpful for CAM toolpaths.
• DXF triangular mesh: Splits all the faces up into triangles.
• DXF lines. This option can export the edges in the model like lines.

The plugin will be unworkable if the users prefer to save the exported file in a position where one of the folders have non latin or non unicode characters like “ą, ż, ź, ć, ń, ó, ł”.

The plugin’s output is well-matched with the several CAD/CAM programs: DXF: Cambam, Sketchup, A9CAD, DeskProtoLite, Vectric Cut-2D, Corel Draw, Inkscape, LibreCAD as well as STL: SkeinForge, FreeMill, Vectric Cut-3D, Roland Modela Player, Boxford’s 3D GeoCAM, Carvewright Designer software, DeskProtoLite, MeshCAM Art, Art Cam.

Downloadable link

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published by Rajib Dey
Editor-in-chief
Sketchup-ur-space (An exclusive e-magazine for worldwidesketchup users)
Sketchup4architect (Downloadsketchup components, plugins, softwares, models)

Spike, a laser based application for sketchup users

Ike, a leading developer of synchronized software and hardware, just launched Spike. It is the first ever world's laser based smartphone accessory that utilizes GPS, and other sensors to capture, quantify, map, model, distribute, and 3D print concerning any object up to 200 yards by snapping a picture through smartphone.

This 3d application is very useful for measuring larger distances and the sketchup users will be able to export the measurements and automatically produce a 3D model in SketchUp.

Spike contains a laser, a 3D compass, and its own rechargeable battery and apply these to calculate approximately & precisely of the size of objects or structures anywhere from six to 600 feet away. The dimensions for the specified objects in a scene are automatically superimposed on the photo you snap.

Apply for a demo

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published by Rajib Dey
Editor-in-chief
Sketchup-ur-space (An exclusive e-magazine for worldwidesketchup users)
Sketchup4architect (Downloadsketchup components, plugins, softwares, models)

Building Blocks of SketchUp PDF Book now available on Disc

Bob Lang, woodworker, author, designer and illustrator as well as executive editor of Popular Woodworking Magazine, has written some exclusive books on sketchup through which he briefly explains how the software can be applied efficiently for woodworking projects. Mr. Bob recently published a book alias “Building Blocks of sketchup”. The book was in PDF version but now the book is available on disc.

There will be 260 pages with 50 embedded video lessons with clickable text links. Bob has done extensive research to write this book and briefly illustrate all topics by providing step-by-step exercises.

The Sketchup users can get a striking offer to download the improved edition of $34.95. Bob has offered to sale the disc version on for $39.95 with free shipping until December 1.

Click Here to order from outside the United States

Infinite skills introduces Learning SketchUp 2013 Video Training - DVD

Software training firm Infinite Skills Inc. just released “Learning SketchUp 2013 Tutorial. The course is very useful for beginner Sketchup users to learn the basic skills and the best application of the Sketchup software.

Daniel Brown is the presenter of this course. Daniel is a well know Sketchup trainer. He also serves as the contractor for Google for performing with Sketchup on Google Earth.

In this training video Daniel presents fundamental navigation features like toolbars and performing with templates, Brown begins with the fundamentals of drawing on SketchUp involving tools for producing lines, arcs, circles, and lots other.

Brown assists the students by providing the design of a house started with the roof, calculating measurements, arranging the model, and making all the custom features concerning a house which engross doors and windows, kitchen installations, a fireplace, and more.

Brown then demonstrates the usage of 3D Warehouse by importing furniture models from its store of assemblies into the design as well as , how to complete the house with its exterior.

There exist various chapters which guide the students for making presentations to their Sketchup design. Students also learn how to generate scenes and styles from their sketchup models, make a rendering composite in Photoshop, insert lighting and reflections to feel the pragmatism and lastly make a presentation with layout.

The students can avail the free demo videos and a series of course contents on the Learning SkechUp 2013 training page of the Infinite Skills website:
http://www.infiniteskills.com/training/learning-sketchup-2013.html

The students can also acquire the Learning SketchUp 2013 Training Video (Learning SketchUp 2013 Video Training – DVD) either as a DVD or download directly from the website of the company at an introductory price of $49.95.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published by Rajib Dey
Editor-in-chief
Sketchup-ur-space (An exclusive e-magazine for worldwidesketchup users)
Sketchup4architect (Downloadsketchup components, plugins, softwares, models)

Google SketchUp : The Missing Manual - Kindle Edition

Google SketchUp : The Missing Manual, an exclusive book written by Chris Grover. Chris is associated with advertising and design community and has more than 25 years of working experience in print, video, and electronic media. He also wrote several books in the missing manual series.

The book includes 602 pages and it can provide the Sketchup users the fundamental ideas for generating 3D models with Sketchup. The book contains lots of step-by-step tutorials for making comprehensive 3-D objects as well as building plans and furniture, landscaping plans. The readers can also learn how to create 3D characters for computer games.

