This lesson I am going to introduce

you to a 3D modelling software

known as Google SketchUp.
Many of you may have already used
this software but I intend to teach
you how to use is at a design
HOW TO USE student.

DO NOW: What is CAD CAM?

STRETCH: What are the advantages and

disadvantages of using CAD CAM?
 By the end o
f this lesson
- I will b :
Ob j e c ti ve: e able to use
Learning Sketchup basic skills o
n Google
- I will b
p t he e able to ind
To d e ve l o listed skills o ependently u
e 3D n G se all the
y to u s - I will b oogle Sketchu
a bi l i t e able to sta p design.
D m o d e l l i ng rt designing
CA experimenti
ng with othe
software Google Sket
ch up
r tools on
WHAT IS SketchUp is a 3D modeling computer program for a

?
wide range of drawing applications such as
architectural, interior design, landscape
architecture, civil and mechanical engineering, film
and video game design
 How could this tool be
Tool What does this tool do?
useful?

We are
goi
the tool ng to be workin
s on the g throug
table on h all o f
the righ
These a t hand s
re the to ide.
when m ols that
ak I wo
laser cu ing a product th uld normally u
t. at is goi se
ng to be

Spend 5 Minutes playing around

with the different tools. Lets see
how many of them you can work
out how to use.
 You may have heard of axis before and
Understanding remember that they have the letter
After practicing with the software you will
start to understand how helpful the axis are
z,x,y associated with them. The letters and how much easier they make it for you
The Axis have no universal law and can change to model in three dimensions.
depending on software. Rather than
letter we will use colour.

The green axis extends both ways

along the ground. It work 90
degrees to the red axis and can be
used for length, width, depth
depending on what you choose.
The blue Axis is height.
You can extend your
object up or down.
The red axis works just like the
Notice how other tools green, it extends both ways along
and things you do will the ground. It work 90 degrees to
change colour depending the green axis and can be used for
on what axis you are length, width, depth depending on
working on. what you choose.
 This is the select tool. It allows you to click on drawn
objects. Once you have clicked on them, they will
become highlighted and have blue dots on them.

This is the delete tool. It allows you to delete lines,

points and objects. You can also select an object using This tool is will
This tool is will
the black arrow and hit the delete button on your rotate the canvas
so that you can get allow you to
keyboard. zoom in and out
a better look at This tool is will
what you are of the canvas
creating.
help you to and object you
This is the tool is used to draw rectangle and shapes. It is move around
Alternatively you have created.
one of the most important tools on the software. It is used can press the the canvas. Alternatively
by clicking and dragging. If you want to create a shape to a mouse wheel down you can use the
specific size you will need to click once and start typing the and move the mouse wheel.
mosque around.
dimensions followed by a comma and then the second set of
dimensions then press enter.

Use the dimensions tool to check you have made

things to the correct size. It’s a little tricky to use
so you may need to practice. Its requires three
clicks. The first click should be at the start of the
line you wish to measure, the second click at the
end of the line and then drag away from the line
and position your dimensions in the correct
Try to make two shapes. One should
place and click to finish.
measure 100x100mm and the other
should measure 300x100mm
This is the push pull tool and is used to transform a flat
shape into a 3D object. Click on the shape you want to
make 3D and drag it either up or down. You can also pull
it to a specific height by typing the same way you did
previously before finishing the shape. Once you have a The pencil can be
3d shape you can use this tool to push and pull any ‘wall’ used to draw
in any direction.
straight lines, this
tool is very useful.
Hover this pencil
tool over edges and
notice how when
you get to the
middle a blue dot
will appear.
This helps you when
dividing shapes.
Click to start to draw
your line.
Notice the colour of
the line
(what axis are you
drawing on?)
Use the push pull tool to give the two shapes we
drew earlier a height of 100mm. You can add the
dimensions afterwards to check you are right.
 This tool is
known as the
Use the pencil tool to divide
offset tool and
the top section of the cube
will create a
you have drawn. Remember
contour around a
to hover over the line first to
drawn shape.
find the midpoint. Also make
You can decide
sure you drawn on the axis.
on the thickness
you want by
dragging or
typing
Use the push pull tool to dimensions.
experiment with your cube. Use the push pull
Try to use the midpoint to push into the
method and the typing shape or pull it
dimensions method. out from the
object.
 Once you have created an object you may want to move it around the screen and position
it in different place. If you try to move or rotate it you may find that it entirely destroys
what you have made. The reason behind this is because your object is currently made up
of different edges, points and sides. When you try to move it you're actually moving these
points rather than the object.

To solve this problem you will need to click the select tool ( black
arrow) drag around the entire object so that it is all highlighted blue.
Then click edit and select make group. This will make the object one
group. You can now move it and rotate it easily. If you need to change
the shape of the object you will need to right click the object and
select edit group.
 How could this tool be
Tool What does this tool do?

