How Do You Make a Hollow Cone in Sketchup?

by

In this tutorial, we will learn how to create a hollow cone in Sketchup. A hollow cone is a three-dimensional object that resembles an ice cream cone with a hollow center. It can be useful for various design projects such as creating architectural models or 3D-printed objects.

Step 1: Creating the Base Circle

To start, we need to create the base circle of the cone. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Step 1.1: Open Sketchup and select the “Circle” tool from the toolbar on the left side of the screen.
  2. Step 1.2: Click once on the origin point (the intersection of red, green, and blue axes) to set the center of the circle.3: Move your cursor away from the origin point and click again to set the radius of the circle.

Your base circle should now be visible in Sketchup’s workspace.

Step 2: Creating the Top Circle

Next, we need to create the top circle of our hollow cone. Follow these steps:

  1. Step 2.1: Select the “Offset” tool from Sketchup’s toolbar.
  2. Step 2.2: Click on any edge of your base circle to select it as a reference for offsetting.3: Move your cursor inward or outward to set the desired thickness for your hollow cone and click once to create an offset circle.

You should now see a smaller circle inside your base circle, representing the top of the hollow cone.

Step 3: Connecting the Circles

Now that we have our base and top circles, we need to connect them to create the cone shape. Follow these steps:

  1. Step 3.1: Select the “Line” tool from Sketchup’s toolbar.
  2. Step 3.2: Click once on any point along the circumference of your base circle.3: Move your cursor vertically upwards and click again on the corresponding point along the circumference of your top circle.

A triangular face should be created between the two circles, forming the side of your hollow cone.

Step 4: Erasing Unwanted Geometry

In this step, we will remove unwanted geometry from our hollow cone. Follow these steps:

  1. Step 4.1: Select the “Eraser” tool from Sketchup’s toolbar.
  2. Step 4.2: Click once on any edge or face that you want to erase.

You can use the eraser tool to remove any extra lines or faces that are not part of your desired hollow cone shape.

Step 5: Finishing Touches

To give our hollow cone a more realistic look, we can add some finishing touches such as smoothing or applying materials. Here are a few options:

  • Smoothing Edges: Select all edges of your hollow cone, right-click, and choose “Soften/Smooth Edges” from the context menu. Adjust the angle to control the level of smoothness.
  • Applying Materials: Select a face or group of faces, right-click, and choose “Paint Bucket” from the context menu. Browse through materials and apply them to your hollow cone.

Experiment with different materials and settings to achieve the desired look for your hollow cone.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve successfully learned how to create a hollow cone in Sketchup.

By following these steps and applying various finishing touches, you can customize your hollow cone to suit your specific design needs. Have fun exploring different possibilities with this versatile shape!