I could really use some help regarding the relationship of groups to joints.

1. If I have a link ( a bar that will be connected to two others bars) with joints at each end Do I have to group them to the link all at once or can I group one joint to the link then group the other joint to the already grouped joint and link.

2. Do joints work with components the same way they work with groups.

3. Does it matter what order you joint connect a joint and group it?
   Is there an advantage to doing one first?

4. I could really use a set of detailed rules about grouping joints. I have read as much as I can find but still do not have it all put together in my little brain.

Thanks for the help.

Chris,
First let me thank you for the work that you have done.
I do a lot of fabrication and have been working on a project
that has been kicking my butt for quite some time. I even had a
professor of mechanical engineering from the local college come out
in hopes that he could help me. He couldn't. By using your Sketchyphics
plugin I have been able to work out the linkage on a machine I am building.

Your plugin has been a true blessing to me.
I am very new to SU as well as your SP but again you have helped me solve a
problem that has been eating at me for a couple of years.

Now is where I am getting greety. While I have been able to successfuly use servos and joints to work out my linkage I still am not at all proficient.
I crash my machine alot and still do not have all the rules about jointing, disconnecting joints, and grouping down pat. In my search to get answers I have come across your vision of SPIV. 4 sounds like just what a slow guy like me needs.
I know you must be very busy because anybody who could create something like SketchyPhysics has got to be in high demand.

What I am saying is I ( and probably countless others) really do need a product like a simplified SketchyPhics. I believe people would be more than happy to pay for it. To be more specific I would be happy to be your first customer.

We need it. I want it. I am willing to pay for it.

Thanks
Jimmy Carter Jr

Gaieus,
Thank you so very much.
People like me really do appreciate people
like yourself being so generous with your time and knowledge.
Thanks again and I did correct my SU version information.

I need a hand.
I opened a model from the 3d Warehouse.
When I use the tape measure to measure things they appear to
be metric. Maybe centimeters.
I have gone to Window/Preferences/Templates and the default
is set to Architectural and Interior design.

I created a 12"x12"x12" cube using the measurements value
box. When I measured it the values were converted to metric.

Is there a way to convert the measurements to feet and inches?

Thanks in advance for any help.
Jimmy

Hello All,
I am new to Sketchup and SketchyPhysics.
I do a lot of metal fabrication and operate a CNC Plasma Cutter.
I have always been in the 2D world and would like to make the move
to 3D so I can see my designs/machines before I strike an arc.

I have used the cyl tool in SP to extrude a bar say 2" x 12".
So far so good. It behaves nicely.
I then selected it and hit edit group.
I drew a circle on one of the faces on the end and used push pull
tool create a concentric hole thru the original 2 x 12 bar. The result should
effectly create a bushing.
The problem is that the new piece/bushing does not behave correctly. I have regrouped everything and have selected its statis as a cylinder.
I have selected state as show colision. After doing
so it appears that SP has oriented the collision lines 90 degrees to the actual
bushing/bar. This is driving me crazy. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Jimmy

My practice 1.skp