SketchUp a 3D Drawing Program from Google FREE!

Slide Rule

Slide Rule

ConservativeHardLiner
Silver Member

FREE Software Cad Program from Google
I have been discussing Cad program for a short time. As for all tools, a bit of time, or more is required to become familiar. It has phenomenal possibilities. I see that version 8 is available, so the link is to ver 8.

http://sketchup.google.com/download/gsu.html


Link to Pool Drawings Created by Jal.

I asked Jal for a copy of a Table that he created. The other tables in the Drawing Warehouse leave much to be desired. Jal is an artist, technician and gentleman. He provided a link which I will take the liberty of giving here. They so far include a very nice table and cue stick.

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/search?viewer=1440839489018094854047154&scoring=m

In a way I like the guidelines, and in others not. They will be good guides for ball paths. And the stick is professional grade compared to others I have seen.

This is a great start to seeing problems from a new perspective. So any of you who can learn the software quickly, have mercy on someone who is plodding along. Me. And I am certain that Jal would appreciate any comments and and help.


Help Videos
There are many help videos explaining how to use the program. They are varied and quite good.

http://sketchup.google.com/training/videos/new_to_gsu.html


Conclusion
I think this is a nice find. It will be better if concepts and work are shared in a thread where many can benefit. I think that if we upload files of drawings, that we should follow the example and use AZBilliard names.

And Jal, thanks again for a great start.

 
I just bought Autodesk Inventor program. I will see how well the 2 programs compare to one another.

Thanks for the post.

Kevin
 
Autodesk Inventor 3Dpackage is what I draw all my personlized chalk holders.
I also use Solidworks. Doing Engineering full time is a good job. Playing billiards part time is a great time. :thumbup:
 
Al,

Thanks again for making us aware of SketchUp a while back, and for the very kind words.

This morning I uploaded a set a pool balls (9 MB file). The balls are self-contained components. When you select one of them (one click), say, to copy it onto the table, generally a tight fitting selection box appears. However, with some of them, a much larger box shows up. This indicates that there is extra junk somewhere out there, such as a "smudge" from an inadvertent application of a drawing tool. Usually when this happens, it is easy enough to get rid of, but all attempts thus far have failed. (I will try again.) Since whatever is there seems to be invisible, it shouldn't be a problem.

SketchUp is not meant for the casual user. As Al pointed out, you will need to view the tutorials, and I think, download them for reference if you're on a slow connection. The stuff I uploaded certainly isn't meant as a substitute for the Wei Table or captured images from Virtual Pool. But since you have the freedom to add whatever you want, it may occasionally prove useful for illustrating certain things not readily accomplished with those other tools. One that I had in mind is adding fuel...I mean providing helpful diagrams for the CTE discussions; that is, if I or anyone else actually gets around to making them. :)

Sorry about those guide lines, but it's easier to hide (view menu) or delete them than to add them accurately later on.

Jim
 
Last edited:
Thanks for all of your efforts.

PM snippet by Jal
To get rid of the guide lines on the table, select the view menu and uncheck 'guides'. You can also delete or hide them individually or in groups.
Click to expand...

There may be aspects of visualizing the balls and table that are more apparent in a drawing. And as in drafting, there are graphical solutions.

I located the program and remain a neophyte in its use. I have played several of the training videos many times. They are of a professional quality. And yes, certainly download them if you have a slow link.

None the less I will also answer questions to my capability.

I agree that this in not a substitute for the outstanding Wei Table. But, the referenced table is without a center logo.

Any members develop drawings, be sure to use your AZBilliards name so we can recognize each other. And add a comment in this or other SketchUp thread.


Jal said:
Al,

Thanks again for making us aware of SketchUp a while back, and for the very kind words.

This morning I uploaded a set a pool balls (9 MB file). The balls are self-contained components. When you select one of them (one click), say, to copy it onto the table, generally a tight fitting selection box appears. However, with some of them, a much larger box shows up. This indicates that there is extra junk somewhere out there, such as a "smudge" from an inadvertent application of a drawing tool. Usually when this happens, it is easy enough to get rid of, but all attempts thus far have failed. (I will try again.) Since whatever is there seems to be invisible, it shouldn't be a problem.

