Hey, New to SketchUp
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Hey, all.
I started playing around with SketchUp about a month ago, after my Drafting teacher told me to try it out, since I had gotten pretty good at drafting programs like AutoCAD, Revit, etc.
It was a little hard to get adjusted, but I've really gotten to enjoy SketchUp, and I think I'm finally starting to get the hang of it.I downloaded SketchyPhysics today because I saw some examples on YouTube and decided that I wouldn't mind trying it out. But I'm definitely over my head at the moment x_x... Any tips and such would be appreciated, lol.
One thing in particular I've noticed is that when I try to use the Joint Connector tool, it doesn't connect my joint to the object. It displays the words "Requires SketchyPhysics 3 CR1" Am I doing something wrong, or did I download the wrong version? =/
Anyway, I look forward to learning a lot while I'm here. Hopefully I can turn SketchUp into a valuable tool in my repertoire.
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Hi Nick and elcome.
We have a "dedicated" SP subforum under the "Extensions and..." forum where I'm immediately moving your post as that's the place you'll get your answers.
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Thank you.
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If you need a little help you can go to the thread above by Curbs for basics such as grouping, jointing and here's the sketchyphysics wiki
http://sketchyphysics.wikia.com/wiki/SketchyPhysicsWiki
Have Fun
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Alright, cool. Checking the link right now.
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Hi,
at this site you will find very helpfull video tutorials.
http://download.sketchup.com/downloads/training/tutorials50/Sketchup%20Video%20Tutorials.html
Karlheinz
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Ah, outstanding. Thanks.
Question: I was reading the tutorial that phy told me to look at in the topic, and it talks about debugging to make sure the shape is right. I can't do that; under the right click menu, it goes Debug>Readback Collision Geometry and that's it, no "Run."
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Yup, that's all we get
It shows you the actual collision geometry of the item, which is what the physics engine 'sees'. It will (sometimes) help fix problems in models.
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The thing is, it won't show me the geometry that SP "sees." It acts like I didn't do anything =/
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well you need to play the simulation
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Play the simulation?... How do I do that?
Sorry if these are dumb questions, this is my first day using SP, lol.
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Not much point in SP if you don't play the sim! Press the play button
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To make joints:
-Create two objects
-Create a joint
-Group the joint with one object
-Select the other object with the JCT, then ctrl+click the joint
-Play the sim!
Components are fine. You can also group componets with normal groups. Or normal groups in components. Or whatever...
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Oh, okay. Sorry.
So I have to hit play before I can view what SP is "seeing" my geometry as?
Also, I'm still not able to use the Joint Connector tool. I kind of assumed all I did was click the icon, then click the joint, and then the "mother" object, but that doesn't seem to be working =/...
EDIT: I got my first successful movement. It was just a ball rolling down a ramp, but I think I'm finally beginning to understand the basics of this program. If I can get the joints to work, I think I can proceed in leaps and bounds.
EDIT2: One more question. I know you need to group everything before using SP. Would a component work just as well? I'm not really sure how all they're different, except that you can make changes to a copy of a group without changing the original. If I, say, made a wheel of a car, and needed to copy it, could I make that a component instead? Or does SP only use groups?
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I tried that, it's not working =/...
Okay, I'll outline what I'm doing step-by-step, and you tell me where I'm going wrong. I'm sure it's some stupid mistake on my end.
For testing purposes, I'll try to make a wheel on a car, and push it.
- Make rectangle; pull it into box.
- Make circle; pull it into cylinder.
- Make the rectangle a group.
- Make the tire a group.
- Copy tire 3 times.
- Place tire on box (repeat for all tires).
- Place hinge on the center of the tire; use the opposite center as axis (this makes sense in my mind as how to do it, lol). Repeat for all four tires.
- Group tire and hinge together (repeat for all tires).
- Click "Joint Connector."
- Select one hinge, then box (repeat for all tires).
- Place over static ground.
- Hit play.
- Attempt to push.
- Instead of turning, wheels hilariously fall off like it's a Loony Toons cartoon <.< >.>
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LOL #14 was kinda funny.
It isn't really a stupid mistake. Select joint tool, click on the joint, then holding left control click on the mother object. -
Aha! I got the wheels to turn.
I did a few things differently, and I'm not sure which one fixed it =/...
I put the joint on the inside, between the body and the tire. Before I was putting it on the outside. I also clicked after I ctrl+clicked the mother object. That probably seems like one of the "duh" things, but it never even crossed my mind. I absentmindedly hit enter and went on my way, lol.
But whatever it was, it worked.
I think once I figure out how all the different joints work, I can do some pretty cool stuff with this.
Anyway, thanks a lot for your help, guys. I know noobs like me probably get pretty annoying, lol.
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Oh something I forgot to tell you was the "UI" button that's on the sketchyphysics toolbar. This button has a window that enables you to modify joints. Wasn't sure whether you knew or not just thought you'd like to know.
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Yep, that's what I'm playing around with right now.
I'm having some issues getting the controller thing to work.
I've got two blocks with a hinge in the middle, for testing purposes. I name the joint "Main," and then hit play to get my control display up, and I get an error message that says, in a nutshell, "I REFUSE TO COOPERATE MUAHAHA."
I'm sure I'll get it eventually, though.
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You probably want a controller. It was slightly easier in SP2, but all you need to put is:
slider("name")
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