August 04, 2009
Sketchup, unfolding, paper craft

From the Google Sketchup list, an email from Steve Meier that includes links and tips for taking a Sketchup model and unfolding it, either to print the designs or to create papercraft models. His email is below (click More).

http://www.phlatforum.com/viewforum.php?f=52
View the videos by Crash, kram242 and AnyAirRc of them using SketchUp
to create 3D models of aircraft, then unfolding the model to have flat parts to print as patterns to cut out the actually flying RC model airplane.

http://www.phlatforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=95
Must have Sketchup Scripts/Plugins - these are used in the above videos.
Examples: jf_unfoldtool.rb, progressbar.rb, weld.rb, repair_broken_lines.rb, Slicer3.rb

http://www.phlatforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=98
skin25.zip

http://www.phlatforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=94&t=987
Converting your SketchUp plan to PDF video tutorial by 3DMON on Fri Jul 24, 2009 2:16 pm

http://www.foamcasualty.com/cad.shtml
SketchUp screenshots of F6F Hellcat and FW-190 unfolded, ready to print.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=920416
This thread is "Using google Sketchup for modeling... With practical examples". It explains how to import a 3-view, create the SketchUp drawing, and how to print it out to scale.

http://www.tamasoft.co.jp/pepakura-en/
Export your SketchUp model as a Google Earth .KMZ file. Pepakura Designer v3 will open that. Then just click the Unfold button. Unregistered Pepakura Designer has "Save" disabled, but you can print the patterns using a PDF virtual printer (CutePDF, PrimoPDF, et al).

Search for "Papercraft SketchUp Unfold" and you will find many tutorials on how to unfold models. You will be able to print 1:1 scale patterns to the PDF file. You can add graphics to your bike by opening the PDF in Inkscape (free).

Posted by Dave at August 04, 2009 10:27 AM