[TheForge] Sketchup plugin for blacksmiths

Sun May 10 15:40:57 EDT 2009

Well, the Sketchup Pro version, which costs ~$500 (albeit much less than
other big cad systems, and goes on sale $50-$100 off a couple times per year
from what I've seen, if you get on their lists), exports DXF's I'm pretty
sure — it is rigged to integrate into existing industry workflows.

However, as I mentioned, the plugin architecture can do amazing things, and
since they're pushing a populace of clever community contributions, you can
get pretty darn close if you're willing to experiment.  And even if you
already work with high-end systems, I'd suggest checking this stuff out, if
you really want to stay on the cutting edge.

Cutting to the chase, here are a couple goodies to get you started:

FIRST, you should know that some plugin features are "platform dependent",
which means they may be windows-specific.  Many are not, but, ook for the
newest ones that do the same thing, as the early versions of sketchup were
windows-centric, and the newer versions (and newer plugins) are much better.

http://sketchuptips.blogspot.com/2008/03/how-to-download-and-install-plugins.html
Thisis a nice guide which does a better job to explain getting these free
extras in place, so the free sketchup becomes a total powerhouse :)

http://sketchuptips.blogspot.com/2007/01/wavefront-obj-exporter.html
"While the Pro version of SketchUp comes with the ability to export OBJ
files, the free version does not. \ This plugin was my attempt to write an
OBJ exporter using SketchUp's Ruby API. My motivation was selfish curiosity
more than anything, so when the plugin reached a state where it was able to
export simple models, I lost interest. \ There must have been a need for
this exporter because some sites started linking here, and the plugin has
now become one of my most downloaded - in spite of it's lack of features and
abundance of flaws." (this is a pretty classic story of a useful small tool
which may be semi-abandoned) -- there are a couple different OBJ exporter
plugins for sketchup so search around!

In it's current version, this exporter may or may not meet your needs:

http://sketchuptips.blogspot.com/2007/08/plugin-unfoldrb.html
"This SketchUp script assists the user in flattening, or unfolding, 3d
objects onto a 2d plane."

http://sketchuptips.blogspot.com/2008/02/plugin-construction-line-tool.html
"I can't take any credit for this one. It is the linetool.rb that comes with
SketchUp. All I did give it a toolbar, a menu entry, and packaged it up."

Wow, lots of stuff.  I didn't get too far in my search, but if you take some
time with google and narrow down, or just search on some of the major
sketchup sites, you're bound to have good luck.  Those links for
sketchuptimes.blogspot have download links partway down the pages, just
above the comments.

So, to re-cap:  depends what you want/need to do with sheet metal.  If you
want to layout simple shapes and export, you can, and if you even want to
unfold basic shapes, no prob.  I did find some discussions about precision
work, and it *can* certainly be done, however watch out as you search since
most sketchup users and tutorials are oriented toward a visual result, not a
computational/data one.  There are users and plugin tools out there, which
are oriented to the precision work, and you can get to the point of modeling
very accurate bends with this, but it is beyond the common use of it.

Phew, enjoy!  I would love to see something more oriented toward
chisel-carving sculptures, such as animal faces and heads, which works with
deformation the way hot metal, or say, clay, does.... other free programs
such as Blender (see blender.org btw) are much better at that!

Ben

PS - There are other tools which can convert the OBJ to DXF, although it
will not come through as perfect, depending on how much you massage the
data; the pro version will prolly give you the best&easiest results.  Here
are a couple other lists of plugins, once you gets started... the lists from
google sketchup itself are great, but be sure to keep searching!
http://www.smustard.com/scripts/ (many are free, here, but not all)
http://sketchuptips.blogspot.com/2007/09/plugin-index-page.html
http://sketchup.google.com/download/plugins.html

