Hi

Yes, can when creating by positioning the axis at the centre or position you want. You can also move or place the axis afterwards by opening the component, right clicking the axis, (context menu) and picking place. A warning will ensue but if should be okay provided you have not already place position attributes formulas within the component already (if I change at a later date I check that X,Y,Z have no formulas or redo them to suit)

Philip

Hi Brian,

Initially posted a reply suggesting you place it into a wrapper component to protect your work, which would work, however realised more to this project.. added a review of your idea with some different code

aside to this uploaded an array concept without using copies of rows for consideration for other projects

hope it helps
Philip

array.skp

fibb.skp

Hi

one of the most agonising early tasks as an apprentice carpenter was figuring out and cutting those mitred moulds. we had to make our own mitre boxes then, no drop saws. Eventually one was able to mitre and scribe without a guide.

So I figured I make a virtual mitre box to build dynamic mouldings
attached to share.....

Philip

moulding template.skp

Start simple, create a rectangle, make it a component, "door" later you can replace it with any other component

copy the door to make number required

make all a component, then enter the component, make next set of doors a component but change the axis so that it is opposite to the parent

do so until you reach last door, then in this case check to see if opposite if not then right click the axis when inside this door component and change

build formulas as shown

rotate about Z, opposite and reversed (90 x 2 = 180) x -1
I used the generic parent as the reference rather than component1 as suggested by Dave and others, etc, so easy to copy through.

the rest are always opposite to component 2, so -parent!rotz works

always check as you build, so see that it works...

Then you can modify the door component. however its important you stay within the initial dimensions of the door boundary box. To increase its size, use scale tool on the whole (component1)

So add the size changes to component 1, the children will follow, its not wise to have the children tell the parents what to do. Unless its necessary.

![make a "door" component and copy 3 times](/uploads/imported_attachments/lcN7_Capture2.JPG "make a "door" component and copy 3 times")

![we are considering rotation about Z, direct reference to"RotZ" as using negative](/uploads/imported_attachments/eQ9T_Capture7.JPG "we are considering rotation about Z, direct reference to"RotZ" as using negative")

![the second set needs to swing opposite first set, so "-" and 180degs =2x90](/uploads/imported_attachments/Rirq_Capture8.JPG "the second set needs to swing opposite first set, so "-" and 180degs =2x90")

Hi

a DC component is another method, place, size, copy array multiply then when happy....explode..3 times

one for the group
one to cut back faces
at last another to remove the groups and smaller components

this can be achieved via right click, select context menu "explode"
note afterwards it pays to purge the drawing as unused components remain attached to the file.

Something else to add to the tool box?..

Philip

Hole Cutter 2.skp

an idea...

to make the cut-list see it as one piece, explode the internal components or groups, leaving the outside component with you main attributes, then cut-list will take-off the item correctly. Then if later you required to modify, swap it with a saved component in your files.

These components need to be set up so as to reference the options/attributes left behind on your internally-exploded component. Then they will update. Use the generic parent! in front of the attribute you are trying to change, not a specific parent name.

In DC folder you might have "door","window" and "xx_door","xx_window" where the latter are already contained in the former, and can be swapped in the model. Typical the attributes like =parent!LenX will be red in these xx_ children looking for adoption

why "xx_"? well I am sure a well-meaning ruby coder could make a script to attach to the cut-list menu, that could explode the a selection or all the entities with this prefix or similar. Plus even go one step further and delete the internal geometry, ready for printing?

I did also consider "shell", but then cut-list reports on the generic shell name, plus the inners have to be solids

Philip

Cheers Mike,

it works, just need to hide the joins (double click the offending surface, right click, hide)
I am glad you didn't give up...
your model is completed..I'm still playing around with some ideas...

I added formulas to the mould I made which allows change in degrees, added options to pick scale or fixed length (thanks to "eselick".... "Scale AND keyed in values for component size")

Philip

mould template.skp

had a quick look @ cutlist

I note that my picture frame produces 4 lengths (middle) and 8 ends (4 left,4 right), the middles are short points to the mitre ends

if I open a moulding and explode the 3 groups then I can get a single entity on the list

(this maybe the foundation to a ruby script,,,"explode internal entities", the coders can make)

Hi again

with regards to building the mitred moulding
I hide the the share lines and delete the the internal surfaces
Then change the axis so as make minimum need for formulas,

the sizes of the mitres are trapped, the section of the length is also trapped, only movement is along x-axis

the scale tool is incorporated for easy size change for other projects

with regards to "cut-list" I did not know it was part of the criteria so I've downloaded it and will try to figure it out

cheers

pciture frame.skp

A nice detailed door

the first step is to identify components which we can reuse, these are the back board, rail, style and mould.
the board is quite simple and probably best suited as the reference to position the other components

now split the rail into 3 simple shapes and make them groups not components, you can see the stile is similar so it can be a modified rail.

the mould is spilt into three, the mitres and the length between

step 2 to come soon...

Hi Eric

you have used the same groups for drawers 2 & 3, if you click into the attributes of say drawer 2 side, you will find that it is red , it refers to drawer 1, You need to change the reference of the group, if they were components then you would have to make them unique.

since its most likely you want to reuse certain elements again rather than making each unique or updating the reference, replace the reference with parent! instead of the parent name, then the "child" refers to any parent rather than any specific one.

This is they important when you want to swap components, say a door type, or knob.

Cheers
Philip

Hi

Since you want to create an object that maintains two ends with variable distance between then split into four as you have drawn, the half cylinder ends as per attachment, the trick is to build cutting holes top, bottom and side, hide any lines not needed to be seen (outline of hole), add outlines or faces (e1,e2 you can delete these for your project) as required. See my models on warehouse...cylinder, pcmoor

the rectangle sides should be no problem, hide the lines at the joins. The position of components can be tricky, but i let you give it ago, let us know if you need further help

Cheers
Philip

half cylinder.skp

Could you upload the components so we can look at the problem?

Could try fixing model, via Model info, statistics...next to purge... ?

Hi Again

Figured it out, place the two doors (with separate "on click") within a component, have the main door reference the wrapper or parent, thus if you pick the small door it rotates or the larger door the whole lot rotates

Cheers

gate3.skp

This example uses a different trigger point, red opens main gate, green small

gates move independant
cheers
Philip

gate2.skp

Hi

one method is build various cutting planes within a wrapper component, thus activating them and leaving other embedded objects after exploding

note that the wrapper has its own cutting plane, the axis is also placed for ease of use

However the outline of the existing edge is left behind (the ridge in this case)

Philip

insert @ ridge line then explode

I did something similar,how about using the windows back-up files, save what you have to a thumb drive or disc, then return the documents to a previous saved backup

Hi

By placing a component with hole cut both sides and a rim within a component wrapper one can place the door then explode the first wrapper which in turn activates both hole cutters

attached solution which works after exploding, moreover have a look at the window opening for double leaf in my spot on the warehouse (pcmoor)

updated opening to have size options

cheers
Philip

insert bottom left, right click, explode

Hi

All objects should be contained within the component you require to move. Have one animation that triggers the others, this is top down coding.
By placing the rotation in a separate variable, able to work with finer degree changes.

can make the actions follow on, but not independent

Philip

gate.skp