2010 Top 10 Posts

The yearly lis is here
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As I am trying to do evey year end, here comes the list of the top posts of 2010. Those that you guys have found to be the most interesting by visiting them more than any other pulished during this past year. Thanks for keeping coming here.

1. SketchUp Plugins: Extrude Edges by Face
2. SketchUp Plugins: TIG Extrusion Tools
3. SketchUp Plugins: Model Clean-Up
4. SketchUp Plugins: Make Fur / Grass
5. SketchUp Plugins: Component Stringer
6. SketchUp Plugins: Extrude Edges by Loft
7. SketchUp Plugins: Extrude with Rotation
8. SketchUp Plugins: Better Unfold Tool - Flattery
9. Revit Basics: Control the level of Detail of a View
10. AutoCAD: Manage Layers with the LAYWALK command

As you can see, SketchUp posts have bee the most popular considering the number of visitors in 2010. In any case, i am very happy to see a Revit post on the Top 10 list of 2010. Considering that I am not a blog of reference regarding BIM or Revit, it is a good start and big motivation to make more BIM related posts climb to the top of this list in 2011.

This doesn't mean I will completely abandon SketchUp or AutoCAD related posts, I will post if I use the tools and come along some nice tricks to share, but since my current focus is on BIM and on improving the Processes of the AEC industry, expect more posts on this line.

Again, thanks for reading, sorry for the misspllings and please comment more this coming year, despite the 939,575 Pageviews (591,188 of them in 2010) , it sometime feels a bit lonely here with only 167 Comments on 378 Posts.

Cheers.
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SketchUp: How to Install Plugins

What you need to know to install and find Google SketchUp Plugins
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SketchUp Plugins, also referred to as Ruby Scripts, are pieces of Ruby code intended to extend the functionality of SketchUp. How to install SketchUp Plugins ? You simply need to copy them into the Plugins Folder of SketchUp and restart the program (or use the Plugin loader as-pluginloader.rb). By default the plugins folder is located under

C:\Program Files\Google\Google SketchUp 7\Plugins. (Windows)
or
Macintosh HD/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 7/SketchUp/ (Mac)

Once you've done this, the plugin will appear in one of the menus. Be sure to check both the Plugins Menu, and the Tools menu. Many developers prefer to put their plugins into the Tools menu instead of Plugins, this is the case for plugins such as Joint Push Pull, Make Faces, and many others. So be sure that you check all the menus because the new feature might be in some other menu that is not the Plugins menu. There are even some plugins that end up on the View menu, like PageExIm.rb and some others.

If you want to be sure of which Menu the plugin should appear in, you can open the .rb script file and check its description. Many developers include in the beginning of the script some comments that explain how to use or where to find the script. If those comments are missing, scroll down to the bottom of the code and you will find a string of code like these ones.





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2009 Top Ten Visited Posts

The ten favourite posts by the users in 2009 by the number of Unique Visitors
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As I did last year with the Top Ten List of 2008, here comes the list of the top 10 visited posts all year round in 2009. Happy New year to Everyone! Keep visiting and commenting on this 2010. All the Best.

1. List of Sketchup Plugins
2. SketchUp Plugins: Make Faces From lines
3. SketchUp Plugins: Weld
4. SketchUp: Bonus Packs and Extra Materials
5. SketchUp Plugins: Joint Push Pull
6. SketchUp Plugins: Volume Calculator
7. SketchUp Plugins: Loft
8. SketchUp Plugins: Round Corners
9. AutoCAD tutorial: Creating a dynamic block 1.0
10. AutoCAD: Convert a 3D Model into a 2D drawing

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2009 Posts of the Month

The most visited posts of 2009 by month.
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As I already did last year here comes the list of the most visited posts of each month. This is just a way to make old posts accessible to those who joined CAD Addict recently. Hope you find something interesting. This is the list.

