Make a smart outlet in Sketchup!

In previous posts I have shown you how to create components in Sketchup that you can save out for reuse in new models.  I have also shown you how to take components that are "glued" to walls and unglue them so you can do custom things to them.

Now I am going to show you how to make your own glued components.  Sketchup has a neat feature where you can specify components to stick to a surface.  For example, if you created a rug in Sketchup, you could specify that it only stick to horizontal surfaces (the floor).  Or, if you created a picture frame you could specify that it only stick to vertical surfaces (walls).  In this example, I am going to show you how to make an electrical outlet stick to a wall.  Not the most exciting example, but you could apply this to all kinds of things, like lights, towel bars, artifacts, or even shelves.  Check out the video below to see how it's done.

Save Those Components!

I originally did this post for Useful Spaces, a blog that my fellow kitchen designer and Sketchup Geek Arne Salvessen maintains.  If you haven't read it, you should!

A lot of times when you are modeling things in Sketchup, you create items that would be great to reuse later.  In this video, I will show you how to turn that useful fruit bowl, picture of your favorite pet, or anything else into a component.  Once you've done that, you can save it into a folder and easily pull it in to a new Sketchup model with just a click.  This is a great time saving tool for any modeler at any level of Sketchup experience.

Need some carpets?

The other day I was looking for some slick carpets for a design.  Rather then make my own, I searched the 3D warehouse and came across this collection of Design Within Reach carpets.

These are very well modeled carpets that work great in Sketchup.  Best of all they are embedded with extra "smarts" so they can be resized.  Just drop on in your model, right click it, and select "Dynamic Components" and then "Options"

To find these, just open the 3D Warehouse in Sketchup and search for "Design Within Reach rug"

Enjoy!

Got a sticky component?

Did you know that components in Sketchup can "glue" themselves to surfaces?  Most people don't know this, but I'll bet most people have used a component that "glues" itself...

Imagine a picture frame that you got from the 3D Warehouse, when you bring it in, if it's built properly it will know that it needs to go vertically up against a wall.

Now in some instances you don't want things to glue.  Check out this video below to learn what glueing is, how it works, and how to turn it off.  Don't worry, it's really simple and if you've ever been frustrated by this problem, you'll find this really useful.

Awesome Appliances

When you are designing a kitchen on the computer, you always need to include the appliances.  Most design programs have generic appliances that you can substitute for the real ones.  Just make sure you have your specs handy so you can check to make sure they fit.

But wait, we're designing in 3D, why can't we do all of that at once?  Impossible sounding, I know.. But it can be done.  If you look through the 3D Warehouse, there are some appliance companies that have stepped up and put their products online, in 3D.  Not only can you download these accurate models into your design in Sketchup, they are embedded with all that information you need.  Information like dimension guides and installation instructions.  Oh, did I mention that they are accurately modeled in 3D?  Now you can save yourself a bunch of work, and even show your customers exactly what their appliances look like.  How cool is that?

Check out below for a few appliances.  Get Sketchup today and try it out for yourself!