diff --git a/boxes/__init__.py b/boxes/__init__.py
index 128176d..de92f7c 100755
--- a/boxes/__init__.py
+++ b/boxes/__init__.py
@@ -191,18 +191,10 @@ class Boxes:
     def __init__(self):
         self.formats = formats.Formats()
         self.argparser = ArgumentParser(description=self.__doc__)
+        self.edgesettings = {}
         self.argparser._action_groups[1].title = "Generator Settings"
-        fingergroup = self.argparser.add_argument_group(
-            "Finger Joint Settings")
-        fingergroup.add_argument(
-            "--fingerjointfinger", action="store", type=float, default=1.0,
-            help="width of the fingers in multiples of thickness")
-        fingergroup.add_argument(
-            "--fingerjointspace", action="store", type=float, default=1.0,
-            help="width of the space between fingers in multiples of thickness")
-        fingergroup.add_argument(
-            "--fingerjointsurrounding", action="store", type=float, default=1.0,
-            help="amount of space needed at the end in multiples of normal spaces")
+        self.addSettingsArgs(edges.FingerJointSettings)
+
         defaultgroup = self.argparser.add_argument_group(
                         "Default Settings")
         defaultgroup.add_argument(
@@ -302,6 +294,12 @@ class Boxes:
             else:
                 raise ValueError("No default for argument", arg)
 
+    def addSettingsArgs(self, settings, prefix=None):
+        prefix = prefix or settings.__name__[:-len("Settings")]
+        settings.parserArguments(self.argparser, prefix)
+        self.edgesettings[prefix] =  {}
+        
+
     def parseArgs(self, args=None):
         """
         Parse command line parameters
@@ -310,6 +308,11 @@ class Boxes:
 
         """
         for key, value in vars(self.argparser.parse_args(args=args)).items():
+            # treat edge settings separately 
+            for setting in self.edgesettings:
+                if key.startswith(setting + '_'):
+                    self.edgesettings[setting][key[len(setting)+1:]] = value
+                    continue
             setattr(self, key, value)
 
         # Change file ending to format if not given explicitly
@@ -343,11 +346,8 @@ class Boxes:
 
         # Finger joints
         # Share settings object
-        s = edges.FingerJointSettings(self.thickness)
-        s.setValues(self.thickness,
-                    finger=getattr(self, "fingerjointfinger", 1.0),
-                    space=getattr(self, "fingerjointspace", 1.0),
-                    surroundingspaces=getattr(self, "fingerjointsurrounding", 1.0))
+        s = edges.FingerJointSettings(self.thickness, True,
+                **self.edgesettings.get("FingerJoint", {}))
         self.addPart(edges.FingerJointEdge(self, s))
         self.addPart(edges.FingerJointEdgeCounterPart(self, s))
         self.addPart(edges.FingerHoles(self, s), name="fingerHolesAt")
diff --git a/boxes/edges.py b/boxes/edges.py
index c4e38c1..aaa9d85 100644
--- a/boxes/edges.py
+++ b/boxes/edges.py
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@
 
 import math
 import inspect
+import argparse
+import re
+
 from boxes import gears
 
 def getDescriptions():
@@ -125,6 +128,28 @@ class Settings(object):
     absolute_params = {}
     relative_params = {}
 
+    @classmethod
+    def parserArguments(cls, parser, prefix=None):
+        prefix = prefix or cls.__name__[:-len("Settings")]
+
+        lines  = cls.__doc__.split("\n")
+
+        # Parse doc string
+        descriptions = {}
+        r = re.compile(r"^ +\* +(\S+) +: .* : +(.*)")
+        for l in lines:
+            m = r.search(l)
+            if m:
+                descriptions[m.group(1)] = m.group(2)
+
+        group = parser.add_argument_group(lines[0] or lines[1])
+        for name, default in (list(cls.absolute_params.items()) +
+                              list(cls.relative_params.items())):
+            group.add_argument("--%s_%s" % (prefix, name),
+                               type=type(default),
+                               action="store", default=default,
+                               help=descriptions.get(name))
+
     def __init__(self, thickness, relative=True, **kw):
         self.values = self.absolute_params.copy()
         self.thickness = thickness
@@ -147,6 +172,7 @@ class Settings(object):
         factor = 1.0
         if relative:
             factor = thickness
+        print(kw.items())
         for name, value in kw.items():
             if name in self.absolute_params:
                 self.values[name] = value