sketchup lets draw something together

[tom_k/mo]

I was playing a while ago and drew an Accessory Mounting Base. The only thing I didn't spend the time to do was build the casting flanges on the underside, it's built as if it's solid. Other than that, it is accurate, and could help you if you were laying out a storage area in your shop. I shared it with the 3D warehouse if anyone wants to use it. You can find it here (http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=c52af83f1fa5116747f87020ac25d4a)...

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/4141/accessorymountingbaseja0.jpg

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/2674/accessorymountingbase2ze7.jpg

[reible]

I like the base! I think I had better learn the method of doing those flowing shapes... what is that called? Any videos or instructions I should look for?

As far as those bases, I have only one. Most of the stuff works well with a 2 x 4 or 2 x 6 screwed down. I don't have the planer, which I'm guessing is the heaviest of the add-on's or the band saw, but the belt sander, jig saw, scroll saw and strip sander are all happy with this simple holder.

I even just now modeled it:

2522

Ed

[tom_k/mo]

I like the base! I think I had better learn the method of doing those flowing shapes... what is that called? Any videos or instructions I should look for? ...
Ed

Ed, there's 2 methods of "flowing shapes" in SketchUp that I know of, the first is called the Sandbox mode, and is used for "organic" shapes like meshes and terrains. Here's an example of what you can do with Sandbox tools.

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/3484/sandboxli3.jpg

The mesh on the left is "raw" and the one on the right is a direct copy of the one on the left that has been smoothed. There are tools that let you project onto the mesh surface, drop to the surface and push/pull into the surface. An interesting tool, but not what I'd use for something like the base.

To make the base, I used the Intersection tool. I first drew two shapes, the size and shape of the side view and top view of the base. I pushed these two shapes as shown here.

http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/1203/intersectionso7.jpg

I then moved the two shapes so that they were on top of each other, selected all entities and did an Intersect Selected... (make sure the two objects are NOT grouped or combined first). It's then a simple matter of deleting the pieces you don't need. I then created a shape to match the front view profile, pushed that and did another intersect operation to finish the rough shape. Then drew a square, pulled it up and inset that into the front legs and did another intersect to get the recess for the front bolt heads. It really didn't take that long.