• January 2009 - SketchUp: Import and Export Scenes: A plugin to export scenes and import them into another model.
• February 2009 - SketchUp VRAY Plugin: A Plugin to render on VRAY from SketchUp.
• March 2009 - AutoCAD: How to Explode Unexplodable Blocks: Learn how to do this.
• April 2009 - AutoCAD: Inster Excel Sheet as XREF: Learn how to insert an Excel Sheet to by linked and update automatically when changes are made to it.
• May 2009 - SketchUp: Extra Materials and Components: Download Extras for SketchUp from Google's website.
• June 2009 - AutoCAD: Convert a 3D model into a 2D drawing: Exactly that.
• July 2009 - SketchUp: List of Plugins: A list of all SketchUp Plugins described on this website.
• August 2009 - SketchUp Plugins: Shape Bender: A plugin to Bend an Object along a path.
• September 2009 - SketchUp Plugin to Draw Polylines: Draw all sort of polylines and curves.
• October 2009 - SketchUp Plugins: Make Faces From Lines: A plugin to create faces from a set of existing lines.
• November 2009 - SketchUp Plugin Loft: Discover the plugin that allows the Loft operation in SU.
• December 2009 - SketchUp Plugins: Round Corners: A Plugin to round the corners of 3D Objects.

Note that there are some months when the shown post is the second one because the most visited one was the same as the previous month. I did it like this so there could be 12 different posts here.

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SketchUp: List of Plugins

Find here all the SketchUp Plugins that have been listed on CAD-Addict.com
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This is the up to date, list of all the SketchUp Plugins I´ve talked about in CAD-Addict.com (it will be updated in the future as soon as new Plugins are added as new posts)

