Sketchup Users please sound off

[ssutton]

This may not be the right forum, but you guys have never failed me. With the completion of my machine I am readily exploring all the things that I can do with it.

I have a question about CAD programs. Right now, I use SolidWorks for 3D CAD and TurboCad 17 for 2D stuff. But, I find it difficult in SolidWorks to create free form surface objects and them flatten them out for cutting on the CNC. SolidWorks just was not built to really do this. I have picked up bits and pieces about Sketchup being able to do just that, create a free form surface model and then flatten it out. Does anyone here have any insight into this?

Thanks,
Scott

[Zygoat]

There is a sketch up sub forum. You might have better luck there.

[louieatienza]

Originally Posted by ssutton This may not be the right forum, but you guys have never failed me. With the completion of my machine I am readily exploring all the things that I can do with it. I have a question about CAD programs. Right now, I use SolidWorks for 3D CAD and TurboCad 17 for 2D stuff. But, I find it difficult in SolidWorks to create free form surface objects and them flatten them out for cutting on the CNC. SolidWorks just was not built to really do this. I have picked up bits and pieces about Sketchup being able to do just that, create a free form surface model and then flatten it out. Does anyone here have any insight into this? Thanks, Scott

The think with SketchUp, if I am not mistaken, is that it doesn't really handle arcs and curves as such, rather it interpolates them as many straight lines. I guess it depends on the level of precision you need...