Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
FiG 8.18 Final, complete SketchUp model.
FiG 8.19 The constructed reproduction in mahogany.
When you design in SketchUp, you are “fabricating” and connecting furniture
parts, not simply drawing lines and arcs. You are in 3D space and using the
components you create for a close correspondence between shop work and
the computer design process.
The basic design strategy is the same irrespective of whether you design
from scratch; work from a picture, a rough sketch, or a detailed-scale drawing;
or take measurements from an actual piece. The different levels of detail in
these sources affect the ease of design in SketchUp, but they do not neces-
sarily change the basic approach. Begin at the foundation and work your way
upward, adding details as you go. Think in terms of the procedure you would
use in the shop to construct this piece of furniture. Which parts would you
build first? How would you sequence the construction? Working in SketchUp
is startlingly similar.
Even when I have access to detailed drawings, I find it beneficial to build a
SketchUp model. Too often, drawings are incomplete and full of errors. I save
time, frustration, and materials in the shop if I construct a SketchUp model
first. As a by-product, SketchUp provides full-sized templates that I can use to
lay out joints or specific shapes. Working in SketchUp also gives you time to
preview the actual construction steps as you build the model. You get a good
picture of how to make parts and fit them together.
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