1. ARTMINE: Allows you to import more than 5000 pieces of art to your sketchup model
2. BEZIER (bezier.rb): creates Bezier curves
3. CADSPAN: Makes your model 3D print ready and exports to STL format.
4. CAMERA RECORDER (clf_camera_recorder.zip): Records your camera movements and exports a set of images to be able to create a walkthrough animation.
5. CLEANUP (tt_cleanup.rb): excellent Plugin to clean geometry, unnecessary coplanar edges and other features.
6. COLOR BY SLOPE (clf_color-by_slope.rb): Colors faces according to their angle
7. COLOR BY Z (clf_color_by_z.rb): Colors Faces according to their Z value (height)
8. COMPONENT STRINGER (clf_component_stringer.rb): Places components along a path, with several options of scaling and rotation.
9. CUBIC PANO OUT (cubicpanoout.rb): exports 6 images to generate a 360 degrees quicktime panorama.
10. DELETE COPLANAR EDGES (deletecoplanaredges.rb): Removes unnecessary edges between coplanar faces.
11. DROP (drop.rb): Drops groups/components till they intersect with the model, ideal for site modeling.
12. ELLIPSE ( rp_ellipse_v12.rb): Allows you to draw ellipses
13. ENGINEERING TOOLBOX (EngineeringToolbox.rb): Allows you to place standard beams, ducts, elbows, etc.
14. EXTRAPOLATE COLORS (lf_extrapolate_colors.rb):paints a bunch of faces randomly allowing you control on the colors used.
15. EXTRUDE EDGES BY EDGES (extrudeEdgesByEdges.rb): to extrude a curved edge along a curved path.
16. EXTRUDE EDGES BY FACE (ExtrudeEdgesByFace.rb): An easie to use follow me Tool. Extrude a face along a path without the need to align that face with it.
17. EXTRUDE EDGES WITH ROTATION (ExtrudeEdgesByLathe.rb): Extrudes rotationg the edges or the face a certain angle around a given axis.
18. EXTRUDE EDGES BY RAILS (extrudeEdgesByRails.rb): Extrudes an edge following to given rails.
19. EXTRUDE LINES (extrudelintool.rb): extrudes lines using a vector.
20. FLATTERY (flattery.rb): An upgraded unfold tool, to turn your 3D model into a 2D unfolded model ready to be cut in paper and glued together.
21. FLIGHT PATH (flightpath.rb): Allows to generate the scenes of a flythrough animation by selecting a path.
22. FREE SCALE (FreeScale_Tool.rb): Aligns the Scale Box to any line on the drawing.
23. GEOMETRIC CURVE SMOOTHING (crvsmth.rb): Edit Curves
24. GREEBLE 2 (clf_greeble_2.rb): Allows you to add random, and not so random, complexity to your geometry.
25. GRIDS (grid.rb): to create parametric grids.
26. HELIX (drawhelix13.rb): Draws a helix or a spiral
27. HOVER SELECT (HoverSelect.rb): Select or deselect edges by click and drag.
28. INSTANT ROAD (InstantRoad.rbs): Creates roads quick and easy
29. INSTANT ROOF (InstantRoof.rbs): Creates pitched roofs with just a few clicks
30. JOINT PUSH PULL (JointPushPull.rb): Allows you to Push Curved Faces.
31. LATICEIZER (Laticeizer.rb): creates a window with its mullions and glass parts from a series of faces, cleaning up the intersections very neatly
32. LINES TO TUBES (lines2tubes.rb): turn a bunch of lines, arcs, circles, curves, etc into cylinders.
33. LOFT (clf_simple_loft.rb): Creates a simple loft between two or more profiles.
34. MAKE FACES (makefaces.rb): Generates all possible faces from selected geometry.
35. XD MAKE FUR (fur_en_v1_2.rb): A Plugin to generate Fur / Grass with a lot of control.
36. MIRROR (mirror.rb): Mirror objects selecting a mirror plane.
37. MODELFUNCTION (Modelfunction.exe): Sort of explicit history (primitive grasshopper) for SketchUp, very promising
38. OFFSET ON SURFACE (OffsetOnSurface.rb): Allows you to offset curved faces.
39. ONION DOME (oniondome.rb): to create onion shaped domes.
40. ONTIME 5D (ontime5d.rbs): easily simulate the construction process (virtual scheduling or 4D modelling) for free.
41. PAGE EXPORT IMPORT (PageExIm.rb): Allows you to export pages to be imported to another model.(not free)
42. PLUGIN LOADER (as_pluginloader.rb): Loads plugins without restarting SketchUp.
43. ROTATED RECTANGLE (rectangle.rb): creates rotated rectangles.
44. ROUND CORNERS (RoundCorner_Tool.rb): Turns sharp corners into round ones.
45. SCALE ROTATE MULTIPLE (clf_scale_rotate_multiple.rb): Randomly Scale and rotate objects, ideal for Vegetation / Site Design.
46. SECTION CUT FACE (SectionCutFace.rb): Fills the section cut with a face.
47. SELECTION HIDE/SHOW (SelectionHideShow.rb): Adds contextual menu options to show hide selections in many different ways.
48. SHAPE BENDER (clf_shape_bender.rb): to Bend an object to follow the profile of a curve.
49. SHAPES (shapes.rb): to create and editing a number of parametric shapes.
50. SIMPLIFY CONTOURS (SimplifyContours.rb): it simplifies the geometry, making it easier to work with.
51. SLICER (slicer.rb): Creates slices from your model.
52. SMART PUSH PULL (a4_smartpushpull.rb): Pushes faces considering the contiguous oblique faces.
53. SOAP SKIN BUBBLE (SoapSkinBubbleTools.rb): Creates tensile like structures.
54. SPHERE (rp_sphere_v11.rb): Models spheres
55. STRAY LINES (stray_lines.rb): Deletes lines that do not generate faces.
56. SUPERELLIPSE (rp_superellipse_v12.rb): A superellipse is a shape that is in between an ellipse and a rectangle.
57. SUPERELLIPSOID (rp_superellipsoid_v10.rb): Creates a shape between a round shaped ellipsoid and a square shaped rectangular box.
58. XD SYNCRO PROJECT CONSTRUCTOR (price $800): allows you to simulate the construction process (virtual scheduling or 4D modelling). It's more a stand alone program rather than a plugin.
59. TORUS (rp_torus_v10.rb): Creates Torus and Twisted Torus.
60. TUBE ALONG PATH (TubeAlongPath.rb): turns connected line paths into cylinders.
61. UNFOLD TOOL (jf_unfoldtool.rb): Unfolds a model to a flat set of faces.
62. VERTEX TOOLS (price $20): Performs all sort of operations with vertex. Equivalent to 3D Max Soft Selection feature.
63. VOLUME CALCULATOR (VolumeCalculator21.rb): to calculate volumes of objects.
64. VRAY: Creates realistic renders from SketchUp (not free).
65. WEB EXPORTER (Sketchup6webexporterwen.exe): allows you to export a model to be published on web.
66. WELD (Weld.rb): Welds lines into polylines.
67. WINDOWIZER (windowizer.rb): Creates Windows with multiple options.
68. WINDOW MAKER (windows.rb): creates parametric double-hung and slider windows.
69. XD VIRTUAL BUILDER (price $59): allows you to simulate the construction process (virtual scheduling or 4D modelling)
70. 1001BIT TOOLS (1001bit_tools.rbs): a full set of tools for Architecture to build your buildings way faster(not free).
71. 3D to PDF (price $95): Converts your sketchup model into a 3D Pdf to easily share your models

