Plugin Sketchup Shape Bender !!top!!

Shape Bender is a legendary, free extension for SketchUp—developed by Chris Fullmer—that solves one of the most common headaches in 3D modeling: bending a group or component along a custom curved path.

Step 1: Prepare the "Straight" Geometry (The Object)

  • Create the object you want to bend.
  • Crucially: The object must be oriented along the Red (X) axis.
  • Crucially: The object must be a Group or Component. Raw faces will not work.
  • Crucially: The "left" end of your object (the start point) must be at the Axis Origin (0,0) or exactly where your Red line starts.

For years, this community-driven plugin (most famously by Chris Fullmer) has been the gold standard for deforming objects along curves. If you search for "bend geometry in SketchUp," Shape Bender is the first result—and for good reason. This article will act as your complete manual, covering what it is, how to install it, the precise workflow for using it, common failure points, and professional alternatives. plugin sketchup shape bender

Up Arrow: Toggles the orientation of the bend (inside vs. outside the curve). Down Arrow: Reverses the start and end points. Finalize: Press Enter to commit the transformation. Troubleshooting & Tips Shape Bender is a legendary, free extension for

Create the curve or path you want the object to follow. This can be an arc, a circle, or a complex polyline. Ensure this curve is "welded" into a single path (use the native "Weld Edges" tool in newer SketchUp versions). 4. Run the Plugin Select the Group/Component you want to bend. Create the object you want to bend

Verdict: Stick with Shape Bender for 2D curves (path deformations). Use Flowify for 3D surfaces.

  • Break the Target Curve into thirds (Straight -> Curve -> Straight).
  • Bend the first section.
  • Explode the result.
  • Group and bend again.

A Base Line: A single straight line drawn on the red axis that represents the length of the original object.

right now that needs a complex curve, or are you just getting started with the plugin setup