[Visualpython-users] Never realized VPython was such a great package, but still a few questions

[Stef M. <s.m...@ru...>]

hello,

While embedding VPython in my application (PyLab_Works),
I just bumped into a real world problem of my daily work,
which I think can well be solved with VPython.

I never used VPython before,
but in a short evening I managed to get the basic parts working.
How magnificient VPython is !!
I made a litlle flash movie of it (1.6 MB), to show my problem:
  http://mientki.ruhosting.nl/data_www/ic1.htm

The real world problem is the design of an intensive care unit,
especially the design of the lifting arms in a small room, with 
different bed positions.

Now I bumped into a step,
which I probably can only solve with lots of simple math (my math is a 
bit rusty),
but I have the feeling, that there must be a very simple solution.
As you can see in the movie,
with just 10 lines of code, both lifting arms are moving,
unbelievable (at least for me ;-)
In fact the lifting arms should be moved by the mouse, but I doubt that 
would be a problem.
The movie shows 2 lifting arms
The problem is to bend the two double arms, light blue and purple,
for that I need to find the rotation point at the end of each first half 
arm,
because that's the rotation point of the second half of each arm.
I see I can get the position, axis, and length of the first half of the arm,
so how do I get the end that arm ?

here are some pictures of real lifting arms.
  
http://www.draeger.nl/MT/internet/pdf/CareAreas/ORAnesthesia/or_the_heart_of_hospital_success_en.pdf

Another question:
is there an event when an object has moved or rotated ?

thanks,
Stef Mientki