isolating an aim constraint to a single axis

[Sammy]

rhythmone,

if it were me, I'd simply just lock off all the axis on the locator that I didn't want to ever move in - in your case the Y axis so that the only action I could perform with the locator is rotate the object in it's Y axis ...

going a step further I could go to the Window > General Editors > Channel Control ... and just remove all those locked channels from the Channel Box altogether to clean it up and make it really easy to work with

hope that helps you!

-Sammy

[rhythmone]

Thanks for that tip, I am still learning and overlooked the fact that you can limit the transform.... it did get closer but I am still having a problem when the target crosses certain axis... the locator doesn't want to rotate all the way around unless the target is on the same Y plane.

Let me step back to the larger goal and maybe I could get a better approach....

I am building a spine, which has a central IK of course. What I want to do is have geometry just off of the surface of the spine (so it is offset from the center) at the joints that deform with the spine (but aren't driven by the IK).

An example:
a cylinder pointing in the Y direction (as a vein) just outside of the main spine, also pointing in the Y direction. the cylinder has a bend deformer... now the bend deformer needs to rotate on the Y axis according to the solver the IK.... so that it will bend in the direct of the IK.... so if I could rotate the bend deformer about its Y axis so that it "aims" in the direction of the IK bend, I could simulate muscle fx.

[Sammy]

hmm .... I think that the most elegant solution to the bending part of the issue is SDK (Set Driven Keys)

For Instance, you could set it up so that the translation of your IK manipulator drives the curvature value of the Bend deformer.

As far as the bend pointing towards the spine you could just parent the MESH to the BEND and the BEND to your COG.

I'm a student so I really enjoy the exercise of trying to figure out your challenge, but alas, I don't have years of creative problem solving under my belt yet.

There's gotta be a solution that doesn't involve writing any expressions but I'm afraid that's about the limit of my knowledge on this subject.

Perhaps there's a Vet out there that has another solution ?

Cheers,
Sammy

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