How to model a pyramid in SketchUp - Skill Builder

[@Greek2Me64]

As a CAD instructor at a private technical school, we often challenged students to find multiple ways to accomplish a seemingly obvious task because, for a variety of reasons, sometimes your "normal" way of doing it just won't work. It's good to have a fuller understanding of your tools because there are SO many design situations, you never know what impact some limiting criteria may impose on your design flow. NICELY done!

[@carsten.unverzagt]

another quick method: square -> pushpull -> line from midpoint of top edge to bottom corner -> follow me for triangle around square

[@howhow5896]

yeah it works only with squares tho

[@madwani]

Actually, you can do the second pyramid using the first method by typing in 70' after moving the middle vertex upward.

[@nixxonnor]

I think you are right. The height of the first pyramid was shown in the lower right corner (~60' 5 7/8") and could be edited

[@madwani]

@@nixxonnor The only remain thing would be the base.

[@AaronMakingStuff]

Great point! Ha! Pyramid.. point... good stuff, right there!

[@Skans-Gustav]

Perhaps you could show how to efficiently design a 1:20 (or so) temporary ramp up around such a pyramid, just to explain how the Egyptians actually could drag those stones all the way up to the top.

[@KowboyUSA]

Now we finally know how the pyramids were built!

[@marakony]

5:16 that’s an option we need :)

[@christophermorin9036]

Lol, so many ways to make a pyramid. I make a square, use push/pull to raise the square to a defined height. Draw an x from corner to corner on the top face. Then grab each upper corner with the move tool and move them down on the blue axis until they clip to the lower corners.

[@gobysky]

Wow, you really have to think outside the box with some of these techniques. 😁. I needed that, since I’m doing something similar.

[@apusista]

Excellent tutorial! Short, sweet and very useful! I'm designing something that needs this shape! 👍🏽🙏🏽😊

[@CamAlert2]

if you wanna make an Egyptian-accurate pyramid, make a base with radius 1 and a height of the radius times the square root of phi.

[@davidcole9343]

Thank you, this was very helpful and liked your presentation!

[@gunnyboy311]

How about intersecting two triangular prisms? If you'd want to complicate things 😅

[@AaronMakingStuff]

That would work as well!

[@fschock]

How would one sketch a square base pyramid made out of 0.75 plywood which is 25" x 25" with a height of 27". In order for the ascending edges to interlock, how would one set (determine) the angles for the four sides?

[@danielgodson7965]

Once you have created a pyramid like you have done in the video- is there any way to easily give this pyramid/shape a thickness? (Say I wanted each wall of the pyramid to be a certain thickness?) Pushing and pulling leaves a lot of confucing cleanup.

[@ronhollenbeck]

Try making 2 pyramids making sure they are both solid and subtract one from the other. You will have to calculate the dimensions using trig.

[@mearkitek3773]

Just think what the early Egyptians would have thought about this capability!

[@LT72884]

Sorcery hahaha

[@ronaldbetty8338]

From last live session of modeling Burj al Arab, I have become a full time fan of Sketchup tool. What are we modeling next? I would propose the Petronas twin tower.

[@AaronMakingStuff]

Not sure, but I am sure it will be fun and I hope to see you there!

[@turbotonic27]

This is so informative.thank

[@Blenkey57]

I once drew the great pyramid of Giza. It had a specific angle. So there’s another way to draw it.

[@marie-joseegiguere8967]

what key do you actually use to lock it?

[@gildas8891]

Anothet quickwin you can erase a line that is inside a volume by activating xray

[@xaenon]

Or, just deleting that line before draw (or rotate-copy) the additional sides, because your peak is already centered.

[@ShinnahWilde]

I never realised the arc tool could rotate to a reference line. "Doh!" moment for me. I have been using the 3D Rotate plugin to accomplish similar tasks... Side note: why doesn't SketchUp snap to a reference line when rotating objects like in the third pyramid example?

[@artworksenvisioneering2167]

Sometimes it will. Selecting your rotated object at the point you wish to inference may help. Here, it's be the point of the triangle you wish to hit the vertical line. Other times, I've had to use guide lines which seem to help it find just the intersection I wanted. Agreed, it could be a bit more consistent, and some times, doesn't inference at all. Usually I have broken line, or something causing it though.

[@AaronMakingStuff]

At this point, Rotate is one of my favorite ways to move things. Not sure about the intersection question... not sure if it has something to do with how SketchUp creates Arcs...

[@gkk94]

I would do the first option typing the distance to move...

[@007caz]

Hi very interesting. I'm trying to create a 3d origami fortune teller from pyramids. Can you possibly do a tutorial for it.

[@marakony]

Another way to build pyramid is to use Follow me tool.

[@AaronMakingStuff]

Too true!!

[@w.binder-freecadchannel]

Very Nice! =)

[@DRAGONVIEW.CH-SwissParagliding]

If the material has thickness, its not that simple. Can you show us?

[@paisleypark802]

exactly, I have been trying this with some offcuts, but would be great to see a plan here, to ensure all my angles are right

[@robertslinger3705]

Could you chamfer the edges? A rounded pyramid!

[@robertslinger3705]

I had to do this on a project. I never found a satisfactory solution. Ended up eyeballing it 😊

[@ShinnahWilde]

Round Corner plugin.

[@xaenon]

If you want rounded corners ascending to a pointed peak, you can use method #1. Start with a rounded-corner square. Divide into four, pull the center upward. The diameter of the rounded corners will decrease as it approaches the top.

[@speculesgorgoth4055]

The pyramid at Giza has 8 sides

[@TitusKrakenDesigns]

Burj al Arab and now u re in Egypt? what is next the sphinx? :)

[@AaronMakingStuff]

I am a virtual world traveler!!

[@ff67ff]

Great thanks i m gringo to draw the keope one

[@vinicioguzaman1470]

QUE FACIL

[@Sky1ar_the.stargir1]

Sigma👍