Draw the Parts that will make up the Assembly
Draw a series of Profile Members (using the Profile Builder Build Tool) and other Components that you wish to use for the assembly. In this example, we will make a railing composed of rails, posts and spindles.
The parts for the assembly can be drawn anywhere in your model but it is much easier to create the assembly if you draw all of the parts in the same position that you want for the assembly. That way, you can use the SketchUp tape measure tool to easily calculate the offset and setback parameters for the various parts.
Open the Assembly Dialog
Create a New Assembly
Click the 'New Assembly' button to create a new Assembly
Give the Assembly a Name and Description
Add a Profile Member to the Assembly
1. Click the Profile Member Tab.
2. Click the 'Add Profile Member' button.
3. Click the 'Pick from Model' button.
4. Click a Profile Member in your model to add it to the assembly.
Be sure to give the part a meaningful name. Here we named the part 'Top Rail'.
You can also click the profile icon next to the 'Pick from Model' button to select a profile saved on your computer.
Edit the Profile Member part
1. Set the Up / Down Offset to 3 feet and click the 'Global' checkbox. By setting the offset to global, the part will be offset 3 feet along the model blue axis even if the assembly is built along a sloping path.
2. Edit the Profile Attributes if desired. For simplicity, it is recommended to keep the x and y offsets set to zero in the Profile Dialog and rather use the Offset parameters for the Profile Member part to control the position within the assembly.
3. Click 'OK' when finished editing.
Add the Bottom Rail Part
Repeat the previous steps to add the Bottom Rail.
Set the Up / Down offset of the bottom rail to 8" and check global.
Add a Component to the Assembly
1. Click on the 'Component' tab.
2. Click the 'Add Component' button.
3. Click the 'Pick from Model' button.
4. Click on a component in your model.
Be sure to give the component part a meaningful name.
Edit the Component Part
Change the spacing to 6'. Leave the other settings as is.
Add the Metal Spindle Part
1. Click the 'Add Component' button.
2. Click the 'Pick from Model...' button.
3. Click the Metal Spindle Component.
4. Change the spacing to 4 inches.
5. Change the Up / Down offset to 8 inches and check global.
6. Change the Left / Right offset to 0 inches.
Edit the Axis of the Component
It will usually be necessary to edit the axis of the Component so that it is positioned correctly. To edit the axis of a component, right-click on the component in the SketchUp model and choose 'Change Axes' from the context menu.
The component will be positioned on the Assembly path as follows:
- The red axis will point in the direction of the path of the assembly (forward)
- The blue axis will point 'up'
- The green axis will point 'left' from the perspective of someone looking in the direction of the assembly path.
Congratulations! You just created an Assembly!
Now that you have created an assembly, you can save it, build it, or share it on the 3D Warehouse!
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