Anyone use Sketchup from Goggle

[Lickity Split]

I would first like to say that I love this sight, you guys have inspired me to build my own log splitter.
I will post pictures when I get it done.
Now back to Sketchup, I downloaded it tonight and how do I get started, I have no cad experience and it just seams a little much, I just want something that I can draw my next projects on
(small trailer, lawn sprayer, whatever).
Any help on another download or Sketchup would be great.

Thanks Lickity Split

 

[Travelover]

I've used it a couple of times and love it. Look on Youtube, I believe there are tutorials there.

YouTube - SketchUp Basic Tutorial I

 

[simplicityguy92]

i use sketch up its real easy once u get the hang of it

 

[Scotty370]

Thank alot Lickity!!! Ya just got me to spend an hour and a half downloading and playing with it passed my bedtime last night!!!I should be more Cadd literate than I am, working in an Engineering Department! My folks use MicroStation and Autocadd, and I'm ashamed that I'm nowhere near as proficient as they! I recently hand drafted all the parts that I need for my current undertaking, (Stump-Grinder) on my dining room table. Now I'm trying to re-create them in 'G-Sketch'. Good news is, It's free! Unlike the new Harris torches that "I owe them to me", and a Lincoln 225AC/DC arc welder that I've got in my sights! (K-1297 at Home Depot $389.- by the way!) Good stuff if I can get proficient. Really, Thanks!!! Good luck on your Log Splitter. I built one years ago and it stillserves my very well. If ya need any guidance, I'm here!~Scotty

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I had a few false starts trying to teach myself CAD drawing and failed miserably until I found Sketchup. It is very easy to use and is really pretty powerfull. I love it!!

It should open up with a "learning center" window. I typically Click "Next" 3 or 4 times every time I open it up just to see what little trick it's going to teach me today. When you're in the middle of drawing to can go to the learning center fromthe "Help" menu.

Another cool thing is that there's the 3-D warehouse on the web. You can download models and borrow components from them. If you need a tree, just go get one. Don't try to build it yourself.

I posted a question to the "Related Topics" forum about Sketchup and didn't get any responses, so I figured there weren't many here that used it.

 

[Scotty370]

Ditto To "IplayFarmer"!! The more I play, the more I like it. I never would have found it myself! Thank god for TBN, and folks like Lickety for sharing. As I said, I hand drafted most of my parts, and am now re-doing them in G-Sketch. I'm having a ball! Wish I could get out-back and really start putting stuff together, but it was -4F when I left for work this AM. The tutorial videos are pretty good, though I have had time to view them all. Thanks again! ~Scotty

 

[Lickity Split]

Sorry about your missed sleep Scotty.
I have not had the time to play with it at all yet, will wait for the weekend, when I have more time.
I will post pictures of the splitter when it is done, I just need to put hydraulic lines on yet.
And I need to figure out how to post pictures.
Any pointer on G-sketch would be great.

Lickity Split

 

[Chris_in_Oz]

Thanks for posting this - I hadn't heard of it. Downloaded it, installed it and now I'm trying to kill it through over use...

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Sorry about your missed sleep Scotty.
I have not had the time to play with it at all yet, will wait for the weekend, when I have more time.
I will post pictures of the splitter when it is done, I just need to put hydraulic lines on yet.
And I need to figure out how to post pictures.
Any pointer on G-sketch would be great.

Lickity Split

There is probably a better way, but I've installed CutePDF which allows me to print from any program to a .pdf file. Like sketchup, it's free and it's easy.

I just print the image from Sketchup using Cute PDf as the printer. You can attach .pdf files to your post that we can all open with acrobat. If you want to get even more creative than that you can select the image from the open .pdf file using the "Snapshot Tool" from the "Tools" menu and then the "Select and Zoom" submenu. Then paste the image into an image editor.

Here is an example of both ways from a box I designed for work (coming to a WalMart near you)...

 

[teg]

Holy cow!!! I've been wanting to draw some plans of a cabin I had in mind (more deck then cabin but with room to sleep). Could not explain it to my friends... Within an hour with this program, I got something that is really close... then had to figure out how (also for free) to capture video from my desk top... pretty cool stuff. You can see my cabin "plans" on Youtube...

TegTube - cabin drawing rough draw

Another (longer) view:
TegTube - cabin drawing first try.

I have used many different programs but not a Cad... did not have much trouble with this one... I did watch the tutorials, thanks for posting them Travelover. The windows will be different (smaller). They are so you can see inside, especially the round one.