multiple pivot animation

[mazearch]

I need help animating the following diagram for a rather famous instrument maker.

 

 

The top "key" mechanism pivots at the top hole (circle in the semi-circular tab) which pushes the middle connector, which pushes open the bottom key, pivoting around the bottom hole (inverse of the top detail).

 

We need to animate it so we can measure the movements involved... the only thing I can figure out is to try to somehow link the keys parent-child, but then the difficulty is how to pivot the keys around their pivots (i.e. how to lock them to pivot around those points, even with their centroids moved there) and how to create a second pivot point for the middle connector piece.

 

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[kdavenport]

mazerch,

 

If I understand how this mechinism should move, I think I have something to help you out. I solved the problem by using some bones and IK.

 

What I did was created 4 bones, one bone for each of the pieces and an end nub, and made them control each piece with a skin modifier.

 

Next, I connected the second bone to the nub on the end of the chain (the fourth bone) with History Independant IK so that the end of the chain cannot move. This way, you can rotate the upper bone to control the top "key" and this will in turn move the middle and bottom key while keeping the bottom key in the proper place. The pivot points of the first and second bone together act like to control the middle piece.

 

I have attached my max file for you to experiment with. I do hope that this solves your problem!

 

[ATTACH]11760[/ATTACH]

[kdavenport]

mazerch,

 

Sorry about the version mismatch . Here's the file in max 6 format. Hope it's helpful.

 

[ATTACH]11804[/ATTACH]

[mazearch]

thank you. i have never played with bones before, but man are they useful. i will have to explore them more. all i have to do now is figure out how to measure the distances of the movements and i am home free.

 

thank you thank you thank you.

[kdavenport]

Glad the bones worked out! They have many uses besides just character animation

 

To measure the distances between key points do this:

 

First, create some helpers (dummy, pojnt, etc.), put them in the positions you want and then link them to the appropriate pieces.

 

Next, create some tape helpers and use the dummies as the starting and ending points. Essentially, you'll nail the tape objects to your mechinism and they will tell you the distance!

 

Hope it works out!

[sushant_85]

hi can any one help me out to make a human structure with bones. including ik attachment. i m keen to aimate a character but i cant.