If you are new to Ruby Scripts, check this post on How to Install SketchUp Plugins.

There are other online resources to find Ruby scripts online. Some of the best online libraries where you can find and download SU Plugins are, as far as I know:

• The RUBY Depot
• Smustard
• Sketchucation

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Top Visited Posts in 2012

2012 Summary
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#01. List of SketchUp Plugins: A post dated from 2009 but that has been (or used to be, when I had teh time) updated regularly with all the SU Plugins I have reviewed on this site. It needs some link updating which I will do soon, but it is still the favourite post for most visitors to CAD Addict.

#02. Using AutoCAD autosave files to recover lost work: This post explains what can you do after one of those moments when apparently you've lost part of your work in AutoCAD. It is the post with the most number of comments and all of them positive, so it is the one that made my work here feel more rewarded. Thanks to all who spend the time wirting down a comment, good or bad, it's great to know someone is reading.

#03. Plugin to Make faces from lines in SketchUp: I have toc onfess I am a bit puzzled by this post being so popular. The plugin was very useful back when the version of SU was v.6 or so and the program was not very smart creating lines from a closed set of lines. I think this was pretty much solved in later versions of SU, but oddly the post keeps getting a lot of visits. If anyone knows why the info will be very much appreciated.

#04. Volume Calculator Plugin for SketcHup: A post explaining how to use this old plugin to calculate volume of entities in SketchUp. A simple post about a simple plugin but that has had a lot of visitors and comments during these last months.

#05. How to install plugins in SketchUp: This is simple tutorial on how to get your plugins working in SketchUp. Sometimes the posts you think are too simple become the most wanted ones.

#06. List of BIM Software and Providers: Back when I was writing my Master Thesis, I started researching on all the scope of providers that have Building Information Modelling related software. This posts gathers most of that info and organizes it in different categories. One think this post taught me: People love lists.

#07. Converting 3D objects into 2D drwaings in AutoCAD: THis post explains the use of the FLATSHOT command in AutoCAD that allows you to flatten 3D Objects into a 2D drawing.

#08. Representing section cuts with solid fill in SketchUp: Another simple tutorial with images to get a nicer representation of the section cuts that SketchUp allows us to do very simple.

#09. Converting lines into tubes / cilinders in SketchUp: A post explaining the use of two different plugins that allow you to do this operation very fast.

#10. Mirroring objects in SketcUp: THree different methods to do the mirror operation in SketchUp. The oldest post (it dates back from 2008) to appear on this top ten list.

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SketchUp Plugins: TIG Extrusion Tools

A full set of Tools to execute diferent extrusion operations in SketchUp
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I recently posted on some Plugins by TIG:

ExtrudeEdgesbyFace.rb,
ExtrudeEdgesByLathe.rb,
EstrudeEdgesByEdges.rb,
ExtrudeEdgesByRails.rb and
ExtrudeEdgesByLoft.rb.

These are part of a more complete set of Plugins by TIG that contains very other useful tools. The ones detailed here are the ones I found more useful (because I needed to use them), but the others are quite handy too. Installing the full set of tools from here, will add a Toolbar to SketchUp that will allow you to easy access all the Plugins on this set.



