The Poor Man's CNC Machine - How to print full scale in Sketchup
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- čas přidán 5. 09. 2024
- The first time I tried to make a full scale template from a Sketchup design, I found very little information on how to do this in Sketchup without using an external program. After lots of trial and error, I decided to make a new video that breaks it all down. With some basic Sketchup skills, a printer, and a band saw, it’s almost like having access to the poor man’s version of a CNC machine.
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I'm using Skechup 2022 and was struggling with printing items larger than one sheet of paper. Thanks for this. It helped me.
SketchUp is pretty cool. A couple of extra tips:
- There's a "zoom extents" shortcut - I think it's shift-Z by default. Way faster then scrollwheeling around.
- Follow all these same instructions, but print to PDF (pick a sheet size large enough for your whole part). Open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader, and use the "Poster" option in the print menu. It lets you set an overlap and cutting lines, so it's a lot easier to match up the sheets of paper.
Thanks for the tips!
Sub'd! Keep up the good work! Sketchup printing was driving me crazy, and this is the best answer I've found. Thanks!
Great to hear! Welcome to my channel :)
@@TommyTompkins This also worked for me: once I found the right window size to print to print at 1:1 ratio (actual size), I made a screen capture of the Sketchup window on my desktop so that I could easily approximately recreate the window dimensions and location for future use. I just leave the screen snap on my desktop so it's easily at hand. Thanks again for explaining so well your workaround for being able to do this pretty essential woodworking task!
@@drewscreen Right on Andrew. Happy to see that it helped!
Great tutorial, exactly what i was looking for! no beating round the bush, just exactly what you need to know
Glad you liked the video!
I never see the same options when trying to follow these tutorials!
Very clearly explained!
You do fantastic work. I'd love to walk through shop ideas with you and brainstorm - we seem to be operating on the same wavelength. Looking forward to more on the Liftbridge concepts! You rock.
Thank you! Feel free to send me a note at tommytompkins.com if you want. I'll be releasing a build video on the Lift Bridge Standing Desk / Drafting Table soon so stay tuned!
Excellent video!!, right to the point.
Glad it was helpful!
That is a very good explanation. You have a good way with that...almost like you were a software trainer in another life. I would personally appreciate more videos on how to use Sketchup. I have been avoiding it and I really need to start using it. Printing templates is something I need. If you'd rather not invest in this type video maybe you can point me to some good online tutorials for Sketchup if you know of any. Thanks!
Thanks Ross! It's funny you say that because I've recorded my share of software videos for www.redcart.com. If more people are interested, I can try to do more Sketchup videos.
Well, if you ever want a career change you should consider software trainer.
I downloaded Sketchup yesterday and turns out they provide some very well done and easy to follow video tutorials for beginners. If you don't want to do them yourself you would do well to recommend them.
I did this very same thing to make accurate wedges for a wedgie sled. I made them in SketchUp and exported to Mattias Wandel's Big Print program. It has some very convenient features for doing this sort of thing
I've been wanting to give his Big Print program a try but haven't had a chance to yet. I hear it's good!
Tommy Tompkins It allows you to easily and accurately scale the the image, crop it, lighten areas to save ink, print a grid pattern for easier alignment of multiple pages...stuff like that. You were able to do many of those things right in SketchUp. But BigPrint brings it all together. You still need to know how to export a 2D parallel projection image from SketchUp, though.
Good video!
Thanks, Great tutorial. I dislike removing the glued template from the wood. This is why I used masking tape first, it just peels right off.
Thanks! I've never had any trouble removing the glued template from the wood. It usually just peels right off but I also don't let it sit on there very long. Have you tried a glue stick like I'm using or some other type of glue?
Hey Tommy I have Sketchup Pro 2018 and am running from a windows 10 machine. I don't see the Document setup options you are specifying. Am I missing something?
Hmm...not sure. I'm running OSX and I haven't installed the newer Sketchup 2018 yet. Maybe they changed something in the new version?
Hey Tommy, Thanks for replying. I end up finding it under the print setup. I also found I have to use an actual printer. I was testing with print to PDF and this did not give me the correct options.