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Garden State
09-03-2004, 06:22 AM
I know I keep posting about this pendulum...but if I just reply to another post no one will answer that specific question lol.

Anyways, I have the pivot point set and the 2 objects grouped and its all good...but I was thinking there HAS to be a way to make it swing automatically...and realistically...right?

I mean, if I just rotate/rock it back and forth manually...it will look very unnatural, cuz it won't like slow as it reaches the peak on either side, etc.

Thanks for any help. And thanks for the help you all have given me already. Appreciated.
Garden State
09-03-2004, 06:53 AM
HOLY CRAP, nevermind. I can't believe it...but I figured it out on my own haha.

I created a very strong gravity field...then I added a hinge constraint to the top of the cylindrical bar...and voila!

I would like to ask, however...will the swinging be countinous, like a real pendulum? Or will it die down after a while?

Thanks guys!
MikeRhone
09-03-2004, 07:19 AM
Maya's dynamics engine is based on real world physics, so it will keep going forever. The only reason it will keep going forever is it will assume that you have 0 friction between the moving parts, and that there is no air resistance. (Unless you add it.)

Personally, i'de prefer to keyframe it, and in the graph editor I would select pre infinity/post infinity, and set both to cycle. That way you can adjust the timing as you see fit, without having Maya calcluate it or haveing you have to tweak confusing and awkward field settings.

Best of luck!

Mike R
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