How to design your box in Google Sketchup!

[mklett33 10+ year member]

Here you go guys let me know what you think!

What is Google Sketchup?

Sketchup is a free 3d modeling program that is made by Google. It is used around the world for its ease of use and accurate function.

Where do I get it?

Right here: Trimble SketchUp Download the basic version.

What is the advantage?

You can basically "build" your box before you make a single cut! Get an idea what it will look like, even lay out all the boards to make sure you get the most use out of a sheet!

How do I use it?

Watch my video below!

Click to read more...

 

[CAT MAN 5,000+ posts]

+1 man

 

[BKNIGHTS 10+ year member]

nice videos. How would you find out what length to cut the board that will be kerfed? And where to make the first and last kerf cut? How many cuts?

 

[OmegaBunny 10+ year member]

 

[OmegaBunny 10+ year member]

To figure out your kerf size you need to know how far on each side you want to go, say 6 inches on the front and 6 inches down the port...

So the 6 inches would be the radius of a 12 in diameter circle

Take the diameter (12) and multiply it by pi (3.14) and divide it by 4, since you are only doing a 90 degree bend.

(12*3.14)/4= 9.42" or about 9 7/16"

Then measure from the corner of the port 6" in one direction to get the end of the port. From that mark measure out the the actual Kerf length in this case the 9 7/16" whichever way you need the kerf to go.

***EDIT***

to figure out what the .42 equals start take your measuring tape and divide the numerator/denominator...

1/8" = 0.125

2/8" = 0.25

3/8" = 0.375

4/8" = 0.5

5/8" = 0.625

6/8" = 0.75

7/8" = 0.875

1/16"= 0.0625

2/16" (1/8")= 0.125

3/16"= 0.1875

4/16 (1/4") = 0.25

5/16"= 0.3125

6/16" (3/8") = 0.375

7/16" = 0.4375

8/16" (1/2") = 0.5

9/16" = 0.5625

10/16 (5/8") = 0.0625

11/16" = 0.6875

12/16" (3/4") = 0.75

13/16" = 0.8125

14/16" (7/8") = 0.875

15/16" = 0.9375

 

[mklett33 10+ year member]

Thanks bunny! Thats what I was going to post and you beat me to it!

 

[OmegaBunny 10+ year member]

No problem!

 

[mklett33 10+ year member]

I would like to add that if anyone uses this video to learn sketchup, please post a picture in this thread of your box you made! Would love to see what you guys come up with!

 

[mklett33 10+ year member]

Did anyone else enjoy this video? Im thinking about how to show how you can angle the boards more effectively and accurately.

 

[pro-rabbit 5,000+ posts]

Did anyone else enjoy this video? Im thinking about how to show how you can angle the boards more effectively and accurately.

Keep up the good work, glad to see more "how to's" how there for DIY. I wish I had the time to put something together, but you're doing a great job at it already anyway lol.

 

[DonH 5,000+ posts]

in that kerfing video, do NOT WEAR GLOVES! you should never wear gloves when using any sort or rotary motor.

 

[pro-rabbit 5,000+ posts]

in that kerfing video, do NOT WEAR GLOVES! you should never wear gloves when using any sort or rotary motor.

I'm pretty sure that was brought up in a thread for that video. It could have been on another forum though, I'm on to many and I get them confused some times. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif

 

[mklett33 10+ year member]

I'm pretty sure that was brought up in a thread for that video. It could have been on another forum though, I'm on to many and I get them confused some times. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif

Haha yes that was brought up before. I should add an annotation for that.

Thanks for the kind words. I have got some negative comments on some of the other forums. Im not claiming by any means to "know it all" but there are quite a few things that I do know, and the way I see it, the more we share with one another the more we will get to sit back and look through awesome build threads. Plus the more "how to's" we put together, the less threads we will see that start with "how do i design a box", "which subwoofer is better", and "will my subs be loud".

 

[RAM_Designs 5,000+ posts]

I generally use a 3.5" radius with kerfs since it equals right at 5.5" of length from first cut to last cut...just much easier on the head when doing the lengths for the pieces.

 

[mklett33 10+ year member]

Good idea! I have an excel spreadsheet that I punch stuff in to.