Google Sketchup Plugins Pipe Along Path

  

Sketchup comes built in with the functionality to create multiple copies both in straight lines with the move tool and around circles using the rotate tool. However, it doesn’t have any tools that help you create copies of objects along paths that curve. This tool allows you to do that.

TUBE ALONG PATH (TubeAlongPath.rb): by TIG. Does the same operation but only for connected paths. It has the advantage of automatically creating follow me operations when reaching corners of the path. The disadvantage is that only connected paths can be created at once. To use it select the lines that create the path, go to Plugins - Tube. Download PipeAlongPath.rb from Didier Bur's Ruby Script Library. Save it under the Plugins folder under your SketchUp installation directory.

Usage: Plugins Extensions Pipe Along Path Downloads: 58351 Version Updated: 2014-11-12 14:34:00 Tags for this article: sketchup plugins sketchup extensions plugin plugins sketchup trimble installing plugins free sketchup plugins free sketchup extensions sketchup plugin tutorials sketchup extension tutorials.

Plugin Name:

How To Draw A Pipe

PathCopy

Plugin Developer:

Smustard Team

How Much does it cost?

Free!

2d pipe fittings cad drawings

You can also download a pro version that allows path reversal, rotation of objects, and unique copies for $5 from the Smustard website.

Where do you get it?

You can get it in the extension warehouse or from Smustard’s website.

Where do you get it?

You can get it in the extension warehouse or from Smustard’s website.

Google Sketchup Plugins Pipe Along Path Tutorial

Click the Button to Download from Smustard's Website

Tool Functions

This is a very simple tool designed to do one thing – take a group or component and copy it along a path. This means you can take basically any object you want and dictate spacing to create a certain number of copies along a line. This tool operates well in conjunction with Smustard’s “Weld” tool, which allows you to take multiple lines and combine them into a single line to create a path.

The free version is limited in that you can’t dictate rotation of the various objects, but overall, as long as you’re just copying along a flat path, the free version works just fine.

Ratings

Diagram

Usefulness/Functionality – 3.5/5

The free version of this plugin does one thing – copy objects along a path, and it does it well. However, if you’re looking for a lot of options, it doesn’t give you many of those.

Value – 4/5

Google Sketchup Plugins Pipe Along Path

The base version is free, but you can tell some functions were held back for the pro version (which is fine, by the way).

Ease of Use/Documentation – 4/5 –

This plugin gives adequate instructions. It took me a moment to get used to the interface, but once I did, it worked fine.

Description

Overall score – 11.5/15.

Overall

This is kind of a tool that you download when you’re looking to create something specific, like curving balcony rails. However, it’s very useful in that regard. If you need more functions, you’ll have to pay for the pro version, but honestly, $5 is not a lot of money to get a tool that helps you do what you need to do. I’d definitely recommend this plugin, but it’s probably going to have to be in conjunction with a tool like “Weld.”

As always, leave a comment below and let me know if you’re using this tool and how.

Pipe Along Path VS Lines to Tubes – Which Tube Creation Extension for SketchUp?

In this video, I wanted to talk about two plugins – Lines to Tubes and Pipe Along Path, where to get them, and when to use each one.

Do you like these SketchUp tutorials and videos?

2d Pipe Fittings Cad Drawings

If so, please consider supporting me on Patreon (click here to support) or by visiting my Support the Show Page!

Pipe Along Path Download

THE SKETCHUP ESSENTIALS COURSE
http://www.thesketchupessentials.com/course

PIPE ALONG PATH DOWNLOAD
https://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pln=PipeAlongPath

LINES TO TUBES DOWNLOAD
https://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pln=lines2tubes

These two extensions are both extensions designed to allow you to create pipes and tubes along paths within your SketchUp model.
Pipe along path is an extension by TIG specifically designed for creating pipes along single paths or lines within your SketchUp model. It actually allows you to create a pipe with an inside and outside wall, as well as giving you the ability to adjust the number of segments in your tube.
It’s really great for pipes along single, continuous paths.

Lines to tubes is an extension by Didier Bur that allows you to convert a series of different lines into cylinders. It does not have an inside/outside wall option, but it does allow you to adjust the number of segments in the cylinders you create.
Unlike pipe along path, lines to tubes allows you to select multiple lines and convert them to tubes, whether they’re single paths, or if they’re just bunch of lines you’ve selected in your model, so it’s much better for things like this sandbox tools face.
The downside to lines to tubes is when it creates tubes along individual line segments, they don’t always align properly, so they’re literally in there as individual tubes, while curves created by pipe along path get smoothed, giving you a better looking result.
All in all, these are both important tools to have in your toolbox. I use lines to tubes all the time for areas where the target lines aren’t single continuous paths, and I use pipe along path whenever I can to create smooth segments.