PPS - NEW:
http://sketchuptips.blogspot.com/2009/05/waybe-20-released.html
"We've released Waybe 2.0, with all the neat features we mentioned below.
Better tabbing, better unfolding, and new, user-controllable unfolding.
You can select an edge to be "fixed" or "broken", and Waybe will keep the
edge together or take it apart as you like. There's also the ability to
select a face as the "base" of a part, which means Waybe unfolds around it.
These two features let you make more complex models and have them unfold
exactly the way you want."  (but the full version is $200/yr, not badat all,
just for the support if used commercially)

On Sun, May 10, 2009 at 5:59 AM, Rich Maynard <rich at maynard.org.uk> wrote:

> Do you know if there are sheet metal plugins? That might be useful,
> especially if it can be output to a dxf file to send to my laser cutters.
>
> Rich M.
>
> Richard Maynard - Artist Blacksmith
> The Forge, Much Hadham, Hertfordshire SG10 6BS
>
> The Forge Experience - be a blacksmith for a day!
> http://www.muchhadhamforge.co.uk/experience.pdf
>
> rich at muchhadhamforge.co.uk
> www.muchhadhamforge.co.uk
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Ben Barrett
> Sent: 10 May 2009 00:15
> To: rich at maynard.org.uk; Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA
> Subject: Re: [TheForge] Sketchup plugin for blacksmiths
>
>
> Yes, do!  They are really cool.  If you're not terribly computer savvy, the
> hardest part will be unpacking the drawmetal download, and finding the
> sketchup application plugins folders to drop it into.  After that, there
> are
> tons of very nice video walkthroughs, on youtube and also via sketchup's
> help itself; then the drawmetal plugins will make a lot of sense.  I can
> say, if you're a bit colorblind, you will just have to get used to the red
> and green differentiation for scroll and taper terminations (ID'ing which
> end is inside, or pointy (not necc. both of course)).  I would like to be
> able to adjust the colors, and might be able to modify the ruby code for
> it.
> If you want the quickest stunning results, check out the array copy
> tutorials, so that you can sketch up some repeating sections.  I would like
> to make this into a proper iforgeiron blueprint or instructable howto or
> general write-up for my regional publication, here's the gist: Install
> Sketchup (or update to the latest version) Install DrawMetal plugins Start
> up Sketchup with DrawMetal (and possibly other plugins, but simple at
> first!)
> Make a piece of stock, rectangular or round
> Taper it
> Scroll it (at this point, you may want to try the last few steps again
> until
> you like your result) (next is optional:  scale a few copies of this
> tapered
> scroll) Array copy this into grid, radial, etc or onto a path! Finally,
> array copy *that* (which has many tapered scrolls in it) So now you can
> enjoy building that fancy arbor, or 200' fence, or window grate. If you
> keep
> your first attempts in 2D (that is, flat on one plane in the 3D space),
> you'll have a better time getting used to it.
>
> Anyone want to help me out with the write-up, or a collection of example
> material for it?
>
> Thanks & enjoy,
>
> Ben
>
> PS - there are many other GREAT plugins for sketchup, many of which are
> free
> -- so these make it as powerful as some very high-end systems in terms of
> certain capabilities; also note, as you curf around, that much of the
> terminology does not translate directly to our medium of metal:  the "weld"
> plugin is very useful and has some parallels to emtal welding, but has a
> very specific purpose in terms of the CAD objects (how do I say it, erm,
> perfect penetration?).
>
>
> On Sat, May 9, 2009 at 3:58 PM, Rich Maynard <rich at maynard.org.uk> wrote:
>
> > http://www.drawmetal.com/gallery
> >
> > I don't use Sketchup yet, but I might have to give it a try now!
> >
> > Rich M.
> >
> > Richard Maynard - Artist Blacksmith
> > The Forge, Much Hadham, Hertfordshire SG10 6BS
> >
> > The Forge Experience - be a blacksmith for a day!
> > http://www.muchhadhamforge.co.uk/experience.pdf
> >
> > rich at muchhadhamforge.co.uk
> > www.muchhadhamforge.co.uk
> >
> >
> >
> >
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