Alternatively, you can access them going to Plugins --> Extrusion Tools.

The Plugin Set can be downloaded here.

If you are new to SketchUp chek here to know how to Install SketchUp Plugins.


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SketchUp Plugins: 4D Construction Simulation Plugins

Two Plugins to link Sketchup models with schedules and simulate the construction process
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I was looking around for Plugins to use in sketchup to easily simulate the construction process. I am following a schedule management class, and would like to do a bit more than just the schedule part, but try to link it with a visualization of the construction model based on a simple SketchUp model. I came across two three plugins that seem to do the trick.

The first one, and the only free one, is called onTime5D. On the video below you can see a very brief preview of its functionality. The plugin seems to be in process of development, you can follow up on this on the author's website.



The first second one is called xD Virtual Builder, developed by D-Studio. It can be found at their website: www.4dvirtualbuilder.com. I tried it a bit, but didn't have the time to properly test it. As described in the features, it allows you to import schedule files in xml format from MS Project, Primavera and Asta Powerproject. You can check the Getting Started Tips, and take a look at the video below to get an overview of the Program. Unfortunately, it is not free, there is a free trial, but the cheapest version (without XML import) sells at $59.



The second third one is called Synchro Project Cosntructor. It is not just a Plugin for SketchUp but a full Scheduling and Project Controlling Tool. This is the reason why it is much more expensive, over $800. Nevertheless, it allows to import SketchUp Files and to then use its features to create a 4D simulation of the construction process. It imports MS Project and Primavera Files and seems more complete (it has to for the price!). Find more info on the Product Website and on the following video.


Any insights on these Plugins? Do you know of any free Plugin to create 4D simulations in SketchUp based on Schedules? Please share!


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2008 Top Ten Visited Posts

The ten favourite posts by the users in 2008 by the number of Unique Visitors
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Sorry for the almost two weeks of silence, I've bee out of town and then very busy. Till I get some time to organize myself here comes something I wanted to do for a long time. The list of the 10 most visited posts in 2008. I have my own favourite list that I will share soon, but this is your list, the posts that you have found more useful. The list belongs only to the English version of CAD Addict. The other languages have their own lists.

1. SketchUp Plugins: Weld
   
2. SketchUp Plugins: Extruding and Offsetting Curved Faces
3. AutoCAD: How to Create a Dynamic Bloc
4. AutoCAD: Overkill and Flatten Commands
5. AutoCAD: List of Express Tools
6. SketchUp: VRAY for SU works on version 7 too
7. SketchUp: Bonus Packs and Extra Materials
8. AutoCAD: THings That Shift Can do For You
9. SketchUp Plugins: Volume Calculator
10. SketchUp 7: New Features and Download Link

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SketchUp Plugins: Updated Plugins List

The list of SketchUp Plugins reveiwed at CAD Addict has reached 67, check it out.
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I had no time to update the list of plugins lately. Finally today I did it and added more than 10 plugins I had reviewed recently. The list reaches already 67 plugins. Some might be getting old but the list is pretty comprehensive.

To access it click here


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SketchUp: Free Ruby Programming E-Books

Five free ebooks to learn to program in Ruby Language.
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SketchUp plugins use the Ruby programming language. There is plenty of ruby programmers out there doing a great job creating SketchUp Plugins to improve the functionality of SketchUp. If you have an idea of a Plugin that could be useful but you don't know ow to program in Ruby this post might be for you.

This is a list of 5 free ebooks to learn about the Ruby programming language.

• Data Structures and Algorithms with Object-Oriented Design Patterns in Ruby
• Learn to Program
• MacRuby: The Definitive Guide
• Programming Ruby
• Ruby Best Practices

I strongly believe we can all make technology better from a collaborative approach. Users are the ones who have the capacity to know what they really need and to create those products/applications that serve them better. It is a change in the traditional paradigm were big corporations were the only ones creating products for the end user. Nowadays, the user has the power and more importantly the knowledge to assess what is needed. The Google approach to let users create Plugins easily for SketchUp embraces this principle.

