www.popularwoodworking.com: So what is SketchUp and why should woodworkers use it? Simply put, SketchUp is a 3D sketching, modeling, rendering and design documentation tool. However, SketchUp is much more powerful than this simple description implies. SketchUp derives its name for a task it does quite well, drawing sketches.
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Having used SketchUp after knowing Vectorworks, there is a definite learning curve. I actually found that getting SketchUp to print what I wanted it to was the hardest part about that program. The feature mentioned in this article that seems like it would be the most useful for me is the exploded parts view. While there may be a way to do this easily in Vectorworks, or AutoCAD, I haven’t found it. The base SketchUp may be great for your basic woodworker, but as the article mentions if you want to do any kind of complex curve, you have to download additional software. With the other CAD programs, these are built in. While this may be a great feature for the expert hobbyist or professional, what novice wants to spend the time finding these plugins to use to draw new curves? All that being said, the program is free, so why not give it a try.
I have no experience with SketchUp, and I found this article rather lacking in it's description of the software's capabilities. Does it handle 2D drawings? Can the parts interact with each other? From the basic description, I'm assuming that it bears a resemblance to Autodesk's Inventor. Inventor is a CAD program designed to identify individual parts and detail assembly of, often times, complex objects. Since it is a Autodesk program, it communicates and can exchange files with AutoCAD. With Inventor you create parts in a separate sheet (and file type) and insert them into an assembly. From there, parts can interact with each other. Rotating (which is not a revolutionary feat of software, as the author suggests) or moving a part in an assembly causes it to interact with other parts (for example, "turning" a gear in a clock causes the minute hand to move), allowing designers and engineers to check for potential problems in the operation of complex objects. Inventor also allows the user to indicate fasteners and joints. All of this is overkill for woodworking, but I believe, based off this article, that Inventor is a better choice for a professional. But if the objects you're creating are simple and lacking any moving parts, SketchUp may be adequate.
Hahahaahhhahahah, high end tools such as AutoCAD . . . anyway, I really like that this article has a good perspective on what SketchUp is good for and what it isn’t. It seems so often that the closest thing to religious zealotry that we have in theater is the choice over with CAD programs we use, and when there are arguments it’s the most vehement argument you have that week. More and more, I am of the belief that each program is better at certain things that other programs, and the most important thing is to understand when you should use on program for one thing or not. I like that sketch up provides the easy intuitive ability to make furniture and other eventually hand made or 3D printed objects, but it is not an engineering, detailing or real modeling program. Is fun when you run across someone that swear that there is a way to make anything you can think of in (insert CAD program here) and that its pointless to use any other program, that might be true, but it is much more efficient to just use the right tool for the job. (yeah AutoCAD users go ahead and make that 3D model of your car and see how good you feel about surface modeling now . . .)
I love using sketchup to think out my projects before i do them. Personally i think in 3d, all my sketches are in 3d and to see the bigger idea i need a 3d rendering of it, even if its just for myself. Our world is in 3d so i think that is why i find it so helpful to see. When making models or projects i always plan out in sketchup after I've made a drawing. Sketchup is my second step in a way. After this i switch to photoshop when i can't build it in reality but if its a project like woodwork I usually work right off sketchup. The measurements are right on there and i can always know I'm right just by checking. I can also determine wood patterns and cuts before i even enter the shop. That way i can be in and out and not waste materials. I think planning and thought are the biggest components behind woodworking and are critical to the final product for obvious reasons. As a woodworker and artist i find that Sketchup is one of the most useful products I've used, and its free.
I first started using sketch up for my woodworking projects so I have always seen it as a woodworking tool. It is extremely useful in visualizing your work as you create it without having to fully build a prototype. The other helpful entity is once you have what you want to make, you already have a parts list. If I am making a really simple project there is no need to pull out sketch up, but if I am doing something with curves or weird angles, which happens a lot unfortunately, I will usually create a sketch up model. If I am cutting out a specific shape I can print out a 1:1 scale print and glue it to my piece to cut it out. For someone who is not the greatest drawer, sketchup can really help me portray my ideas to people I might be making a project for. Dimensioning on sketchup, contrary to what the article says, is not super easy but with tweaking you can get the dimensions you want. Even when I become very proficient on autocad or vector works, I am sure I will still default to sketchup for my woodworking projects.
SketchUp is a fantastic and easy to use tool that tons of people could benefit from learning to use. For woodworkers specifically, I agree with the article in that it can help one visualize the design and organize the build process and numbers. I took a class in middle school that taught the basics of SketchUp. It was immensely helpful in my general understanding of visualizing objects in 3D space. It definitely provided a good foundation for drafting – both by hand and on CAD. Like the author mentions, the massive amount of plugins available for SketchUp take the software to the next level. It’s really neat that you can search a public library and find almost anything you want modeled. Perhaps the best thing about this software, however, is its ease of use. The learning curve is very mild, and there are many tutorial resources available. I definitely think woodworkers can benefit from embracing technology to help them design and implement products, and SketchUp is a great place to start. Maybe I can convince my dad to take a look at it.
Maybe this is a little dated, but I tried to use Sketchup like four years ago and it felt like a half-baked piece of junk. I still get the impression that it is rather gimmicky and dumbed down for more beginning and intermediate CAD users. The featureset just does not seem as robust as other CAD programs, and I think I'm just too ingrained in the Vectorworks way of thinking at this point.
All that being said, I think the online library of files that users have submitted is pretty darn cool and unparalled by any other program. The Vectorworks 1st party libraries are pretty great, but the depth and breadth of the Sketchup user libraries is mind blowing.. I think that Sketchup might have better rendering output... maybe. I've been told that several large companies in the industry use Sketchup for their client facing work specifically due to its high quality rendering. I've yet to have seen why this is the case or what makes it so much better.
Perhaps I really just need to sit down and see what all the rage is about..
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