Merging components into a single component

[Anonymous]

As the title said, it's possible to merge two components into a single component?  

I created two different gears via the Spur Gear script but they generate separate components instead of separate bodies. If they were bodies, I could use the combine tool to merge it into a single body but I'm not having any luck with merging components. When I use the combine tool on distinct components, the components on the browser appear as it was before with no changes. Any help with this?

[xander.luciano · Accepted solution]

Hello!

Here are a few ways to do it:

Let me know if you have any other questions!

Best,
Xander Luciano

[Anonymous]

Thanks! Seems I only need to check New Component and hide the other components. Works! 

[xander.luciano]

Awesome! I knew going for the "cover every possible option" was the way to go with that screencast haha.

Glad it worked!
Xander Luciano

[Anonymous]

This also joins the bodies, which wasn't asked for. Merging components can become necessary when wanting to create a joint with a placed object that consists of many subcomponents. Selection a snap would always just join the subcomponent the snap is on, not the rest. Even with rigid groups. It seems it's not possible to create a correct joint then.

[etfrench]

A joint between any member of a rigid group and a component outside the group behaves the same as a joint between a component with multiple subcomponents and another component.  If you think differently, post a screencast and file showing that behaviour.

[Anonymous]

I hope this will show what I mean and where I struggle. The Arduino is a downloaded asset. In another video tutorial from some years ago the vlogger showed an arduino board which was a regular component. If I try to convert all the bodies in this asset to a new component it fails.

P. S. The screencast thing is confusing. The cast must be public or I can't insert here. Being either unlisted or public it's shown under "My contributions" while they're actually no contributions. After I edited it to "Anyone", which is supposed to mean "public", it took several minutes to change the status. 

[Anonymous]

Weird. I posted a reply, edited it, posted and it showed. Later I went to another post, got back to this again and my reply was gone, like it was never posted. OK, retry.

What I also tried: the Arduino board is a downloaded asset. So I thought to convert all bodies in it to a new component, but this failed. The rigid group won't follow the joint and I don't see how to actually place a joint origin to the group instead of the PCB. 

https://autode.sk/2LPhFsB

P. S. I can insert my screencast and see it when editing my post, but after posting, it vanishes. I hope you can see it. If not, please use the URL.

[etfrench]

Now add your file to the thread.

[Anonymous]

Uhm, thanks, but what do you need the file for? 

[etfrench]

Determining why the joint isn't working as expected is rather hard from just a video.  I use Rigid Groups quite often and the individual members of the group always follow the jointed member.

[Anonymous]

I see.

[etfrench]

I rolled the timeline back to the Move command after the Uno model was imported, then deleted the Move command.  The joint between the 'unoboard blue (1)' and the Base worked as expected.

[Anonymous]

Ok, so the move command killed it? Weird.

[steveps3]

All you are doing there is combining bodies, not components