Final Task
useful?

Now t
ha
under t you have
st a
be abl anding of S better
e ke
hand to fill in the tchUp you
sid t sh
make e. You shou able on the ould
co ld also right
these mparisons be a ble
to be
manu ols and doi tween usin to
ally by n g
hand. g the same
thing
MAKING
on
JO I N TS av
e v
p e da e
elo oogl
e d sing G learn
yo u h g of u re to te
t hat tandin teps a to crea o
Do Now : What is the Now nders next s ware yo ut
s i c u th e s o ft he lp odel
purpose of using ba chUp e the s will 3D m de.
t s i a
software like google Ske to u ts. Th s and be m
how d join design ctually
Sketchup? woo your can a
t
plan ts tha
ec
Stretch : What needs to obj
be done to an object on
Google sketchup before
it can be moved and
rotated?
 i ve: By the end o
O b j e c t f this lesson
Learning - I will b
e able to use
:
Sketchup basic skills o
e v e l op n Google
e r d
To furth u s e 3D
- I will b
e able to acc
i ty t o urately mak
the abil types of join
t e three
D m o d e l l i ng - I will b s on Google Sk
etchup
CA e able to sta
software birdfeeder o rt designing
n Google Sk my
etchup
MAKING A LAP (REBATE) JOINT

The first thing you want to do is use the rectangle tool to create a rectangle that
measures 100x9mm. We are going to make a piece of timber that is 100x100mm
in size and 9mm in thickness.

Use the push pull tool to pull up the shape you have made by 100mm. Remember
to start typing and then press enter. This method will ensure accuracy. You can
also use the dimensions tool to double check.

Use the pencil to draw a line on one edge. Hover to find the blue dot which
represents the midpoint. Draw on the axis from midpoint to midpoint.
MAKING A LAP (REBATE) JOINT

Use the push pull tool to push down one side of the line you have drawn. Push it
down by 9mm (the thickness of the wood) You have now successfully created
your lap (rebate) joint.

The next step is to make sure you highlight the entire object and make it a group.
Click edit and then make group. This object is now protected.

Click the move tool and then click and drag this object you have made away
from the axis. We will now create our second piece.
MAKING A LAP (REBATE) JOINT

The first thing you want to do is use the rectangle tool to create a rectangle that
measures 100x9mm. We are going to make a piece of timber that is 100x100mm
in size and 9mm in thickness.

Use the push pull tool to pull up the shape you have made by 100mm. Remember
to start typing and then press enter. This method will ensure accuracy. You can
also use the dimensions tool to double check.

We want to rotate this piece so it is important that we make it a grouped object

first otherwise we will totally ruin the piece we have created.
MAKING A LAP (REBATE) JOINT

Click the rotate tool and then hover over the different sides of your object. Notice
how the tool changes colour, you need to decide which way you want to rotate
the piece. We want to rotate it on the red axis so move the tool to the edge.

Click once and then move your mouse upwards until you see a blue dotted line appear
– click again. You are choosing the starting point of your rotation. We 90 now want to
rotate 90 degrees from this line. Either type 90 and press enter or drag your mouse.

Once you have rotated the piece, click to secure the object in the position. The
next step is for us to move this piece to the other piece we made.
MAKING A LAP (REBATE) JOINT

Click the move tool and then hover over your object notice how it wants to lock
onto certain points, this is really useful because you can move certain point to
others (imagine magnets) click the corner.

Start to drag this corner to the position that it would sit on the rebate you made.
Notice how it locks in – satisfying right? Use the rotate tool to have a look and
check everything you done is correct.

Well Done! If you have carried out all of the steps correctly you should have a
completed lap joint!
MAKING A MITRE JOINT

The first thing you want to do is use the rectangle tool to create a rectangle that
measures 100x9mm. We are going to make a piece of timber that is 100x100mm
in size and 9mm in thickness.

Use the push pull tool to pull up the shape you have made by 100mm. Remember
to start typing and then press enter. This method will ensure accuracy. You can
also use the dimensions tool to double check.

We are now going to use the rectangle tool to create a guide. Make a square on
the edge that is 9mm,9mm. As you start to become more familiar with the
software you will notice how the axis and locks helps you.
MAKING A MITRE JOINT

Use the pencil tool to draw a line that is 45 degrees from one corner of your
square guide to the other. You will notice the endpoint guides will appear to assist
you.

Use the push pull tool to push one side forward until it reaches the other side.
You will notice it locks on the other side. You have created a mitre joint on one
piece of timber.

