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How to Design a Rope Coil Using SketchUp

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Semi-complete rope coils
Semi-complete rope coils

There are lots of things that you can do with SketchUp. Learning how to do them can help you improve your skills with the program. Read this article to learn how to make rope coil by creating a spiral first.

Edit Steps

  1. 1
    12 sided object
    12 sided object
    Use the Polygon tool and create a 12 sided shape (a dodecagon). Use the Push/Pull tool and extend it. Be sure that you have it set for a certain distance, e.g. 12 inches, 36 inches, etc. It depends on the scale that you are working at. Then hold down CTRL down and extend it a small distance further. Be sure that it is centered on one of the axes.
  2. 2
    12 layers for 12 sides
    12 layers for 12 sides
    Using the select tool, select the top shorter piece's top surface, click the CTRL key and raise it the same distance that you did the first time. In the case of this screenshot, each section is 3 feet (36 inches). Do this for a total of 12 layers. You need the 12 layers because there are 12 sides to the object and that way it will make a complete turn.
  3. 3
    Click View >> Make Group.
  4. 4
    Click on the pencil tool and then trace over one of the longer lines and from there, start drawing the spiral tool.
    Click on the pencil tool and then trace over one of the longer lines and from there, start drawing the spiral tool.
    Click on the pencil tool and then trace over one of the longer lines and from there, start drawing the spiral tool. You do that by clicking on one corner and taking to the next upper left corner and continue on around.
  5. 5
    A perpendicular circle
    A perpendicular circle
    Go back to the beginning where you traced the first long line. Draw a small circle perpendicular to the object.
  6. 6
    3 joined sections for the spiral path
    3 joined sections for the spiral path
    After making the Follow Me circle that you created above, press Delete to delete the Reference Group that you have made. You will see a single revolution. If you want more, copy and paste more to extend it.
  7. 7
    Progress at this point
    Progress at this point
    Using the Follow Me tool, extrude the circle to go along the path. This is what it will look like at this point.
  8. 8
    Get rid of the long edge at the beginning of the spiral. It is no longer needed.
  9. 9
    Smoothing the edges
    Smoothing the edges
    Select the entire object, right click on it and click on Soften/Smooth Edges. Move the Slider bar until it is smooth.
  10. 10
    Copy and paste the spirals to interweave together to create a rope coil.


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Edit Sources and Citations

  • Original information comes from Google SketchUp Cookbook, p. 51

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Article Info

Last edited:
September 10, 2011 by Ttrimm

Categories:
Google SketchUp | SketchUp Follow Me Tool

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