Hello!!

I don´t know really how to do that fully functional.
But you can change so the value always start at 0 (zero), but the slider will be in the middle as always.

**Go to this folder that contain the physics files: Standard: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Google SketchUp 8\Plugins\SketchyPhysics3"
Then open the "ControllerCommands.rb" file with a text editor or something like that! (ex. notepad in Windows)
Scroll down to line "11", probably you don´t have to scroll.

The line: def slider(sname,defaultValue=0.5,min=0.0,max=1.0)#command#
Change the line to: def slider(sname,defaultValue=0.0,min=0.0,max=1.0)#command#

Then save and restart Sketchup!
When you create a slider or motor or anything at all right now, with a slider, and then start it will show 0.0 and nothing will move.
!BUT the slider itself will be at the middle of the line! Don´t touch it yet!
Press pause and pull down the sliders to zero, then it will work!**

/hope this will solve the problem, otherwise, I recommend that you learn to script with "RUBY".
Perhaps we can help you with the basics, if I get time! Otherwise, I recommend this website!

Hello!
You can do the controller-thing in diffrent ways:
Write this in the controller field.

slider("NAMEofSLIDER")

When you press play there will be a slider in a box, from value 0 to 1, (it will start on 0.5)

key("SOMEkey")

If you change "SOMEkey" to "W" for example, then when you press "W" it will be the same as the slider put to 1 (one)

getVar("SomeText")

This is used when you will programming the model to do diffrent stuffs, it´s a little more difficult to explain.

hope this will work it out for you!

/hpnisse

Hello again!
I'm glad you liked the "script", and that you got it to work for your model, which by the way was really well done!
My Sketchup crashes sometimes, I do not know if it has to do with SP3.2 but it usually work out if you have autosave on, then you have something to go back to if it would crash.
Is there anything else, just ask!

Hey!

I made a model that I think works with your requirements.
"X" is used to move the menu.
To see how it works: turn on "View Hidden Group", and the script is in the big box on the side.

Hope this works. You can add several menu steps if you want that.

Menu-options.skp

I did the test today, but today I had no other programs running in the background.
So the result was the following:

@unknownuser said:

[list:2z3c5kg9]OpenGL ON

Shadow on: ["Time", 3.912, "Frames", 60, "Fps", 15.3374233128834]

Shadow off: ["Time", 1.054, "Frames", 60, "Fps", 56.9259962049336]

OpenGL OFF

Shadow on: ["Time", 60.347, "Frames", 60, "Fps", 0.994249921288548]

Shadow off: ["Time", 24.993, "Frames", 60, "Fps", 2.4006721882127][/list2z3c5kg9]

I even tried to hide the edges, but it made ​​minimal difference.
In order to get exactly 60 frames, I used LazyScript and "endSim ()" command.

The model is too small, that's why the faucets do not work as it should.
I enlarged the model to 200%, twice the size.
Then as I put new ones on "Physics Joints", "Hinge / Servos".
So now it works model properly.

sink.skp

Hello!!
I did the test as you described. And the result was the following:

@unknownuser said:

OpenGL ON

Shadow off: ["Time", 2.377, "Frames", 64, "Fps", 26.9246949936895]

Shadow on: ["Time", 5.117, "Frames", 65, "Fps", 12.702755520813]

OpenGL OFF

Shadow off: ["Time", 28.666, "Frames", 65, "Fps", 2.26749459289751]

Shadow on: ["Time", 30.419, "Frames", 65, "Fps", 2.13682238074887]

The difference is incredible. But OpenGL was active from the beginning, so I've never had that problem.
The computer specs:

@unknownuser said:

Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2500K CPU @ 3.30GHz

Minne (RAM) 4,00 GB 7,5
Grafik Radeon HD 6800 Series 7,8
Spelgrafik 2807 MB tillgängligt grafikminne 7,8
Primär hårddisk 123GB ledigt (243GB totalt) 5,9
Windows 7 Ultimate

System

Tillverkare Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.

Modell PH67A-UD3
Total mängd systemminne 4,00 GB RAM
Systemtyp 64-bitars operativsystem
Antal processorkärnor 4

Lagring (Storage)

Total mängd hårddiskutrymme 1081 GB

Diskpartition (C:) 123 GB ledigt (243 GB totalt)
Diskpartition (D:) 61 MB ledigt (100 MB totalt)
Diskpartition (E:) 29 GB ledigt (29 GB totalt)
Diskpartition (F:) 52 GB ledigt (492 GB totalt)
Diskpartition (G:) 29 GB ledigt (30 GB totalt)
Diskpartition (H:) 2 MB ledigt (2 MB totalt)
Diskpartition (I:) 149 GB ledigt (196 GB totalt)
Medieenhet (J:) CD/DVD
Diskpartition (K:) 11 GB ledigt (90 GB totalt)
Medieenhet (P:) CD/DVD
Medieenhet (Q:) CD/DVD
Medieenhet (R:) CD/DVD
Medieenhet (S:) CD/DVD
Medieenhet (T:) CD/DVD

Grafik

Typ av grafikkort Radeon HD 6800 Series

Total mängd tillgängligt grafikminne 2807 MB
Dedikerat grafikminne 1024 MB
Dedikerat systemminne 0 MB
Delat systemminne 1783 MB
Grafikkortets drivrutinsversion 8.782.0.0
Primär bildskärmsupplösning 1920x1080
DirectX-version DirectX 10

Everything is copied straight across, so most are in Swedish, but I think is enough to understand anyway.
Windows and Sketchup version is in the signature

The problem with your models is how they are structured.
In "SketchyPhysics" there are various shapes:
default box sphere cylinder cone capsule chamfer convexhull staticmesh

These are used so the plugin knows how the models looks like.
The plugin dosn't support hollow holes, and concave objects.

So to crate a correct model you have to create objects with this shapes above and based on that create hollow objects or concave objects.
To change the "Shape" of a group you just Right-click on the object and in the bottom there is "SketchyPhysics", it includes: "State","Shape" and some other alternatives.

Look in the atachments file, it has the basic shapes in diffrent "Shapes", just play around.
PS. To see the objects mesh, Right-click on the object; "State"; "Show collision". And play the simulation, then it will appear a frame that is the accually mesh.
And if you see in my last model I created to you, I had used this "Shapes" to create a fully functional model of a scissor!!

/Its a lot of text, sorry! In this webpage there is a "handbook" and Tips&Trix to use in SketchyPhysics!

mesh in SP.skp

Hello again!!
I think I understand what you want to do!
So here I made ​​an example:
I have changed a lot, so that the grouping has improved.
If you want me to change something or think of something more I'll try to help you as far as the knowledge.
Scissor2.skp

P.S. This is translated by Google Translate, so I did not have to translate myself.

Hello!!
I see the problems in that model.
The Physics Hinges you created need to be grouped together with the beams in the scissor.
Cause if physics joint is't grouped they are static.'
Scissor2-1.skp
There you got a file that works!