Google Sketchup Lab

Mr. GarnerTech Ed

Lime Kiln MS

Day 0ne

Objectives:• Learn how to use Basic Draw commands Line,

Rectangle, Circle and Arc.• Learn how to use Edit commands Move,

Push/Pull, Move/Copy and Offset.• Learn how to use Camera commands Zoom,

Orbit and Pan.• How to create components and place them.

Today’s exercise you are going to be drawing a castle.

• First open the program. You will find the program located in the Applications folder

• Select the architectural feet an inches template.

• Second save the file the following way “6*”last name”3Q (*is your day A or B) into your documents file.

• Example “6B3QSmithson”

Now to start drawing:

• Select the woman and delete• Select the Rectangle Icon • Starting at the Origin point Drag the corner of

the Rectangle out to the right & set it.• Now type 40’, 70’ in the little box in the

bottom right hand corner with the label “Dimensions” and press Enter

The Zoom, Pan and Orbit commands

• These commands can also be accessed in the Camera menu.

• Make sure to set the drawing back to where the solid blue line is facing up and to the left of the screen. Use the Zoom extents foe this

Drawing Circles

• To draw a circle.• Access the Circle Command• Set the Center for the circle• Then stretch it out & set it• Now input the desired Radius in the

dimensions box

Creating a circle for the project

• You need to draw a circle with the radius of 5’• Make sure it is off to the side of the Rectangle

Moving an object

• Move/Copy are nested commands• You are going to copy the circle to each corner

of the rectangle.• First window select the circle turning it Blue• Now select the Move command

Moving an object

• The Move icon it will prompt you to pick a point to move from

• Select the center of the circle. (do this by going to the edge of the circle then moving towards the center of the circle a bubble should pop up indicating the center)

• Set your point

Moving an object

• Press the option key and copy the circle to a corner of the rectangle; repeat this for each corner.

Cleaning up extra lines

• Using the Select icon clean up the corners of the rectangle removing the extra lines inside of the Rectangle.

Using the Offset command

• This function creates offset parallel lines around the selected shape.

• Access the Offset Icon

• Select the Rectangle with the corner circles. (make sure the extra lines have been edited)

Using the Offset command

• With the Rectangle and arcs selected (they will be Blue)

• Access the Offset Icon and pull the drawing outside frame and set.

• Set this distance to 18” in the measurement box hit Return.

Push Pull function

• This function creates an extrusion of a profile• Select the outer ring then access the Push/Pull

icon

• Pull the walls up & enter 25’ in the measurement box

You now have walls for your Castle

• Use the Orbit command and zoom around your castle

Learning how to use the Component Command

• Components allows complex objects to be moved around the drawing easier.

• Components can be given attributes, this allows them to inventoried in a drawing

• In this case we are going to create blocks for the top of the castle wall

• Save them as a component , then place them where they need to be

Creating a component

• First you must draw an object, in this case you are going to draw a block.

• Draw a rectangle that is 18” by 48”• Using the Push/Pull command make the

Rectangle 24” tall• Window select the block

Creating a component• With the block selected access the Make

Component menu nested in Edit Menu• You will be prompted to save the component • Give the component the name Wall Block &

select Create

Moving a component• Now when you select the block, this object is

grouped.• This makes it easier to Move/Copy and Rotate• Now you are going to place the component on

the top of the wall• Then perform an array copy that spreads the

blocks down the wall• Then do a rotational copy to do the other

walls

Moving a component• Moving a component is similar to moving an

object except how it is grabbed• A component has limited handle points I

almost always use the object’s vertices

Moving a component• Grab the component from the bottom left

corner & Copy to the top of the wall• By grabbing back corner it is easier to place it

on another vertices

Moving a component• Now move the component so it is not on the

Arc• Grab back right corner and slide to the right

Making Multiple copies• Huge advantage of CAD is the ability automate

redundant tasks this case drawing the same object 40 times

• This called an Array copy

Making Multiple copies• To do this select the block on the access the

copy function• Grab the block on the front right side & move

to the end of the wall

Making Multiple copies• After setting the block type /9 in the

measurement section• This makes 9 evenly spaced copies• Try some different numbers to see what it

looks like

Making Multiple copies• You can also Move/Copy multiple items at

once, In this case copy the blocks from one side to the other

• Using Select tool hold down the shift key to make multiple selections

Making Multiple copies• Select the outer bottom corner activate the

option key • Place all the blocks on the opposite wall

Rotating an Object

• Now to place blocks on the other walls you have to rotate that first block you made

• If you forgot to make a copy of that block, that is not a problem just make a copy of one of the blocks on the wall

• Rotation command is similar to the Move command, but changes an objects orientation

Rotating an Object

• Select the object to Rotated & access the Rotation command

• A protractor will appear over the object• Place the center of the protractor on a

convenient corner

Rotating an Object

• The next step is to create a starting line for rotating the object

• Then rotate the object to the desired angle on the protractor

On your Own !

• Copy the blocks just like you did in previous steps

• Use the Move/Copy to create a new array• Your castle needs a door• A ledge for your archers• Steps to get to the ledge• How about some Color

On your Own !

• Making a castle door can be done a few ways• This a way it could be done• First draw the profile of the door on wall &

pull it out 6”• Rotate copy the front door on to the ground• And pull it up 6”• Look at sequence in next slide

Making Steps !

• Create a component with the dimensions 12” high,48” long 15” deep)

• Copy component by grabbing lower left corner & moving to that’s component’s upper right corner

• Type *9 return, that will create nine copies of the component

Making a Turret

• Draw a circle with a Radius of 5”• Draw a vertical Rectangle on the circle (use

hovering technique)• Bisect rectangle into two triangles• Get rid of extra lines• Access follow me command• Follow sequence in next slides

Making a Turret

Making a TurretIn the tools menu access the follow me tool

Making a TurretSelect the triangle & map it around the circle it should create a cone.

Make sure the triangle is vertical

Making a Turret

Moving the Turret

• First make the Turret a component• Next center a turret on top of each cylinder

(use the move/ copy command)• Add a walk way• Add landscape features• Add some color