Hi, I’m not an engineer or even that technically minded but wanted to create a copy of an automated garage door we want to have installed in our garden. I’m stuck, as I had thought I’d modelled one side of the assembly bracket correctly (well sort of) but in finding an image of what appears to be the underside, I have no clue where to go. The sketchup model is apparently too big to post up so I can only submit the image. Any advice, always gratefully received. Thanks.
Upload the .skp file to Dropbox or another file sharing service like OneDrive or WeTransfer, share it, and post a link here.
If it is too big to upload directly to the forum that suggests to me that it is hugely over detailed for a small part in a garage door assembly (or the images are very large).
Have you drawings or photos that show the part from more than one direction? Or are those the images in the background that you are modelling from?
1 Like
Have to agree with the comments made by John M. If your not able to find technical drawings of the part that show various views with dimensions, the next course would be having the actual part to measure from. Must add the question, do you really need this amount of detail for your model? Stuff like this is what contributes to over bloated files.
1 Like
I also agree with @john_mcclenahan and @tuna1957. Do you really need that level of detail for the model you are making and the way it’ll be used? I’m all for modeling that thing with full detail but I wouldn’t plan to use that kind of detailed component in the sort of model you describe.
1 Like
Not trying to pile on here but…… did a pretty deep internet search, found the part and a few more pictures. Nothing gave indications of any measurements. With the part in hand and my handy dandy dial caliper it would be fun to model up……
1 Like
I have used automatic overhead doors in projects since the 1980s without ever having to design or model one in detail. They are made by a bunch of manufacturers whose products are practically identical. To deliver a door they need to know the size of the opening, the colour of the parts and that the designer has left enough room around to fit the mechanism.
There are more and more engineers today who model threads on screws 
1 Like
I’m afraid my level of ignorance re Sketchup is still clearly profound - even after messing about with it for over 4 years. Thank you for the suggestions. I’ve purged everything I can from file and just used default texture. The need to do this - is only for my better understanding of how to draw in Sketchup - and again as I don’t have any technical ability or understanding of engineered drawings, I am just stumbling along.
I’ve taken off the images so I’m sure those who know, will spot the errors! Thanks. SD
roller-bracket-assembly4.skp (219.1 KB)
This bracket is a great exercise for modelling in SU. Others are far more qualified to help you with your technique; I just want to offer a few websites that contain head-on photos of a bracket similar to what you are attempting to model. The first has some helpful dimensions in the ‘details’ tab:
As you look at the different views, note that these brackets come in handed pairs, so when you look at a photo of the ‘bottom,’ make sure the handing matches your ‘top’ photo. Also, watch where you insert the roller.
This next site has good photos of both a top and bottom view of a right-hand bracket.
And here a left-hand bracket.
Hope this helps a bit, and good luck.