Use the rubber to delete tool to delete the lines you no longer want and then
highlight the entire object and make it a group.
MAKING A MITRE JOINT

Copy and paste the object so that you have two. Use the rotate tool to spin on
180 degrees so that it is facing the other.

Use the rotate tool to spin the object on the red axis by 90 degrees. You are now
ready to move the object together to create your mitre joint.

Remember when you move object that you should click at the point you intend to
join to the other object.
MAKING A FINGER JOINT

The first thing you want to do is use the rectangle tool to create a rectangle that
measures 100x9mm. We are going to make a piece of timber that is 100x100mm
in size and 9mm in thickness.

Use the push pull tool to pull up the shape you have made by 100mm. Remember
to start typing and then press enter. This method will ensure accuracy. You can
also use the dimensions tool to double check.

Use the rectangle tool to create a rectangle that measures 20x9mm from the
midpoint.
MAKING A FINGER JOINT

Use make a rectangle on the other

side using the same dimensions

Delete the line in the middle and then use the push pull tool to push down by
9mm. You have now made your female joint. Making the male will be very similar
in steps but you will push down the rectangles at the sides by 9mm instead.

You should be able to use your knowledge now to copy and

paste, group objects and create the rest of the finger joint.
Use the rotate tool to attach the pieces together to create a
90 degree joint.
Hopefully you have now created all

Plenary
three joints using sketchup.

How did it go?

What did you find most difficult?
Do you think you could add multiple
finger joints to one edge?
 MAKING A
B RD DER
FE E on

DO NOW: Can you name what all of the tools above do?

STRETCH: Can you explain some advantages of using sketchup?

 i ve: By the end o
O b j e c t f this lesson
Learning - I will b
e able to use
:
Sketchup basic skills o
e v e l op n Google
e r d
To furth u s e 3D
- I will s
tart to use a
i ty t o n iterative a
the abil designing a
3 pproach to
D m o d e l l i ng - I will b D m odel of a bir
CA e able to inc dhouse
software different join orporate a ra
ts into my d nge of
esign
 I started by making a
piece that was I then copied and I then made
100x9mm. I then used pasted the pieces male finger
the push pull tool to and arranged joint on the
pull it up by 200. I them in a way that back piece
grouped the piece and I could play which
moved it away joints I could use.

I then made the I put all the pieces

I made a bottom section I created a lap joint (rebate) around three
female joint on the together and then
using the dimensions and edges of the bottom section. The joint
side panel. I did one measured the bottom to
then put it all together to would add surface area and strengthen
and then copied and plan how I could make
plan how I would join it. the product once put together.
pasted it for the other. the bottom section.
I made two small I made small dowels to To plan the roof
panels to act as a add to the front. I I extended the
barrier to prevent the copied and pasted back piece and
bird food falling out. them and moved them then used a
into position. The last pencil to draw
I could change the side one was slightly too from the
pieces to include this big but I can sand this middle point at
as one piece. in real life to make it an angle.
fit.

The software is really useful and can

I used the push pull sometimes predict what you are trying to
tool to push the do. If you hover your mouse over the back
pieces on either side pieces angle and then try top draw your
of the angle in. The pencil line on the side piece you will notice
next step is for me to a pink line appear. This line is indicating
create an angle in that it follows the same angle you drew
the side pieces to earlier for the roof.
allow the roof to
overhang. Use the pencil to draw the angled line and
the push pull tool to push away the
unwanted material.
 I used the I made my roof
protractor tool piece and I made a few
to measure the rotated it to fit adjustments
angle of the roof the angle. I to the way
so I know how moved it into the roof
much to rotate place. I can now overhangs
my roof. start adjust the
piece.

I copied the roof and spun

it around and placed it in
position. From the
image you can
Once I did this I can see see that I have
that the roof does not tried to
meet. The great thing different
about modelling software methods of
is I can play around and making the
make adjustments to my roof meet.
product without wasting
time and materials
 I adjusted the piece so that it
In order to make the front represented a thin sheet of
piece I copied and pasted acrylic which I would position
the back piece on the front.

I finished by using the paint bucket tool

to give the product its colour. There are a
number of different colours available
that represent real materials. The glass
materials are opaque and can represent
acrylic.
 DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
Self Assessment Checklist

p l et e d y o u basic
ave com aste it
I have made walls using appropriate dimensions. Once you h o p y a nd p
d fe e de r design. C lop it to
bi r a n d de v e
edit
I have included lap (rebate) joints in my design. and start to . Alternatively you
tter
make it be ho l e n e w design.
I have included mitre joints in my design. aw
could start
I have included finger joints in my design.
I have included an area for the bird to stand.

I have included an area for the bird to access the seeds.

I have considered how the product will hang.

I have considered how the product will be refilled.

I have developed the product to have multifunction's.