How do you script something so that when its touching, var=1, and when it stops touching, var=0?

I've done it before, but when I tried it again, it didn't work. Even reverse engineering the one that did work, didn't work. I'm very confused at this point and scripting has stumped me again.

This is what worked:

in OnTouch;
setVar("left_easy",1)

in OnTick;
setVar("left_easy",0)

and what didn't work:

in OnTouch;
setVar("thrust",1)

in OnTick;
setVar("thrust",0)

In versions 2+3, the "default" shape is a box. If you want to make gears, you have to make each tooth a convex hull and group them together.

I'm getting 30-35 fps.

Thank you, have another.

I figured out the scripted joints (big for me) to the point where I used universal joints for the bogies and you can copy more cars to the train, but the problem is I had to daisychain the joints under the cars so much the sag makes the cars lean in turns. Just beware of derails, they seem to be quite frequent...

If anyone can figure out a way around this, that would be great.

train.skp

My suggestions are:
-don't let each axle turn independently, if a wheel catches it torques around really bad. And its less realistic.
-don't have the ends of the rails beveled, it gives the wheels something to catch on (counter intuitive I know).
-use a simpler model to get everything right. You can use the same dimensions without eating up RAM and your video card.

Also why is the engine articulated behind the cab?

Sorry I don't have much to add, but there are a few things. I'm no programmer, I'm on the mechanical team.

1. You guys are blowing my mind. Wacov, when I opened your cloth file my jaw dropped for so long I almost drooled on my cat.

@unknownuser said:

Can we upload with this version if we don't use the new features?

3. I needed an excuse to upload the Gopher.

Gopher Armored Car.skp

That particular script sends the servo into a progressive death spin, however the @myPos should prove very useful.

My computer & game design teacher and robotics coach (all the same guy) convinced me (signed me up) to teach a sketchyphysics class/ workshop and I wanted some input about what I should teach, since SP has become more of a community than a program anymore.

Stuff about SketchUp in general, too, like the 3D Warehouse. Unfortunately, as of right now it looks like SP3 is not a guarantee on the 'student' computers.

//anyone else find it odd that on the sketchup forum, the word 'sketchup' still gets caught by spell check?

Thanks, I forgot about that site.

How do you code a keyboard key or joy button to toggle?

Thanks in advance