See, Greg, this is why the actual example is needed. As for components cutting through thick walls - it is not possible at the moment. They can have only one axis system thus one gluing and cutting plane. There are workarounds however - you can intersect the inner face of the thick wall with the component or use some truicks. I have "compiled" the experiences and "tips&tricks" of "generations" of SU users in a little tutorial here. One will find out these techniques by him-/herself sooner or later anyway so it is just like re-inventing the wheel but a forum is just to learn from each other. Here is an example file I uploaded into the warehouse (read the description on how to enable double cutting "effect" - as it is not reall cutting double bey on its solo self). Another example without making a parent component - just placed two components mirrored on the two, opposite faces. Finally another "trick" in a video here - wonder if you figure out how I made it [flash=425,344:1l2eqnhi]http://www.youtube.com/v/ITO-oaowwrU&hl=en_US&fs=1&[/flash:1l2eqnhi]