PDA

View Full Version : Animation: Mechanical Linkage

powerwave3d
05-30-2003, 08:18 PM
In the attached .gif I have a Plate with 1 Bracket and 1 Cylinder attached at different points. As you can see there is a Force that pushes on the Bracket, thus causing the plate to rise and rotate about the fixed points of the Cylinder (this is from the angle of the bracket and such, not shown for clarity).
I'm trying rig this situation up for animation and I'm at a loss and don't know what to do next.
Basically, it would be ideal to animate the bracket and have the cylinder and plate interact correctly.
I've looked in help but haven't found anything that can help me. I'm sure if I spent the next week experiementing the answer would come about but I don't have a week:) I figured I'd ask you guys and maybe if I'm lucky one of you have already gone down such a road and wouldn't mind sharing your success with me:)

Thanks in advance
mouj
05-31-2003, 02:30 AM
Howdy !
Maybe you could give Reactor a try, since you'd like your elements to interact correctly ? Reactor will let you set up your objects, forces and constraints ('fixed points'), and simulate world physics on that.
Else maybe you could hand animate the whole thing, and doing so the reactor controller could be usefull ?

mouj
Stroker
05-31-2003, 03:58 AM
I'm pretty sure I know what you are trying to do. I just did a quick test and I could do what I think you are trying to do.

Cylinder has it's pivot point at the bottom.
Plate has it's pivot point at the fixed point where Cylinder and Plate meet.
Cylinder is Plate's parent.
At the right side of plate, child a dummy object.
Add an IK Chain from the dummy to Cylinder.
Add Bracket.
Child IK Chain to Bracket, ie Bracket is IK Chain's parent.

Move Bracket and all should go well.
CGTalk Moderation
01-15-2006, 06:00 AM
This thread has been automatically closed as it remained inactive for 12 months. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread in the appropriate forum.