SketchUp is not meant for the casual user. As Al pointed out, you will need to view the tutorials, and I think, download them for reference if you're on a slow connection. The stuff I uploaded certainly isn't meant as a substitute for the Wei Table or captured images from Virtual Pool. But since you have the freedom to add whatever you want, it may occasionally prove useful for illustrating certain things not readily accomplished with those other tools. One that I had in mind is adding fuel...I mean providing helpful diagrams for the CTE discussions; that is, if I or anyone else actually gets around to making them. :)

Sorry about those guide lines, but it's easier to hide (view menu) or delete them than to add them accurately later on.

Jim
Click to expand...
 
Jal said:
Sorry about those guide lines, but it's easier to hide (view menu) or delete them than to add them accurately later on.
Click to expand...

Jim,

I thank you immensely for your work on this, and especially the guide lines. You saved me a great deal of work that I'd probably have gotten bored with and not finished. And my thanks, also, to Slide Rule for mentioning SketchUp and Jal's pool table model.

Sketchup is close enough to the older versions of Caligari TrueSpace (e.g., v3.1) that I'm not having any real trouble with it. TrueSpace v7.6 is a great deal more powerful (and free), but in the absence of good documentation it's significantly more difficult to figure out how to use it.
 
jwpretd said:
Jim,

I thank you immensely for your work on this, and especially the guide lines. You saved me a great deal of work that I'd probably have gotten bored with and not finished. And my thanks, also, to Slide Rule for mentioning SketchUp and Jal's pool table model.

Sketchup is close enough to the older versions of Caligari TrueSpace (e.g., v3.1) that I'm not having any real trouble with it. TrueSpace v7.6 is a great deal more powerful (and free), but in the absence of good documentation it's significantly more difficult to figure out how to use it.
Click to expand...



Well we have found another SketchUp mentor for other interested users. Thanks jwpretd, for posting. :thumbup:

Thanks also for referencing TrueSpace v3.1 and v7.6.

A few years ago, I purchased a modest 3D CAD program. The problem was in learning it. The tutorials were absent. I supposed that if I used it in College or at work, that I would have learned it. But being without assistance, you can spend considerable time working out trivial issues. My drafting was H-8 pencil, paper, straight edge and board. Dated am I, though my old tools are still somewhat operational.

 
jwpretd said:
Jim,

I thank you immensely for your work on this, and especially the guide lines. You saved me a great deal of work that I'd probably have gotten bored with and not finished. And my thanks, also, to Slide Rule for mentioning SketchUp and Jal's pool table model.

Sketchup is close enough to the older versions of Caligari TrueSpace (e.g., v3.1) that I'm not having any real trouble with it. TrueSpace v7.6 is a great deal more powerful (and free), but in the absence of good documentation it's significantly more difficult to figure out how to use it.
Click to expand...
You're very welcome, jwpretd. Glad to see those ol' guide lines are of some value. :)

Jim
 
Jal said:
...The balls are self-contained components. When you select one of them (one click), say, to copy it onto the table, generally a tight fitting selection box appears. However, with some of them, a much larger box shows up. This indicates that there is extra junk somewhere out there, such as a "smudge" from an inadvertent application of a drawing tool....
Click to expand...
I finally located and cleaned up the stuff that was causing the large selection boxes for certain balls: 1,3,5,7,14 and the transparent ball with a central disk. The garbage was only visible when the menu item "View>Edge Style>Profiles" was checked.

My apology to those who already downloaded the set, particularly anyone on a slow connection. As I indicated in the original post, if you don't want to download them again, there shouldn't be a problem with what you now have.

Jim
 
Jal said:
I finally located and cleaned up the stuff that was causing the large selection boxes for certain balls: 1,3,5,7,14 and the transparent ball with a central disk. The garbage was only visible when the menu item "View>Edge Style>Profiles" was checked.

My apology to those who already downloaded the set, particularly anyone on a slow connection. As I indicated in the original post, if you don't want to download them again, there shouldn't be a problem with what you now have.

Jim
Click to expand...

Thanks, Jim. I tried to draw a cue stick and can appreciate how well yours turned out.

Best,
Mike
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top