As is generally recognized, developing dynamic component models with multiple levels of subcomponents can produce models that break easily when you later try to change one of their components. Does anyone have a set of rules to follow in the construction of multi-level DC models that will help us to avoid such breakages?

From my limited experience, the most critical formulas are those that involve position attributes. Here are some things that may influence the stability of a component under change:

• How are the axes of each subcomponent located and oriented?

• Are the various attributes referenced in a formula constrained or not?

• Is the sub-component unique or not?

• Are the parents of the subcomponent unique?

Many thanks. I was trying to set up a compound saw cut. I had succeeded only after spending a great deal of time drawing various perpendicular lines and extra planes. Your plugin gave me an immediate answer (the same one, thankfully) in a moment.

@dave r said:

Are you seeing this with Dynamic Components?

Yes. both dynamic and static.

I think I have discovered a confusion that may hide a very useful feature. The word "Material" seems to have two different meanings. If I go to Component Attributes and define a Material attribute for a component, say Material = Maple, I can use that attribute elsewhere. In Cutlist, for example, I can get a list of all my "Maple" components. Then if I go to Sketchup's Materials window and select a material color, say 0128_White, I can paint my maple component with white. If I do that, when I check the Material attribute with Component Attributes, it is still Maple. That's great! It's exactly what I wanted to do. I have a model with several physically different materials, some boards, some plywood, some MDF, etc. I want them all painted the same color without losing their underlying materials.

In addition, if I open one of my white maple components for editing and choose Reverse Faces, the chosen face shows the Maple color.

Are there two different kind of "Material" such that one of each kind can be applied to a component, or, as seems more likely, can any one material be applied to the component as a whole, while a second material of any kind can be applied to any or all of the faces of the component without interfering with the underlying component material?

Has this feature been clearly documented somewhere that I have missed? Is there some plan to remove the ambiguity in the word "Material" as it is used in Sketchup?

mfseeker

I think I have discovered a confusion that may hide a very useful feature. The word "Material" seems to have two different meanings. If I go to Component Attributes and define a Material attribute for a component, say Material = Maple, I can use that attribute elsewhere. In Cutlist, for example, I can get a list of all my "Maple" components. Then if I go to Sketchup's Materials window and select a material color, say 0128_White, I can paint my maple component with white. If I do that, when I check the Material attribute with Component Attributes, it is still Maple. That's great! It's exactly what I wanted to do. I have a model with several physically different materials, some boards, some plywood, some MDF, etc. I want them all painted the same color without losing their underlying materials.

In addition, if I open one of my white maple components for editing and choose Reverse Faces, the chosen face shows the Maple color.

Are there two different kind of "Material" such that one of each kind can be applied to a component, or, as seems more likely, can any one material be applied to the component as a whole, while a second material of any kind can be applied to any or all of the faces of the component without interfering with the underlying component material?

Has this feature been clearly documented somewhere that I have missed? Is there some plan to remove the ambiguity in the word "Material" as it is used in Sketchup?

Ah, I found the video. Bend works with embedded slice F4. Thanks.

You were right, of course. I was missing files. Once, I found the latest I was able to install and run FreeScale. Thanks so much for your help.

The reason I found your wonderful plugin in the first place was that I was looking for a way to model bending 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" x 78" vertical wooden elements so that their tops would be offset in both the x and y directions by perhaps 4", creating a gentle bow.

When I try the Radial bending tool, what I get is not a curved bend (similar to the one shown in the tool's icon) but a skewing. The documentation didn't help me. What am I missing?

@unknownuser said:

It seems to be because LibFredo6 is not loaded. Do you have a file LibFredo6.rb in the Sketchup Plugins directory?

Fredo

Yes.

The file "LibFredo6.rb" is here "C:\Program Files\Google\Google SketchUp 7\Plugins"
The size is "3.03 KB (3,108 bytes)"
The modification date is "Tuesday, February 10, 2009, 9:29:56 PM"

I only wish it were that simple. I tried both with and without putting FreeScale in the Plugins folder. When FreeScale is in the folder, I get:

"Error Loading File FreeScale_Common.rb
(eval):1: uninitialized constant FreeScale::T6"

Where do I go from here?

I think I have followed the manual instructions for installing LibFredo6_3.1f to the letter. I have tried it several times this afternoon. Whatever I do, I do not get the LibFredo6 Settings menu to appear when I start SU7. SU7 starts normally without any error messages. I am at a loss to know what to do next to troubleshoot my installation.