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Animated tailgate chain

Animated tailgate chain

Animated tailgate chain

(OP)
I've got a problem in which I'm attempting to animate links of a chain with something similar to a tailgate being lowered and later relatched into place.  I'd like the chain's links to act as natural as possible, being driven by the motion of the tailgate and gravity.

Any ideas how to do this for a rendered animation?  I've looked at some curve-driven motion files (and similar), but I don't see a link between those sorts of files and what I'm trying to do, since my chain path is being changed and driven by other components within an assembly.

Thanks,

Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all.  And awe trumps reason.

RE: Animated tailgate chain

You may have more luck with SW07s "Belts and Chains" functionality.

Have you tried multiple configs and animating in steps?

cheers
Helpful SW websites  FAQ559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions  FAQ559-1091

RE: Animated tailgate chain

(OP)
Thanks for the quick response.

I checked into the new stuff for SW 2007, but that seems mostly to make things go 'round and 'round.  What I'm doing is using links of chain (not drive chain like a bike), so I'm not sure how to drive this motion through other components in the assembly--especially with the appearance of active gravity involved.  (Maybe a job for Cosmos, but that's going to be too expensive, methinks.)

I'm still in the bidding process for this gig, so I'd like to come up with a rational solution before placing a final bid.  The animation will need to be a single "take" if possible, so steps in animation would be tricky to hide.

Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all.  And awe trumps reason.

RE: Animated tailgate chain

I found a cool chain I used on 3D Content Central awhile back that subtracts or adds links after you modify a spline.  You cannot access the models online, and I haven't been able to access for about 1 week now.  

Anyway, you can get it from inside SW:
Design Library > 3D ContentCentral > User Library > Miscellaneous > Various Components.  Click on the #8 on top and you'll probably find it there.  It is called "chain link-1" and it's contributed by "Webb Schoenfeld" (there a few chains, but this one updates).  As long as you keep the spline the same length, this may work for you, and it sounds like quite a challenge to make it look natural (once you through the effects of gravity on the chain).

On a side note, if someone knows about some secret search function for browsing 3D ContentCentral within SW, let me know because it can be a bear flipping page to page trying to find something.

Flores
SW06 SP4.1

RE: Animated tailgate chain

I have found no way to search 3DCont within SW. A pain!
A Enh Req??

Jeff, sorry no help on this one. Good luck. Will you post your animation when through on your site?

Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)

RE: Animated tailgate chain

(OP)
I don't think I'll be able to post it on my site (at least not quite yet), but I can post a link to the site at which it's planned to be posted.  I don't have approval to go quite yet, but if it all works out there could be up to ten animations.

Thanks for the responses so far.  Flores, I'll try to wade through the 3DCC jungle to find what you mean.

Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all.  And awe trumps reason.

RE: Animated tailgate chain

Theo ... will the chain be flexible in only one or multiple planes?

cheers
Helpful SW websites  FAQ559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions  FAQ559-1091

RE: Animated tailgate chain

I think I'd make the chain fade out with the gate up, then fade back in with the gate down. After all - I'm sure you're trying to sell the design, not the animation. Something has to give in this case... good luck.


Windows XP / Logitech "Premium" Optical mouse
SolidWorks 2006 SP4.1 / SpaceBall 5000
Lava Lamp
www.Tate3d.com

RE: Animated tailgate chain

(OP)
We can essentially keep the flexibility on one plane.

Yeah, maybe we'll work something up like a fade-in/fade-out sort of thing.  Might need to do that to get something good.

Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all.  And awe trumps reason.

RE: Animated tailgate chain

I would create a part that consisted of a spline defined to move as the assembly moved and then assemble the links to points on the spline.  Defining the spline (which would be a catenary) could be defined with tables and equations, but I would cheat it in with some sketch relations.

The cheat that I think would be easiest would be to create two line segments of fixed length connecting the attachment points and then define a spline that would go through the defined by the two segments and the attachment points.

Here's the equations, just in case you want to do it the hard way:
http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/53706.html

-b

RE: Animated tailgate chain

(OP)
Thanks, bvanhiel!  I was trying to think how to drive (and update the movement) of the chain links with a spline.  I wonder if I'd get a proper update with each step of the animation.  I'll have to check this out in further detail to see what I can come up with.

Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all.  And awe trumps reason.

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