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View Full Version : Rigging a car in 3ds Max 9

artisttobe
09-21-2008, 05:55 PM
Hi,

I am currently experimenting with 3ds max 9, I am at present just creating a box as the body then 4 cylinders as the wheels. I am playing about with linear dashpot, motor and point to point tools. But the wheel axis are just loosening up and getting messy. These seem the right things to be using but probably not as I am attching them or the settings that I am using.

I would appreciate any tips and I am looking to model a nice looking car, but reluctant to yet as I would like to figure out how to animate it. I have seen an animation on you tube of a jeep going over a rough terrain which look good and would like something similar.

Thanx
PEN
09-22-2008, 11:06 AM
You can also look into car systems that are already setup like one from my site at

http://paulneale.com/technical/carRig/carRig.htm
S-S
09-23-2008, 09:02 PM
Hi Brian!

Here's a thread i found very helpful:
http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?f=6&t=606440&highlight=car+rig

Leif has managed to do quite nice car rigs! Check those out.

That said, i've managed to replicate similar stuff myself too but i find that reactor is not probably the best choice for production use - setting parameters can be very esoteric, changing one setting a little bit might cause whole rig to explode. That's based on my personal tests and i haven't used reactor that much.

If you manage to get Leif's spring system to work, then you can "steer" the car by changing settings of spring. If i remember correctly you have to stop simulation and then change spring length (?) and continue from that point...

What Paul suggested might be easier way if you want to make *driving* animation.

Hope this helps!
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09-23-2008, 09:02 PM
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