Another approach for copyying a compo in a loop - no success

[artmusicstudio]

hi,
sorry, i have to try again with another approach:

this is , what ruby reports first:

FROM RUBY:
menues # my module running and ok
masterdefinitions set # my module running and ok
master-components defined # my module running and ok
start masterloop # my module running and ok
creating top-handrail tubes (followme)-beta # my module running : PROBLEM
Error: #<NoMethodError: undefined method definition' for nil:NilClass> C:/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/01.rb:2440:in top_handrails'
C:/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/01.rb:2404:in each' C:/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/01.rb:2404:in top_handrails'
C:/Program Files (x86)/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/01.rb:60
END REPORT

this ist the code

MODULE start_masterloop

....some other code

model = Sketchup.active_model

                entities = @group_handlauf_mitte1.entities 
		entities.erase_entities entities[0]

		rl1 = [0, y1, 0]
		rl2 = [0, y2, z]
		
                group = @group_handlauf_mitte1 = entities.add_group
		entities2 = @group_handlauf_mitte1.entities
				
	for mth in 1..@podestnr

		group = @group_handlauf_mitte1 = entities.add_group
		entities2 = @group_handlauf_mitte1.entities
		
		new_line = entities2.add_line rl1, rl2
		length = new_line.length

		pf[mth] =  [0,  0 - @run+@run*@il*(mth-1)+@run*@la*(mth-1)+@ro.abs, (mth-1)*@il*@rise+@mr] #mitte

                if mth == 1

		centerpoint = pf[mth]
		                             
		vector = new_line.line[1]
		vector2 = vector.normalize!

		edges2 = entities2.add_circle centerpoint, vector2, @thradius
		kreis2 = entities2.add_face edges2
		status = kreis2.reverse!
		entity1 = entities[0]
		kurvem = entity1.all_connected
		
		status1 = kreis2.followme kurvem
				
		@group_handlauf_mitte1 = group.to_component
		defn = @group_handlauf_mitte1.definition
		defn.name = "@group_handlauf_mitte_compo" 
		status = @group_handlauf_mitte1.explode  # NOTE 1
		
		elsif mth > 1
		
		model = Sketchup.active_model
				
		entities2 = Sketchup.active_model.entities
		componentinstance =
    		entities2.add_instance(@group_handlauf_mitte_compo.definition, pf[mth]) # NOTE 2 (= LINE 2440)
    		puts mth # CONTROLL OUTPUT - WORKS
    		
	end
 
		new_line.erase! 
 
end

END OF MODULE

what i want to achieve, is to create a component in step 1 of the loop and copy this component to points pf[mth] in the other steps of the loop.

i desperately try, but always get an error for copyying the component.

i also tried:
explode the group, in which the component is created, but then there is not the component left, but the group (no idea how)

so maybe someone has an idea...

thank you

stan