CGTalk - Cable animation

Jhonus

08-29-2002, 10:58 PM

Hi everyone. I'm trying to create a cable between two objects that move and stop together.

When the two objects stop the momentum should cause the cable to sway.

I've tried using a cloth simulation... but the motion is way too exaggerated, and it always stretches. Stretching isn't a good look for a cable.

I'm considering trying softbodies.

Anyone else have any ideas on how to do this?

Jozvex

08-30-2002, 03:02 AM

Yeah, I'd try using a softbody spline IK chain,

Make a skeleton along the cable, then give it spline IK, then make the IK spline into a softbody with either a goal or with springs.

Or could you just use a Jiggle deformer on the middle of the cable?

Jhonus

08-30-2002, 04:02 AM

cool thanks... i found a tutorial along those lines.

make 3 joint skeleton with IK. Smooth skin curve to skeleton. Make curve softbody, with settings: duplicate & hide, and make goal.

works really well.... especially since i can point constrain the end joints to the different objects.

DesignDawg

08-31-2002, 04:58 PM

You've probably already gone with the soft body method...

But for future reference, I've found an easier way to do basically the same thing (fewer steps, not as much tweaking to get the effect right):

Create a chain, make a spline IK handle (same as above), but instead of making a soft body, just select the CVs on the IK handle spline, and add a jiggle deformer. You can then go to the component editor and tweak each CV's weight if you want, or just leave it the same for the whole length.
It's basically the same effect, just, like I said, a bit quicker.

Ricky

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