So now we have no excuse. If you think you need a Plugin that is not out there, get your hands on this free guides and start programming. The entire SketchUp community will thank you!

via citizen 428.

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SketchUp Plugins: Slice Your Model

Do you need to get slices of your SketchUp model to build a real life model? Slice it easily with this Plugin.
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A common process in my office is to design some of the buildings in SketchUp and then build physical models of them cutting the pieces with a laser machine. With simple geometry this is no problem, and it is easy to draw the outlines of the pieces in AutoCAD to send them to the laser cutter. When the Gemoetry is more complex the process requires a bit more effort.

SLICER (slicer.rb) is a Plugin that helps doing this. The Plugin generates slices from a given 3D model and you can choose which axis you want to use for the slices to be generated.
See the following example. I used the same terrain I used on a previous post and I created slices of it every 5m.


The plugin even asks you if you want a flattened copy of your slices, which basically means that it will spread the slices on the ground plane, so you can just set a Top view and Export to AutoCAD. See the image of this other simpler model.



Of course CAD exports from SketchUp are not always very clean, so there might be some tweaking needed before using a laser cutter, but this definitely speeds up the process. To use the plugin, select a Group or Component, go to Plugins --> Slicer and then use the dialog box to configure how the slices should be created. Download the Plugin here.

Chek here how to Install SketchUp Plugins.


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SketchUp Plugins: Fill the Section Cut With a Face

Fill the section cut with a face for better display with the sectioncutface plugin
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TIG has published an updated version of his SectionCutFace.rb plugin (version 2.2). THis plugin adds a face to fill the section created with the standard SketchUp tool "Section Plane".

For those newbies who don't know "Section Plane", it is a standard tool (under the Tools menu --> Section Plane) that allows you to automatically cut a section trough your model. See it graphically.


What TIG's plugins adds is the feature to select the section plane, right click it and select Add Section-Cut Face. This (if you have a clean model) will generate the face for the section cut, like in the image below.



The Plugin has a dialog where you can play with several of the options, and that looks like this.



To be able to run the plugin, you need to have the section plane active. To do so go to the Menu View --> Section Planes (it has to be checked so you see it on the screen so you can right click on it).

You can Download the Plugin here.

If you are new to SketchUp chek here to know how to Install SketchUp Plugins

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SketchUp Plugins: The Scale Tool Becomes Smart

Finnally someone made some sense and created a Plugin that allows us to scale the objects properly no matter they orientation
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Thanks again to Jim and his amazing SketchUp Plugins Blog I came across the video you can see below that shows the very impressive FreeScale.rb Plugin developed by Fredo6.

I think the video speaks for itself, but basically what you should know is that the new Plugin allows you to Scale any object basing the bounding box alignment on any line you have in the drawing. (there is also an amazing Taper tool). This is no doubt one of those Plugins it is hard to believe it is released for free.
You can download the Plugin here and the library needed to run it here or go to the Plugin release thread. One of the most complete, easiest to use and most useful Plugins I've come across. Thanks Fredo.

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SketchUp Plugins: Extruding and Offsettin Curved Faces

A miraculous plugin that does what you always wanted SketchUp to do.
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Today is one of those days you are grateful to the SketchUp Ruby community for writing so useful plugins. Thanks to Sanmi, a colleague of mine, I came across these two great plugins for SketchUp.
The first one is the Offset on Surface.
What this plugin does is to allow us to offset the edges of curved surfaces. See it with a quick example. On the following example, if we try to offset the edges of the curved surface we will get the forbidden sign when we point the tool on top of the curved face. After installing the plugin we will be able to go to Tools - Offset on Surface, like in the above picture. The result we would get would be something like this:
The other plugin is the Joint Push Pull:
Another thing that the standard SU tools don't allow us to do is to extrude curved faces. This plugin will allow us to do that. See how I extruded the central curved face of the previous example:And check out too how you can easily extrude the rest of the faces to create geometry that would have been really hard to create without these two plugins.
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SketchUp Plugins: Weld

