Can You Have 2 Active Cuts in SketchUp?

SketchUp is a powerful 3D modeling software that allows users to create and manipulate designs with ease. One common question that arises among SketchUp users is whether it is possible to have multiple active cuts within a model. In this article, we will explore this topic and provide you with the necessary information.

The Basics: Active Cuts in SketchUp

Before diving into the question of having multiple active cuts, let’s first understand what an active cut means in SketchUp. When working on a complex design, it often becomes necessary to slice through the model to reveal specific sections or details. This process is known as creating a cut.

Creating a Cut in SketchUp

To create a cut in SketchUp, follow these steps:

Select the section plane tool from the toolbar or navigate to Tools > Section Plane.
Click on the desired location within your model where you want to create the cut.
An orange plane will appear, indicating the position and orientation of your cut.

Once created, you can manipulate the section plane by moving it or rotating it to adjust the view of your model. By default, only one section plane can be active at a time.

The Limitation: Only One Active Cut

Unfortunately, SketchUp does not allow for multiple active cuts within a single model. This means that while you can create multiple section planes, only one can be active at any given time.

This limitation can be frustrating when you need to simultaneously view and work on different sections of your design. However, there are workarounds that you can employ to overcome this limitation.

Workarounds for Multiple Active Cuts

While SketchUp does not provide a direct solution for having multiple active cuts, you can use groups and scenes to achieve a similar result.

Using Groups

One approach is to group different sections of your model individually. By doing so, you can create section planes within each group and switch between them by activating or deactivating the respective groups.

To create a group in SketchUp, follow these steps:

Select the geometry you want to include in the group.
Right-click on the selection and choose “Make Group” from the context menu.
The selected geometry will now be enclosed within a bounding box, indicating it is now a group.

Using Scenes

Another method is to use scenes to save different views of your model with specific section planes activated. By creating multiple scenes, each with a different active cut, you can easily switch between them without affecting the actual model geometry.

To create a scene in SketchUp, follow these steps:

Navigate to Window > Scenes to open the Scenes dialog box.
In the Scenes dialog box, click on the “+” icon to add a new scene.
In the new scene view, activate or deactivate section planes as desired.
Click on the update button (refresh icon) in the Scenes dialog box to save your changes.

You can then switch between scenes using either the Scenes dialog box or by assigning keyboard shortcuts for quick access.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while SketchUp does not support having multiple active cuts within a single model, you can utilize the grouping and scene features to achieve a similar result. By creating groups and scenes, you can switch between different sections of your design with ease, providing you with the flexibility to work on various details simultaneously.

Remember to make use of SketchUp’s powerful tools and features to enhance your modeling experience and streamline your workflow.