Maya, custom attribute to translate along non-world vector?


#1

I’m trying to figure out the best way to make a single user control for translating along an unusual vector.

Idea would be something like a bank vault’s doors pin’s having an open/closed position. So the pins would need to move in and out. When modeling, I can just adjust move tool to component mode to move stuff, but obviously multiple translate at once. In this example, the goal is to make the pins animatable in a single keyable control manner.

Yet, I’m clueless on how to make this driven by a single custom attribute in a way that keeps it simple for an animator. I can sorta see a weird solution with joints maybe?

Pretty stuck on this so any help would be appreciated.! Here’s a quick sketch of a bank vault door pin’s movement for reference.

quickSketch


#2
  1. make the pin so its axis is along the horizontal, this value is what you will animate. (in and out as it were)
  2. parent this under group who’s pivot is at the center of the wheel.
  3. rotate the group into position.
  4. put both pin groups under a main group.
  5. drive the pin moving in and out using a set driven key, with an attribute added to the main group.

easy peasy.
Pete


#3

Oooh that’d make sense. Use the parent to adjust axis. So I’d need a parent group per pin? Ok I can imagine the group layout.

TY Pete