SketchUp Objects and Mac 3D Cad in General

[Laserhobbit]

Hi Friends,

I am about to embark on my largest build for around 20 years, my combo old school analogue and lumia projector, with a twist. The twist is to include some more recent XY scanning and solid state lasers. think of it as a beamtable on acid But I am looking at drawing this up first, its a bit too complicated for a prototype of BluTak and SuperGlue. so I have been looking around for free or nearly free 3 CAD programs, preferably for Mac, as this is what I have in my study. I could use one of the laser control PCs, but this would be more inconvenient.

I have come across SketchUp for Mac and wonder if anyone else is using this? Also does anyone have any pre made objects for this program, such as diode mounts, flex mounts, mirror, dichros etc. I fully accept I will have to create a large amount of these objects and will be happy to share these once I have begun a library, maybe we could all share these via some PL style FTP site? again happy to help anyone who wants to contribute and help me.

Also more than happy to get advice from other members as to better alternatives to SketchUP. The work I really need is to draw the actual beam configuration and maybe soem custom mounts. The ability to export these mounts to a common format for CNC or similar would also be quite useful, but not a necessity as I have friends who can use SolidWorks for the more complex stuff. For me simplicity and ease of use is the key.

Can anyone help?

Cheers

Steve

[kitatit]

Hi Steve,

have a look here for a start.
http://www.photonlexicon.com/forums/...light=sketchup

Tony (taggalucci) has got experience using Sketchup on the Mac. I use a Mac too but I use Solidworks via bootcamp so i cant offer much advice. If you have a look on the FTP you will find some of the models I made and Tony put sketchup compatable files on there. There might not be that many parts that are useful to you but maybe the GM-20 models will come in handy with that rig you are building.

Good luck and have fun.

Kit

[Laserhobbit]

Hi Kit,

As I mentioned I do have access to SolidWorks, do you think it is much better than SketchUp, obviously I know it is a much more comprehensive app, but more from a program for what I am trying to achieve.

Also thanks for the link to the other thread, really appreciated, I did a search but guess i used the wrong search terms

Cheers

Steve

[andy_con]

i have a licensed version of AutoCAD 2006 but its for windows, your more than welcome to a copy if you want

[kitatit]

Hi Kit,

As I mentioned I do have access to SolidWorks, do you think it is much better than SketchUp, obviously I know it is a much more comprehensive app, but more from a program for what I am trying to achieve.

Also thanks for the link to the other thread, really appreciated, I did a search but guess i used the wrong search terms

Cheers

Steve

I don't have experience with Sketchup but i think it is probably the way to go. i just had a look at the file types that the free and pro version can export. The pro version (which is $500) can export DXF which is good for sending 2d drawings that laser cutters/ waterjet cutters use. Also they can be imported to Solidworks or similar CAD programs.

unfortunatly the free version is more limited with what it can export.

Have quick look on wikidpedia for some more details and links.

I'd say go for the free sketchup version If you want to get your ideas together quickly. It is more than capably for creating and visualizing your design. most parts will be relativly 2d, e.g plate aluminium which you assemble together.

It's the design and brain stoming that takes the time. If you get your ideas together with sketchup you have done most of the time consuming stuff. Once you have the parts designed and you have dimmensions. you can show your friend who has Solidworks. It will be pretty quick to redraw the parts. This way you dont have to buy the version that can export the "manufacturing suited" file types.

Saying that, if you want to learn Solidworks or AutoCad it is very rewarding to be able to create the files yourself. I've taught myself over a few years and have lately been using youtube as a very useful resource for asking questions about stuff i don't know in Solidworks.

It's just up to you which battle you want to choose. If you are more interested in moving your laser project along and getting the result go for Sketchup. If you can see yourself needing to design lots more parts and getting them machined/fabricated and think the investment in time is worth it go for solidworks or similar.

[andy_con]

you can draw anything you want in CAD from parts to full on complex modules

[taggalucci]

Funny this thread has come up in the last day. As it so happens I'm back on to doing some CAD and am modelling Dave's diode and flex mounts to design a compatible octo-combiner using these. So I had to refresh my memory of the models in the FTP directory we set up for Kit's models.

I'm more of a visual arts kind of 3D person and therefore know less about CAD-specific applications. I needed to work in my tool of choice (Lightwave 3D - because I used to use this professionally) but convert to CAD standards like IGES or STEP. I found Rhinoceros 3D can bridge the 2.

Never had much luck getting Sketchup to bridge the two paradigms effectively.

Need Dave's permission before sharing my models with the community. Mine aren't CAM-ready just geometry accurate for the purposes of conceptual design. I'm hoping he'd be OK with that.