The book consists of see-through instructions involving every feature and numerous real-world instances to sharpen the practical expertise of the Sketchup users. Be familiar with the basic tools, making and animating models, and submitting the entities in Google Earth.

The book contains the following unique features:

• Keep you abreast of the SketchUp arena, and discover the differentiations while performing with 2-D and 3-D.
• Make uncomplicated 3-D shapes, save them as reusable components, and apply SketchUp’s Outliner to illustrate or hide them from view as per your requirements.
• Deal with a complex model building having large numbers of detail, and find out time-saving tools for working with several components.
• Make an interior walk-through of your building in order to animate the model.
• Put a realistic material shading and shadows to your model and submit them in Google Earth.

Google SketchUp: The Missing Manual [Kindle Edition] is available now at a discounted price of $15.05 (previous price $27.36). Check it out here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published by Rajib Dey
Editor-in-chief
Sketchup-ur-space (An exclusive e-magazine for worldwidesketchup users)
Sketchup4architect (Download sketchup components, plugins, softwares, models)

SKP5D converter for Sketchup

Check out your 3D model in 5D Online Virtual Reality now for free. Enter the interactive, walkable space transformed from a SketchUp model.

Try this brand new innovation, the SKP5D converter that transforms your SketchUp model into an interactive, real-time space where people can:

• walk free with an avatar,
• meet other visitors,
• measure distances, export photos...

The developer of this product has converted the 3D model of Barcelona Pavilion by Mies van der Rohe into 5D Online Virtual Reality! You can check it here : http://goo.gl/P7hvwh

This page was created from a .skp model with SKP5D converter in 2 minutes, and you can do it yourself too with any model you have!

This service is currently under beta test, but the members of this group can try it now for FREE!

Please visit the SKP5D website: http://goo.gl/LQ49o8.

• Convert any .skp, and you will receive your personalized webpage for your uploaded model via an email.
• Share your link to meet others in your own created 5D Online Virtual Reality!
• Send your feedback to support@skp5d.com

Barcelona Pavilion - on Skp5D.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published by Rajib Dey
Editor-in-chief
Sketchup-ur-space (An exclusive e-magazine for worldwidesketchup users)
Sketchup4architect (Downloadunlimited sketchup components, plugins, softwares, models)

Flattery Plugin for Sketchup

Flattery plugin for Sketchup is a free plugin useful for papercrafters. With this plugin the papercrafters can make design of toys, generate architectural mock-ups and build up exclusive handouts at free of cost. The plugin provides a great solution while working with inexpensive models. The plugin is compatible with PCs and Macs.

The Flattery consists of five toolbars which range from Index Edges, Unfold Faces, Reunite Edges, Add Tabs, and SVG Export.

After completing your model, when you are unfurling it, choose the model and turn on the Index Edges button. This highlights all of the edges inside your model to let you know later on that what utilized to be connected while unfurling your model. It is significantly important for the Reunite Edges tool as well as for the Add Tabs tool.

At the time of indexing your model, apply the Unfold faces tool for the purpose of unfolding. Turn on this tool and click once for choosing a face. After that, click twice on an adjoining face. The chosen face will be unfolded in order to make it even with the second face. Now group them collectively and select them in order to keep on unfolding the two of them to the next adjoining face. To remove the selection, click away from your model. In order to opt for numerous faces at a time, just click on faces by pressing shift. After that, while selecting a face to unfold to, all of the selected faces will be unfolded all together.

Once your model is fully unfolded, use Reunite Edges tool for making modifications. Initially, by means of the pointer tool, double click on the group having the flattened model to go into the group. Subsequently apply the Reunite Edges tool. From here it can be detected how the model is unfolded. Select the faces you want to shift for selecting them. While you move over edges, their partners will be displayed in red. Click on one, and all the selected faces will be elevated and shifted with the intention that the selected edge and its partner are reunited.

Choose the Add Tab tool. For an uncomplicated 1/4 inch tube, just double-click on the edge where you prefer to include the tab. For custom sized tabs, click one time on an edge as well as shift the mouse away from. Click for a second time to build the tab. There is an option to put sizes in the Value Control Box. Turn on Control to toggle among trapezoid and triangle tabs. Then the tab tool will show up an edges partner while hovering over it. At the time of creating a tab, it will also illustrate how that tab will extend beyond the face it will be bonded to.

Now you have to export your patter. For moving out of the group, click away from your model. Then choose the group and click on the SVG Export button. Find a place to save your SVG file and click save.

Installation: For set up Flattery, just copy the file "flattery.rb" and the folder "flattery" into the SketchUp plugins folder. On Windows, to find out the folder, go to C:\Program Files\Google\Google SketchUp 7\Plugins. On Macs, the folder is /Library/Application Support/Google/Google SketchUp 7/SketchUp/plugins. After copying all the files, start SketchUp. Now the Flattery toolbar will be visible.

Downloadable link

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published by Rajib Dey
Editor-in-chief
Sketchup-ur-space (An exclusive e-magazine for worldwidesketchup users)
Sketchup4architect (Downloadunlimited sketchup components, plugins, softwares, models)