Distance mates in sub-assemblies

[SilasH]

I have a sub-assembly in a slightly larger assembly for usage in Animator. Within the sub-assembly there is a distance mate, but it does not show up in the tree for Animator (but a distance mate at the assembly level does). Am I missing something? This seems like it ought to be a functionality.

 

[Theophilus]

Welcome to the limits of Animator (but don't worry, you can normally work around them). My guess is that this mate was added while you were editing an animation (or perhaps you started an animation, went back to the assembly, edited the assembly by adding the mate--Animator won't catch that once the animation has been started). If so, you'll have to trash that animation and start over.

The animation is the last thing you can do in an assembly--no changing anything within the assembly once you start. If you mess up, most of the time you'll have to trash the animation and start over. This is why I recommend so strongly writing an exact script of each event you need to occur within the animation--set the parts in their proper places to begin--and then start programming your animation according to your script. I've done some complex animations with plenty of headaches and hacks. It is possible, but I've also lost lots of sleep trying to hit a fixed deadline.

Good luck.



Jeff Mowry

http://www.industrialdesignhaus.com

Reason trumps all. And awe transcends reason.