visualpython-users

[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

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

[Bruce S. <Bru...@nc...>]

It's great that you found VPython to be useful for real work.

I'm not absolutely sure I understand the situation, but here's an 
example which may address your question:

rod = cylinder(pos=(1,2,3), axis=(5,0,0))
end_of_rod = rod.pos+rod.axis # this will be (6,2,3)

Bruce Sherwood

Stef Mientki wrote:
> 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
> 
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Re: [Visualpython-users] Never realized VPython was such a great package, but still a few questions

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

thanks Bruce,

Bruce Sherwood wrote:
> It's great that you found VPython to be useful for real work.
>
> I'm not absolutely sure I understand the situation, but here's an 
> example which may address your question:
>
> rod = cylinder(pos=(1,2,3), axis=(5,0,0))
> end_of_rod = rod.pos+rod.axis # this will be (6,2,3)
>
Yes you perfectly understood my question.
I think it must have been too late.
I didn't realize that the position is of course also a vector,
and vector adding is supported in VPython.

And as I thought I had printed all the documents of Vpython,
I didn't notice the vector page.
I printed it today again, on 4 different printers,
on 3 of them it was totally unreadable, on 1 you could read it (not very 
well).
There seems to be something strange with the css class program / program0

I would suggest to put the vector help page on top of content page,
because it's so important for "Ordinary Mortals"  ;-)

cheers,
Stef

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

[Bruce S. <Bru...@nc...>]

If you inspect the new documentation scheme now accessible at 
vpython.org you'll see that a link to vector operations are indeed 
prominently displayed at all times in the left margin.

I hope too that the new layout will make printing the documentation seem 
less necessary.

Bruce Sherwood

Stef Mientki wrote:
> thanks Bruce,
> 
> Bruce Sherwood wrote:
>> It's great that you found VPython to be useful for real work.
>>
>> I'm not absolutely sure I understand the situation, but here's an 
>> example which may address your question:
>>
>> rod = cylinder(pos=(1,2,3), axis=(5,0,0))
>> end_of_rod = rod.pos+rod.axis # this will be (6,2,3)
>>
> Yes you perfectly understood my question.
> I think it must have been too late.
> I didn't realize that the position is of course also a vector,
> and vector adding is supported in VPython.
> 
> And as I thought I had printed all the documents of Vpython,
> I didn't notice the vector page.
> I printed it today again, on 4 different printers,
> on 3 of them it was totally unreadable, on 1 you could read it (not very 
> well).
> There seems to be something strange with the css class program / program0
> 
> I would suggest to put the vector help page on top of content page,
> because it's so important for "Ordinary Mortals"  ;-)
> 
> cheers,
> Stef

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

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

Bruce Sherwood wrote:
> If you inspect the new documentation scheme now accessible at 
> vpython.org you'll see that a link to vector operations are indeed 
> prominently displayed at all times in the left margin.
>
Very good !!
thanks,
Stef