A must have Plugin for SketchUp. Weld lines to hide edges and clean geometry.
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One of my favorite plugins for SketchUp is the Weld plugin. What this plugin does is basically, as its name says, to weld lines together. This might read very basic, but it becomes very important in many situations. Let´s see some examples.
The basic use is to join lines together. So if we have a bunch of lines and we want to transform them into a sort of polyline, we can do that selecting the lines and going to Plugins - Weld. I personally have a shrtcut for Weld that is the letter W, since I use it very very often.
The plugin has also another use that is to create faces from a bunch of interconnected lines. Once we select to run the plugin, it will as as two questions.
- Close Curve?
- Find faces for this curve?
If we select yes in the first questions, SketchUp automatically draws a line to close the curve. A yes to the second one will create a face if possible.
The third use is to hide edges for extruded objects. When we extrude a face, all the corners become edges. Something like this:But in this case we don't want to see the edges on the curved surface. We could select those edges and hide them, or better we can weld the lines that create that curved surface before we extrude the face:
By selecting the lines and welding them together we will get a new object with only 4 vertical edges, instead of having all those shown in the first image.
If you want to download the plugin click here.

Update: The same that I had done here with the weld plugin to extrude the curved face without seeing the intermediate edges, can be achieved without the weld plugin by using the Soften Edges Tool from SketchUp. Both process are equally quick, the results are almost the same.

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SketchUp Plugins: 4D Construction Simulation For Free

A free Plugin to simulate the construction process
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Not so long ago I posted on a couple of commercial plugins to simulate construction. recently I came across a free option that might help in the future simulate construction using SketchUp.

The Plugin is called onTime5D. On the video below you can see a very brief preview of its functionality. The plugin seems to be in process of development, you can follow up on this on the author's website.


I am adding this Plugin on the Previous post that can serve as a reference on the available SketchUp plugins for construction simulation.


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SketchUp Plugins: Extrude with Rotation

Extrude Edges or faces with a rotation.
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ExtrudeEdgesByLathe.rb by TIG allows us to Extrude Polylines or Faces following a circular path defined by an axis and a rotation angle. The Plugin is part of a suite of several Extrusion Plugins by the same Author that can be found here. The Plugin Allows you to do the following.



We can set all the properties of the extrusion on a dialog box that appears after we run the Plugin. These are the options for the previous example.


And if we select a face instead of a polyline, the plugin works too!!



Chek here how to Install SketchUp Plugins.


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SketchUp Plugins: Export 3D PDFs

Export your SketchUp models to 3D PDF format to share them with people that doesn't have Sketchup
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If you want to share your 3D model with someone that doesn't have SketchUp installed or you simply want to integrate your 3D model in a 3D presentation, you might be interested in this commercial plugin.
SimLab 3d PDF from Sketchup allows you to directly export 3D PDF from SketchUP. There is a free trial for 30 days. The license costs 95$.

Click on the image below to see a PDF created with this plugin


The free trial doesn't allow full control of the advanced features though. WIth a more complicated model, I also found some bugs (duplicated elements on the wrong position).

On the positive side, the plugin can export the section planes and it will add a buttpon to toggle them. So it really becomes like having sketchup (without editing tools) inside your pdf file. You can also select geometry and switch it off and on depending on what is it that you want to see.


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SketchUp Plugins: Improving the Selection Tools

Two Plugins that will improve drastically the way you can select objects.
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I came across the next two plugins thanks to the SketchUp News website called "The Daily CatchUp". These two Plugins will help you select objects, edges or faces faster and smarter. Let's see them both.

The first one is called SelectionHideShow.rb (click the link to the original post for download) and it adds extra options to the contextual menu (the right click menu). It is developed by TIG and its a great plugin to improve your selection capabilities. See this quick snapshot for the list of new selection options it will add to your right clicks.


If what you need most is to select only edges, then HoverSelect.rb from Fredo6 is your Plugin. It allows you to select edges in a new and practical way like clicking on one edge and dragging the mouse over the others, or selecting all edges of a face with a single click. It ads a user interface when the plugin is active like the one on the following image (click it to enlarge it).


HoverSelect requires the set of tools called LibFredo6 3.1 that can be downloaded here.

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