How Do I Cut Out Two Sections in SketchUp?

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Are you struggling with cutting out two sections in SketchUp? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!

In this tutorial, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of cutting out two sections in SketchUp using different techniques. So, let’s dive right in.

Method 1: Using the Slice Tool

The Slice tool is a powerful feature in SketchUp that allows you to cut out sections from your model easily. Here’s how you can use it:

  1. Select the object or group that you want to cut.
  2. Go to the “Tools” menu and choose “Slice”. Alternatively, you can also use the shortcut key “K”.
  3. Select the plane or surface where you want to make the cut.
  4. Click once to define the starting point of the slice.
  5. Click again to define the ending point of the slice.
  6. Delete or hide the unwanted section using the Eraser tool or by hiding it in layers.

Congratulations! You have successfully cut out a section using the Slice tool. Now let’s move on to Method 2 for cutting out two sections simultaneously.

Method 2: Using Groups and Intersect Faces

This method is particularly useful when you want to cut out multiple sections from your model simultaneously. Here’s how it works:

  1. Create a group:
    • Select the objects or faces that you want to cut.
    • Right-click on the selection and choose “Make Group” from the context menu. Alternatively, you can also use the shortcut key “Ctrl+G” (Windows) or “Cmd+G” (Mac).
  2. Duplicate the group:
    • Select the group and make a copy.

      You can do this by either right-clicking and choosing “Copy” from the context menu or by using the shortcut key “Ctrl+C” (Windows) or “Cmd+C” (Mac).

    • Paste the copied group by right-clicking and choosing “Paste in Place” from the context menu or by using the shortcut key “Ctrl+V” (Windows) or “Cmd+V” (Mac).
  3. Edit each group:
    • Edit each group separately to remove the unwanted sections. You can use any of SketchUp’s editing tools, such as Push/Pull, Eraser, or Intersect Faces.
  4. Merge both groups:
    • Select both groups by holding down the Shift key and clicking on each group.
    • Right-click on one of the selected groups and choose “Explode” from the context menu. This will merge both groups into a single object.

Hooray! You have successfully cut out two sections in SketchUp using the Groups and Intersect Faces method. Now you can continue working on your model with the unwanted sections removed.

Conclusion

SketchUp offers various tools and techniques to cut out sections from your models. In this tutorial, we explored two methods: using the Slice tool and using Groups and Intersect Faces. Both methods are effective, but the choice depends on your specific requirements.

Remember to save your work regularly as you go along, as cutting out sections can sometimes be a complex process that requires precision. So go ahead, experiment with these techniques, and create amazing models in SketchUp!