2005 Animator

[DigiBob]

Has anyone out there used the new animator? It looks like it does some things I wished 2004 did (like saving multiple animations), but I am having a lot of trouble learning how to use it (not the most user friendly program) and the help file is not very helpful. I am having trouble with two things: 1. I can not get flexible subassemblies to animate. I can drag them into position but when I run the animation they do not move. 2. I can not use interference detection to stop a moving part where I want it to stop so I have to drag it as close as possible. Both of these were not an issue in 2004. I am having other none related problems in 2005 but lets not go there right now...


Bob Snead
Designer
Northropgrumman.com

 

[bluesman0007]

I'm having similar problems here also. I wish SW had taken the time to include animator in the the online help. I mentioned this to my VAR and they may try to get a short training session together if enough people are interested. I'm in Michigan so check with your VAR and see what they might be able to do.

 

[DigiBob]

My Var mentioned training thru the I-GET-It on-line training (

http://www.myigetit.com)

by Cadpo. They (var) don't offer any formal training for the animator specifically. The i-get-it training looks like a good deal vs. Var training if I can get the company to buy into it. Till then I guess I will keep going with trial and error approach till I figure this thing out myself..

Bob Snead
Designer
Northropgrumman.com

 

[Standing]

I am have the same trouble with Flex.

Bradley

 

[SBaugh]

bluesman0007,

There is help for Animator in SW.

If you have the Add-in turned on - go to Help\Solidworks Animator Help Topics - If you don't get this option. Be sure you downloaded the help from the SW website on the download section there.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
3DVision Technologies

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376
faq559-716 - SW Fora Users

 

[bluesman0007]

Scott,

I was refering to the on-line help where you actually do an exercise using a predefined example. Those were very helpful in understanding the basics.

 

[cninneman]

Bradley,

What sort of help do you need with the flex command? I don't have a lot of experience with it, but have done some messing around with is. Start a new thread and I'll see if I can be of any help.

Chris

 

[TateJ]

The animator help files are not useful. I made commitments based on my experience with the animations from 2004 - & now am under the gun to create a simple AVI. This is awfully user un-friendly & I'm running out of patience!
Is there a better tutorial on animation?

SolidWorks 2005 SP01.1 / Windows 2000 Professional

 

[ctopher]

Check out SBaugh's web site and go thru the links.
Also, search google

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP2.0 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site

FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

 

[SBaugh]

In the help file it explains how to make an animation file:

To create an animation:

1) Click the Animation tab at the bottom of the window.

The graphics area splits horizontally.

The top area displays the model.

The bottom area splits vertically into two sections:

The SolidWorks Animator toolbar and Animator FeatureManager design tree on the left.

The timeline with the key points and the timebar on the right.

2) Drag the timebar to set the duration of the animation sequence.

NOTE: You can also click anywhere along the timeline to place the timebar, or use the space-bar to incrementally move the timebar.



The timebar is set for a duration of five seconds (00:00:00 to 00:00:05).


3) Drag the assembly component to the desired position at the end of the animation sequence.



4) To animate other assembly components:

a. Drag the timebar to set the duration of the animation sequence.

b.Drag the assembly component to the position desired at the end of the animation sequence.

NOTE: You can start the movement of additional components anywhere along the timeline. However if there is conflict in the movement between the components, a key point is displayed indicating unsolvable motion.



5) Click Play from Start to see the animation.

Also check out this file -

http://www.scottjbaugh.com/Images/Animation_How_To.wmv

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
3DVision Technologies

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376
faq559-716 - SW Fora Users

 

[rockguy]

SW has a new "Step by Step Animation guide" It's basically a self guided training manual for animator. Sw also offers a guide for PhotoWorks and FeatureWorks. I have the PhotoWorks guide and it's pretty good. You should be able to buy the manual (like $30) through your VAR.

 

[rockguy]

You can find the guides here.

http://www.capinc.com/pages/products/Guides.cfm

 

[SBaugh]

Why pay when you can follow the animation for free, plus everything you need is in the help.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
3DVision Technologies

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376
faq559-716 - SW Fora Users

 

[rockguy]

I agree Scott but different people learn in different ways.

 

[TateJ]

Well - the new interface had me stumped for a few hours, but I sort of have tha hang of it now. I just created an AVI file - 30 seconds long. It runs fine for 20 seconds - then from 21 to 25, the graphics fall apart - then the last 5 seconds are good again. I used the default settings for video compression & key frames. Rather than trial & error... What are the settings you find to work well?

The first & last words of the previous paragraph are spelled the same.

SolidWorks 2005 SP01.1 / Windows 2000 Professional

 

[SBaugh]

Try a different Resolution (Windows display) I seen this happen in SW04 and also on unsupported Video cards and.or drivers.

Also try upgrading to SP3.0 as well.

Best Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
3DVision Technologies

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376
faq559-716 - SW Fora Users

 

[TateJ]

I tried a different video compression option - the CINEPAK CODEC BY RADIUS. It seems to work for me.

BTW - I forgot to change my profile - I'm on SP3.0.

SolidWorks 2005 SP03.0 / Windows 2000 Professional