I have a friend that came up with a plane that he's calling a " Flying Fish "
( I told him it looked like an over-sized guppy hence the name Flying Fish )
He wants to be able to cut them out using my Phlat printer but I have no idea how to take his paper plans and turn them into a sketchup file so I can convert them to .CNC files.

Does any of the guys here have any ideas on which way to go to get this done?
I could get a copy of the plans if sending them to someone would help get it into a sketchup file.

 

What format are the plans now? There are tutorials on this Forum related to translating dxf., jpg., and pdf. files, or at least the images on them.

 

Dennis,

Right now they are just plans cut out on poster board. he is going to trace me out a set on paper so they can be mailed if needed.

 

cptdragn, does that mean that he designed the plane free handed?

You don't mail plans, you take picture of them! Once you have the picture, import it to SU and trace it to get the file that you want.

 

Yes, he designed this on paper and then made templates for it from card stock.
The photo I can do. I simply have / had no idea how to get it into a sketchup file.
Do I need any one program ( other than SketchUp ) to make the conversion?

 

So, I think you would scan the plans into a jpeg file first. If you don't have a scanner, your local Staples or Kinkos can do that for a moderate fee and give you a disc with the images on the disc. Then follow Shaun's instructions, above.

 

Just to add to Dennis' comment, a scan of it will be more accurate than a picture. If the design is forgiving as far as parts fit goes, the picture will be fine though.

Tim

 

problem is a scan is not possible due to these being full size plans. I have been messing a bit with sketchup and think I have the idea on how to do it. just have to go by nicks house and get the photos

 

I remember a software for book scanning using a camera, called snapter. I was going to give it at try the next time I had to scan in some plans. Basically, it corrects for the distortion of pictures. Here is a review: http://spaceforeducation.blogspot.com/2 ... apter.html

-Kwok

 

find a blueprint place that does copies of large size architectural drawings, most can scan drawings and they are usually a lot cheeper than Kinkos
There is one that I use and they can scan prints up to 4 feet wide.
they can save them in pdf and tif files.
I import the tiff files into autocad and draw over the top of the imported drawing

 

I have taken plans 3' wide to Kinkos and had them convert the jpg to my flash drive!! The length could be endless and they didnt even charge me because I used my flash drive, a disc is about $10 for the conversion! Hope this helps!!

John

 

http://yfrog.com/i3nicksplanej

Got the photo done. Even managed to upload it into sketchup. Tried tracing it out using a mouse but am not happy with the results. I think i may try to take mark and john's advice and try one of the office stores. In the mean time, If one of our artists want to take a crack at it, please do so.
Once I get this converted it will be going into the free plans area. The owner only asks that it not be used for commercial purposes.

 

ET,

Thanks brother!

Its light years better than I was able to do. And as you said, Its a start.
I'll try to work it up when I get off work tonight.

 

Tony, when we say 'trace' it's not meant literally. When there is a strait line, for example. you don't trace the line, you just click on the starting point and the end point and the strait line comes out automatically. You don't trace curves. I use, seldom, the arc tool but most of the time I use the belzier tool to draw curves. Practice with the belzier tool and use it in sections on curves, not in one shot for the whole curve.

 

Yoram,

That is one of my major failings. i tend to take things a bit too literally at times. When someone says, "trace" thats what i think they mean and I'll drive myself nuts trying to do it. Thanks for the correction. I'll try what your talking about and see how I do.

 

ok, I think I have this worked up correctly. Will one of you guys take a look at it and if there are errors, Point them out. I'm still trying to learn this program. And even after watching most if not all the videos, I'm still not sure I have a handle on it.

Attached files nick plane mock up3.skp (4.6 MB)Â