SketchUp Extensions for CAD CleanUp and Importing, Model Size and Maintenance, and Model Creation

When modelling existing structures or restrictions, architects frequently construct from existing drawings or rapid layouts done in CAD. When building a model from a CAD.dwg file, these extensions can save you hours.

For CAD Cleanup and Importing, we should use following SketchUp Extensions

CleanUp3 for SketchUp
Use this tool to swiftly remove any dirty linework or unnecessary layers from a .dwg file.

SketchUp Edge Tools Extension
With this tool, you can simply construct faces in SketchUp by closing and cleaning up gaps in CAD models.

Eneroth Flatten to Plane
If you’re working with CAD designs from consultants that employ elevations (such as civil engineers), the linework may need to be flattened.

Eneroth Face Creator for SketchUp
You don’t have to trace CAD linework to turn a drawing into acceptable SketchUp faces with this addon. What a time-saver this is!

SketchUp will have trouble producing geometry if lines in the Z axis (elevation) are a fraction of an inch off. This module ensures that all CAD linework on the Z axis is at 0 degrees.

You may encounter a frustrating ‘boggy model’ when models become more detailed and loaded with textures and entourage. Materials and polygon count are important factors in a model’s performance and should be kept up to date.

Material Resizer for SketchUp
You can modify the image size from within SketchUp with this addon. It can be used to minimise the size of huge image files that are slowing down your model. It’s worth noting that after an image has been shrunk, it’s impossible to reverse the process.

CG Impact Report for SketchUp
Overly detailed models from the 3D warehouse can degrade the performance of your model. With this addon, you can manage and understand how groups and components affect performance.

Extensions for Model Creation

Creating organic geometry can take a long time and be tough. This is not the case with these extensions.

Joint Push Pull Extension for SketchUp
This is one of my favourites because it provides for more flexibility in pushing and pulling faces, including curves!

Toposhaper Extension
Toposhaper is a programme that constructs sites and grades them based on points or shapes. To develop an accurate site, I like to combine this extension with Scan Essentials (another amazing extension that converts point cloud data into 3D models).

Curviloft Extension
It works similarly to sandbox tools in that it aids in the creation of landscapes and smooth-rolling patterns. This expansion, on the other hand, provides more flexibility in terms of generating organic shapes.