Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Good day all, I downloaded Google sketch up 7 and recently got the pro version, but for some reason I am struggling a lot with Google sketch up 7.

I have downloaded a pdf that is 800 + pages and still cant see how people are drawing these amazing 3d modules.

does some one now of a forum or a tread out side Backyard Aquaponics that i can go and have a look at.

the normal block and push/pull and those kind of features i understand.

But precision work , editing dimensions and that type of stuff does not work so user friendly with me.

I is so frustrating for me because I am currently a junior Draughtsman and doing 3d modeling with Autodesk Inventor 2010. but the program is too expensive and require a lot of computer hardware to work. Google sketch up is free ware so i want to use that at home for my own 3d modules.

Thanks allot.

When you figure it out... post a tutorial for the rest of us...

I can not help you with google sketch up, so why am I answering this you ask?

I also have trouble, and I have been using autocad for years,

google sketch up does not work like autocad programs, and i truly believe that once you think in autocad you cant think google.

I for one cant find an easy way to snap, but anyway, keep trying, i guess I have had some limited success

peter

I cant se how the other people use google sketch up ,and to see what the guys are doing with the program,its awesome for a small 3D program that is free.

I also doubt that I am only use to the program that I draw on at work, google sketch up for me is definatly not user friendly for someone to use.

I can understand that one must get use to the way something new works, but maybe its just me that thinks that way.

For the help PDF, it is almost 900 pages in total and browsing throuh that in search for a basic beginners guide I still find it hard to use.

If someone can just tell me it takes a while to draw a 3D module them I will try to understand that is what you get for something that is free.
O well ,please if there is a threat or site that simplifies google sketch up please post it,it will help not only me but many me.

I will keep trying untill I can help others with the need to use the program,it looks great to see what others can do with it.

Did you guys use the video tutorials on the Google Sketchup site ? I thought they were really good and taught me a great deal about how to use the software.

I made my own growbeds and then built the rest of my design around them. Happy to send the GB to anyone - or if one of the Mods tells me how I can post it somewhere that would be great.

My sketchup design at http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=5264&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

Yes I did the tutes and found them good.

Sketchup is VERY different to most CAD or modelling systems.

The biggest hurdle is your mindset.

In ACAD, Solidworks, UG etc, a model is a solid thing, and you add or subtract things from it.

In Sketchup, there is no such thing as a solid.
All they have are planes.

so six sides make a cube looking object. You can zoom inside the object. it is not solid.
Further to that, there is nounion command in sketchup. if two planes share the same space though, they get 'glued' together. this can be frustrating when you want to sit an object on another, then move it later.

ummm that's all I can think of off the top of my head.