Creating Plans from SketchUp model - Free!

So you've made a model in SketchUp...

What? You haven't?  Oh, I'm sorry, I must be getting ahead of myself...

Check out these awesome tutorials by FliteTest user JasonEricAnderson to learn how to create and flatten models in SketchUp!

Ok, ready now?  Good...

So now you've created an awesome model, and you've flattened out the parts for your plans... but how do you go from flat parts in SketchUp to a nice PDF?  FEAR NOT! ThatJoshGuy is here with a collection of FREE tools to help you along your way to success!

First Step - CutePDF

If you don't have the ability to print directly to PDF, you'll want to install CutePDF Writer.  THis works like a virtual printer, so you can create PDFs form any program with a print function!

http://www.cutepdf.com/products/cutepdf/Writer.asp

I recommend downloading the "Zipped Setup" version, as it includes the writer and converter (both free).  Once you've got the files, install them both.

Step 2 - Exporting from SketchUp

SketchUp Free doesn't have a decent 2D exporter.  Sure you can export a JPG or PNG, but those will be low-res raster graphics and not to scale.  We need to export scale vector graphics (or something close at least!).  That's where our first free tool comes in...

http://www.guitar-list.com/download-software/convert-sketchup-skp-files-dxf-or-stl

In this tutorial I am using SketchUp Make (free version of the latest SketchUp), so download the .RBZ version.  Once you have it, open up SketchUp and click on Window->Preferences, then Install Extension:

Browse to the file you downloaded ("skp_to_dxf.rbz") and click Open.  A window will pop up confirming that you want to install the plugin, click Yes.  Another window will open confirming that the plugin has installed successfully.  Click the OK's until you're back at the main screen.

Hide everything you do not want/need for your plans in SketchUp, then arrange all of your flattened pieces together.  Make sure they are all aligned to the same plane.  Mine are arranged to be viewed from the top, so I then choose Camera->Standard Views->Top, then Camera->Parallel Projection. This makes sure there is no camera distortion in the view.

Next, click the Zoom Extents icon, or press CTRL+Shift+E.  You should end up with a nice clean view of your parts like this:

Finally, select all or your objects, then click File->Export to DXF or STL.  A window will open asking for the export unit - set this to "Inches" (or whichever you prefer). and click OK.  On the next window you are asked for the Export to DXF Options - set this to "lines", then press OK.  You will then enter a filename and click SAVE!

Step 3 - DoubleCAD XT

Now that you have a DXF file of your flattened parts, you can import it into many free and commercial programs.  One that I have found that works well is DoubleCad XT:

http://activate.imsisoft.com/doublecad.aspx?productpage=DoubleCAD_XT_v5

You need to register for a free copy with a valid e-mail address, they will send you the free license key.

Once you have DoubleCad XT in stalled, open it and load up your DXF file. (Note: You may need to zoom out to find your parts.  Use the mousewheel to zoom, and hold down the mouse wheel to move the image around.)

Looking sweet, eh?

If you look at the bottom of the design window you will see a tab labelled Layout1.  This is where we will create our plans.  The default plan size is going to be too small to fit much, so let's pick a standard size for plotters and large format printers - don't worry, we can print on standard Letter size paper later!

Page Setup.  under the "Printer Paper" section, click Setup.  Choose CutePDF Writer as your printer, and set the page size to ARCH D, and the source to OnlyOne, then click OK.

Back on the Page Setup window, choose "24 in x 36 in" for the paper size in the top seciton, and "Arch D Size (36 in x 24 in)" in the Drawing Sheet Size section.  Make them both Landscape or Portrait (whichever you prefer) and make sure the printing scale is set to 1" = 1" (Full Size).  Also uncheck "Small Watermark". Your window should look similar to this:

Now click OK, and we're ready to lay out our plans!

Step 4 - Laying out the plans

This is the easy part.  Select the a part in the Model tab (click and drag for selection box) and then just copy-paste the parts into the layout tab!  I like to cut and paste so I know which parts I've already done.

If you run out of room on the layout tab you can simply right-click on the tab and click Duplicate, then delete the parts on the new page and continue placing the remaining parts.

This is also a good time to color code the lines for your different cuts.  Simply select a line, and then in the toolbar above choose a new color from the Line Color menu:

You can also add text, rotate objects, delete hidden lines, etc.  DoubleCad is a pretty full-featured CAD tool, so I won't cover the advanced options in this tutorial, but I had never used a CAD tool before now and if I can figure it out, I'm sure anyone can!

Here's a look at the finished view of my plans (I used two layouts):

Step 5 - "Printing"

You've done it... you're at the finish line!  All we need to do now is "Print" our plans as a PDF!  With one of your layout tabs selected, click File->Print and make sure the printer is still set to CutePDF, your print range is set to All, and "Fit on 1 page" is UNCHECKED.  To make sure it's going to look as expected, you can click "Full Preview" to see how it's going to look.  If all is well, click "close", then click OK to print!

After a moment a new window will pop up asking for the PDF filename.  If you plan is more than one page, I'd make sure to add a page number in the filename, then click save.  THAT'S IT!  if you have multiple layout tabs/pages, just select the other layout tab and repeat the printing process for the other pages!

You now have full-size, PDF plans created from a SketchUp model that can be shared with everyone!  You can opt to get these printed at a print shop (or make good friends with someone who has access to a plotter), or you can use Adobe Reader's built-in poster printing functionality to print on standard size paper!

And it was FREE!!