SketchUp Plugin for Woodworking

[Peter Saal]

Hi all,

I'm looking for suggestions for a Sketchup plugin for woodworkers. This looked like a good place to ask. What kinds of things would you want it to do? Would CNC program generation be useful? Thanks in advance for your advice!

Peter

[tim rowledge]

You're looking for ideas to write an add-on, yes?
OK, how about:-
+ dovetails. given an edge, specify size or number of pins/tails, angle, etc. This could be a simple approach, just adding lines to the two surfaces adjacent to the chosen edge or you could get really fancy and make it work wth a pair of 'boards'. If you allow a wide enough range of angles it would cover box joints too.
+ router profile follow-me. given a name of a router bit, use it as the profile for a follow-me around an edge. For bonus points, access various manufacturer's websites and find the profile data from there.
+turning tool. provide an axis and as the profile is drawn provide a constantly updated 3d version of how a turning would look. Sure, you can draw a profile and follow-me around a circle right now, but imagine how much easier it could be.

That should keep yo ubusy for a few evenings and weekends.... :-)

[Peter Saal]

These are great suggestions. Yeah, it could take a while, but anything worth doing does.

Cheers,

Peter

[Jeff Morgan]

I'm looking for suggestions for a Sketchup plugin for woodworkers. This looked like a good place to ask. What kinds of things would you want it to do? Would CNC program generation be useful? Thanks in advance for your advice!
Peter

This might be too simple but a set of materials that represents different
wood species would be nice. I spent a fair amount of time searching the
web finding images that could be used to apply the correct texture. It
would have been nice to download these and copy them to the appripriate
directory.

Another simple thing that is needed is a tutorial that focuses on oodworking
design. This tutorial could draw on all of the experiences of users on SMC.
(Is there a Wiki page where this could be added?)

I also do like Tim's idea of creating router bit profiles. Perhaps these could
be extended to provide a full set of rounds and hollows, and several other
profiles. Lets forget router bits and call them moulding planes and ....
okay, I am getting carried away.

Peter, perhaps you could provide a little information about the extension
points in the SU software?

-Jeff

[J. Scott Chambers]

This might be too simple but a set of materials that represents different
wood species would be nice. I spent a fair amount of time searching the
web finding images that could be used to apply the correct texture. It
would have been nice to download these and copy them to the appripriate
directory.


-Jeff

Those already exist. If I can find the link, I'll post it.

[Todd Burch]

Jeff, contact Chris Fulmer at www.suwiki.org and see if he is interested in creating a section targeted for Woodworkers. I bet he would do it.

SuWiki (SketchUp Wiki) is a pretty good site. It's fairly new, and growing fast.

Todd

[Peter Saal]

Thanks for the reply Jeff. I'm not sure what you mean by extension points in SU, but if you're referring to how it's programmed, we will use Ruby. If that's not what you meant, please let me know.

Todd, I think the idea of a wiki would be great. I'm trying to get a sense of what kind of woodworkers hang out here, and what they'd like to use. Please let me know if you have any suggestions.

Thanks again.

[Jeff Morgan]

Thanks for the reply Jeff. I'm not sure what you mean by extension points in SU, but if you're referring to how it's programmed, we will use Ruby. If that's not what you meant, please let me know.

Hi Peter.

Eclipse is an example of an environment that can be extended via an
API. Writing a plugin for Eclipse you take advantage of what is called
"extension points". These are 'hooks' into the tool where new functionality
can be added. Since I do not know that much about writing plugins
for SU I assumed it used a similar approach.

What I was really after was some idea of what might be possible.

-Jeff

[Todd Burch]

Peter, go the SketchUp forums and search for the thread "woodworker's of the world unite" and you will find several dozen SketchUp users (and woodworkers) who are clammering for a portal.

Todd

[Peter Saal]

Hi Jeff, thanks for clarifying. Some of the things that would be possible are creating items using parametric parts and assemblies, for example drawers; subassemblies that act like parts but are made up of multiple subparts, like raised panel doors; cut lists; cnc part programs.

Hi Todd, thanks for the tip. I remember seeing the post as I've been a long time forum lurker, I'll go back and see what's new there. I've been in the "pro" woodworking scene for a long time and my perspective is too industrial. I felt I needed some fresh input. I vaguely remember what it was like to make a piece of furniture...

Thanks again.

[Jeff Morgan]

Those already exist. If I can find the link, I'll post it.

Did you ever find the link to the wood materials?

[Eric Fortin]

I know this is a really old thread but found it when searching for plugins on wood working for sketchup. Do anyone know of one ?

[Jim Duffy]

There are some on Fine Woodworking.com, look under archive December 2007 Extending SketchUp's Abilities

[Terry Brogan]

What you want is at, or findable through, SketchUcation:
You'll have to register to be able to see the Woodworking forum, but the texture lists are in the Materials forum:
(esp the second one below)

http://www.sketchucation.com/forums/...php?f=40&t=486
http://www.sawdustroad.com/sketchup
http://www.sketchucation.com/forums/...?f=183&t=15004