SketchUp 101 | Make:

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By Emily Albinski

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For decades, computer-aided design (CAD) applications were expensive tools used only by a limited circle of designers and engineers. Now Google has offered CAD to the masses, with SketchUp, a free program that’s intuitive to use. In this tutorial we’ll be modeling a charging caddy: a box to house a power strip and chargers, with a compartment on top for your cellphone and other handhelds.

Steps

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Step #1: Set up SketchUp for your design.

Before you start modeling, you’ll need the real-world dimensions of the objects you’re working with: the power strip, chargers, and the thickness of the material. I’ll be using a 10" power strip and 3/8"-thick plywood. Feel free to modify the dimensions and design of this charging caddy to accommodate your needs.
Go to sketchup.google.com to download and install the appropriate version of SketchUp. Launch the program and learn how to navigate and use basic tools by going to Menu → Help → Self-Paced Tutorials → Introduction. It may also be helpful to keep a print- out of the Quick Reference Card handy (Help → Quick Reference Card) to identify tools and hot keys.
The man in the modeling window is there as a scale reference for architecture. Change this template by going to Window → Preferences → Template (or SketchUp → Preferences → Template on the Mac), and selecting Inches (Woodworking)-3D from the drop-down menu. Start a new project (File → New), now at woodworking scale, with a precision of 1/16". Delete the framing square (if you see one) with the Eraser Tool. Open up the Large Tool Set, if it’s not already open (View → Tool Palettes → Large Tool Set).

Conclusion

This project first appeared in CRAFT VOLUME 09, pages 131-135.

Emily Albinski

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