Joint Push Pull SketchUp Plugin: The Ultimate Guide The Joint Push Pull plugin, developed by the legendary Fredo6, is an essential extension for any SketchUp user looking to move beyond basic 3D modeling. While SketchUp’s native Push/Pull tool is great for flat faces, it fails when encountering curved surfaces or multiple faces simultaneously.
This article explores how to download, install, and master this powerful tool to revolutionize your 3D workflow. Key Features of Joint Push Pull
Unlike the standard tool, this plugin offers a suite of advanced extrusion methods:
Joint Push Pull (J): Extrudes multiple adjacent faces while maintaining surface continuity—perfect for thickening curved walls or complex shells.
Vector Push Pull (V): Extrudes faces along a specific direction (vector), which is invaluable for creating flat bases on uneven terrain.
Normal Push Pull (N): Extrudes multiple faces at once, each along its own individual normal direction.
Round Push Pull: Extrudes surfaces while automatically rounding the connecting edges.
Extrude Push Pull: Similar to the joint mode but keeps faces separate for specific geometric needs. How to Download and Install (Step-by-Step) 1. Prerequisites
To run Joint Push Pull, you must install a helper library. These are also available for free on SketchUcation:
LibFredo6: A shared library required for all Fredo6 plugins.
SketchUcation ExtensionStore: Recommended for easier management and licensing. 2. Download the Plugin Joint Push Pull Sketchup Plugin Free Download
Modern Version (Paid/Trial): The latest "Interactive" version is a paid extension ($15 perpetual license) but offers a 30-day full-featured free trial.
Classic Version (Free): The Joint Push Pull Classic version remains free for both private and commercial use, though it lacks the interactive UI of newer releases. 3. Installation Process
sat at his desk, staring at a 3D model of a modern museum wing. The design called for a sweeping, organic roof—a beautiful, double-curved surface that looked like a wave frozen in time.
In SketchUp, creating the surface was easy enough. The problem came when he tried to give it thickness.
He reached for the standard Push/Pull tool.Click."Cannot push/pull curved or smoothed surfaces," the software mocked him.
He tried manually offsetting the edges and drawing thousands of tiny connecting lines. Hours passed. His wrists ached. His model was a jagged mess of "z-fighting" faces and broken geometry. He was ready to delete the file and tell the client the roof had to be a flat box. The Discovery of Joint Push Pull
Desperate, Leo searched for a solution and found a legend whispered in the forums: Joint Push Pull by Fredo6.
He downloaded the extension (from a reputable source like SketchUcation) and saw a new row of icons appear. He selected his entire curved roof, clicked the "Joint" icon, and pulled.
Instead of an error message, something magical happened. The entire complex surface expanded outward perfectly, maintaining its curvature while gaining exactly 12 inches of thickness. It didn't just push the faces; it calculated the "joint" vectors between them, keeping the geometry airtight. The Transformation
With Joint Push Pull, Leo didn't just finish the roof; he started experimenting. Joint Push Pull SketchUp Plugin: The Ultimate Guide
Vector Push/Pull: He extruded shapes along a specific axis, regardless of face orientation.
Normal Push/Pull: He thickened objects relative to their individual surface directions.
Rounding: He used the plugin to create smooth, manifold solids that were actually 3D printable.
What had been an impossible six-hour task was solved in six seconds. The museum wing was saved, the client was thrilled, and Leo never looked at a flat face the same way again. How to Get It (The Right Way)
If you're looking to write your own success story with this plugin, remember that it is part of the Fredo6 Collection.
LibFredo6: You must first download and install the "LibFredo6" shared library for the plugin to work.
SketchUcation: The most reliable place for the free/donation-ware version is the SketchUcation Plugin Store.
FredoCorner: Often paired with Joint Push Pull to round off the edges you just created.
Joint Push Pull plugin by Fredo6 is officially available for download via the SketchUcation PluginStore
. While there is a free 30-day trial for the latest interactive version, long-term use now typically requires a paid license. SketchUcation Official Download & Installation To download the plugin, you must have a SketchUcation account (registration is free). SketchUcation Download LibFredo6 Developed by Fredo6 (a titan in the SketchUp
: This is a mandatory shared library required for all Fredo6 plugins to function. Download SketchUcation ExtensionStore
: This tool is necessary for managing licenses and installing Fredo6's extensions. Install Joint Push Pull : Download the RBZ file from the PluginStore
and install it through the SketchUp Extension Manager (Window > Extension Manager > Install Extension). SketchUp Community Key Version Differences Joint Push Pull Interactive (Current)
: Includes advanced tools like Round, Vector, and Normal Push Pull. It operates on a paid perpetual license model ($15) after a 30-day free trial. Joint Push Pull Classic (Legacy) : An older, simpler version (v2.2a) that remains free for private and commercial use
. It does not require LibFredo6 and is certified for versions up to SketchUp 2017, though it may work in newer versions. SketchUcation Main Features
This plugin expands standard push-pull capabilities by allowing you to: Joint Push Pull Interactive 02-Apr-2025 —
Developed by Fredo6 (a titan in the SketchUp plugin community), Joint Push Pull is an extension that allows you to extrude non-planar faces. While the native tool only pushes flat surfaces vertically, Joint Push Pull can:
Without this plugin, modeling organic architecture (like Zaha Hadid-style curves) or thick terrain maps is nearly impossible.
Developer: Fredo6 Category: Modeling Tools