Presentation & Animation of 3D solid models created in AutoCAD

[John2004]

Hi everyone,

I would like to make a written presentation with rendered images, and an animated movie file, of a simple mechanism created within AutoCAD as 3D solid models. One problem I may have is that I am still running Windows 98.

Is there any type of software that can Animate AutoCAD 3D solid models, and run on Windows 98 ? Also, what would you recommend for the written presentation ? I was considering just pasting some rendered images and 3D drawings into Microsoft Word, and then adding supporting written text.

Regarding the animation, I would like to show the parts exploding and going back together, to show how everything fits together.I would also like to show the device in operation.

It's a small simple device with only a couple of moving assemblies and some extension springs. I would like to be able to save the animation in some type of format that can be viewed by one of the free movie players like Windows media player, quick-time, real-player, etc..

I am proficient with AutoCAD 14 and 2002, but I really don't have much experience with rendering, and none with animation. I would like to do this myself as cost effectively as possible instead of hiring it done, if I have the option to make something decent looking, on Windows 98, with a reasonable learning curve.

I basically want to show how the device fits together and operates, in a very clear efficient way, to non-techical people. I also want to create decent rendered images that can be used for sales materials.

I would appreciate any feedback regarding pro's and con's, costs, and learning curves for any options I may have available.

Thanks for your help.
John

 

[MadMango]

Depending on how smooth of an animation you want, you could use Microsoft's GIF Animator, and create incremental screen captures of your model (in different positions), then run them together to create a rough animated GIF. It's crude and very old school, but gets the job done.

http://www.rocketdownload.com/details/inte/4282.htm

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[John2004]

Hi MadMango,

Thanks for the tip on Microsoft's Gif animator. I did not know Microsoft made a freeware .Gif animator. This will come in handy in any event.

If I can get a decent shaded or rendered image, perhaps I can make many images over the range of motion (in close increments), to make a decent animation that is not too "choppy".

A Gif animation might do the job, but It would be nice to find something a little better and more professional looking. There is a program called Povray

http://www.povray.org

that looks interesting, but like many graphics / animation programs, it does not seem to be set up to support CAD files, especially solid models.

Thanks again,
John

 

[RCDLtd]

John2004, a package like 3D Studio Max (or Maya or Ligtwave) will do this very simply and with lots of added benefits.

With your manual method the rendered image will only be as good as AutoCAD is capeable of, with one of the packages mentioned then you can take it to a photo-realistic image if you wish to invest the time/money. You would also be able to include camera movements as well to improve the visualisation, something that would be very difficult manually.

The draw-back is the cost of the software, so you would have to contract this portion out. However for a simple exploded animation of a simple assembly, with basic colours, textures and lighting, it should be a very low-cost job. I would estimate at less than 5 hours to complete the job. Compared against you manually creating it using trial-and-error I think this would be cost effective. I do this type of thing all the time and the results are very effective.

Regarding how to compose the presentation, it depends on how you expect to present it, ie. electronically or printed. I do most of my stuff with PowerPoint, it will even include and run the animations.

 

[John2004]

Hi RCDLtd,

Thanks for your message.

RCDLtd wrote:
>Regarding how to compose the presentation, it depends on >how you expect to present it, i.e., electronically or >printed. I do most of my stuff with Power-Point, it will >even include and run the animations.

I was thinking of something along the lines of a power-point presentation as well. I planed on putting everything on a CD or DVD, and then distributing those. However, mailing a hard copy print in the form of a report, to support the digital format, may not be a bad idea. I think many people still like to read off printed hard copies as opposed to reading off a computer screen.

Regarding animation, I found a program called "blender" that looks interesting, but I don't know how hard it would be to Export & then Import my solid models into the program. They may have to be converted to a different format.

http://www.blender3d.com/cms/Home.2.0.html

Your points about hiring someone who uses a high end package like 3D studio max, are well taken, just depends on the time required.

Sure would be nice to have the option of making something half way decent myself, without spending so much on a high end graphics / animation package.

Thanks again,

John

 

[RCDLtd]

I'm aware of Blender, but don't have first hand experience. Since your needs are at the lower end of the capabililties of these systems I have no doubt that Blender will achieve what you want.

Blender states that it has a DXF import function so you shouldn't have a problem getting you AutoCAD data into the system. It may not be your "solid" model containing the surface data, but that's not necessary for these types of visualisation systems. Blender and the others will work fine (actually better) with a polygonal model.

 

[AHay]

You may also want to look at Breeze and Pov-Ray

http://www.imagos.fl.net.au/breeze/bdload.htm

http://www.povray.org/

I've only played around with them, but they might be useful.