Placing a component onto a face in SU.

[pren]

Hey.

probably a really simple thing but it's been driving me nuts!

Fairly new to SU and have been dabbling with some bedroom furniture designs.

I've made the carcass and doors in SU but seem to be having trouble placing the door handles onto the doors/drawers :? I'm resorting to moving the handles over the door, turning the model through 90degrees and lining up again so that they sit on the doors with out ending up either passing through or floating off them!!!

Also, is there a way to precisely dictate where the handles sit? Again, it's a case of lining up by eye, which I'm positive is not a particularly technical way of doing things!

I'm sure its really simple but I jes cannea do it!! :roll:

Please help!!

Regards,
Bryn. 8)

 

[wizer]

Have a play with the tape measure. put guidelines on the model that you can snap the handle to.

that's how i do it anyway

 

[SketchUp Guru]

Bryn,

WiZeR is onto something. You can use the Tape Measure tool to place a couple of guidelines to help locate the handle. Let's say a vertical one midway across the width of the stile and a second one, horizontally this time, at where you want the top of the handle to be.

Next, it may seem like there's no good way to use the Move tool to place the handle where you want it but that's because you can grab the handle anywhere you please. Think about what it is that you want aligned with what and grab there. It's a bit like threading a needle. You wouldn't grab the piece of thread a foot from the end and try to steer the end into the needle's eye. Don't do that when using the Move tool.

So, you have the base of the handle where it contacts the face of the door. Grab the handle by the edge of that base and start moving it in the direction of the door. Place it on the face.

Keep in mind that due to the 3D nature of the space you are working in, it is difficult to know what direction you're actually moving in unless you are moving parallel to one of the axes. You may need to move in one direction first and then another. If you have a reference point at which you want to place the component, you can usually go to it.

You may need to orbit a bit to get a good view and to be able to see where you're going with the component. Although you have a 3D perspective view, it is basically monovision so you haven't got depth perception working in your favor.

Keep plugging and you'll get it.

 

[pren]

Dave, wizer: thanks for the advice!

Never used guidelines before so I'll give them a shot.

Cheers.
Bryn.