I am just learning…barely. I can model some basic things, and have a basic grasp of the tools.
Ive modeled some furniture shapes, and some to scale drapery hardware.
I need to design oval window trim to facilitate the installation if interior shutters. I need oval trim,
and I need a paper template of the window opening for the shutter manufacturer.
I’m hoping my basic skills can get me to a file that a CNC place could use for the trim,
and an accurately printed paper template for the shutter fabricator.
Am I out of my league on this one? Is this a use for Lidar? Making templates for the real world?
I own a custom window treatment company, and I’m hoping to start incorporating 3D models to showcase to clients. This would be my first attempt at a Lidar scan. Two small, oval window openings.
I don’t know if you are out of your league or not. I don’t know what your skills are like.
Your profile says you are using SketchUp 2017 Make. Is that correct? If so, it will limit the sort of files you can generate for the CNC work. Since you are using this for your business SketchUp Make would not be appropriate.
Uing LIDAR seems like overkill for this but I haven’t see the project. I expect if I were doing this I wouldn’t go that technical. I expect some decent measurements taken on site will be enough.
Is the trim molding something off the shelf or are you making it?
Ive been running the online free version. I’m sure i’m going to hit a point soon that I will need to upgrade.
Maybe this project.
I could pull it off the old fashion way, with paper or cardboard templates, but I’m using this as an
opportunity to learn. If it works out, it will save me time for sure, it will be more accurate, and more impressive to my client. Custom solutions, 3d models, and some basic furniture designing is where I
want to get to next. My best accomplishment with sketchup is an accurately modeled line of drapery hardware. While somewhat simple, the brackets do involve some complicated shapes.
I’m hoping some folks will chime in with pitfalls I need to watch out for, and maybe some basic starting point advice.
If you’re using it for your own DIY projects and as a hobbyist, the free online version might be fine. Well, unless you need to export CAD files and other stuff. If it’s part of your business, then you need to be using SketchUp Go or Pro.
This implies it is part of your business so you do need SketchUp Go or SketchUp Pro. SketchUp Free is not for commercial use.
It sounds like SketchUp Pro would be the more appropriate for youur needs. There are a number of extensions that would make creating complex geometry easier and faster and you would have more import and export options. If you want to impress your clients, SketchUp Pro would make it possible to use rendering applications like Vray and you’d have LayOut for creating documentation for proposals, shop drawings, files for CNC cutting and so on.