[Plugin] Proper Animation V1.08 Beta(Updated 14/11/10)

[captainping]

Hi all,

I'm looking for a 3D modeling program that will allow me to model machines with moving parts (shafts, gears, pushrods, etc...) I'd like to be able to specify axes of rotation and such and then see if my machine go, on a mouse click or whatever. I don't need to be able to export a movie (though that'd be nice). I don't need high-quality rendering. It looks like SketchUp with Proper Animation would work. Would it?

Looking over the new Dynamic Components feature in SketchUp 7, it doesn't look like it's what I want. Am I right?

('m not a SketchUp user yet. I've been using VectorWorks for some time.)

Thanks!
Captain Ping

[pilou]

Presently if you want stay with Sketchup, better thing for your particular purpose will be SketchyPhysics2!
(it's free)
Arm's Robot(video)
Titanic Shaft(video)
And load this Steam Machine (post 2)
of course you must have Sketchyphysics2 installed for work with the model and see animation)

[pilou]

Little tricks!
As all objects must be a group or a component
For erase a position just explode the group or component then group it or make component again

You can address all positions even you are in the scene 1 !!!
Just don't overpass the number of scene existing for give a number to positions!

[zeal]

it's really hard to express my thank to you.

[Tim Danaher]

Phew, am I thick or what? I just cannot get this to work. I've had a look at Moris' & Pilou's explanations and the video... but it just don't werk for me...

This is what I'm doing:

I want to animate a lift / elevator car moving vertically within the elevator structure. I have four scenes in my file.

I select the lift car, RMB > Transformation > Set position 1

Start Animation Observer.

Switch to scene 2, Then move lift car, Set Position 2.

Switch to Scene 3, move lift car, Set Position 3

Switch Scene 4, move lift car, Set position 4

Stop Animation observer.

Start animation / Slideshow in SU -- nothing happens. The views change between scenes, but the lift car stays in the last position I set it to.

I can use 'Get Position X', and the car will move within the same scene, but not when playing back an animation / Slideshow.

WTF am I doing wrong?

TIA,

[solo]

Without using layers, can this program do this?

(I did this with 4 layers standard SU output, converted to .gif so quality is crappy)

[MALAISE]

Hi All

Solo, your running skeleton is first class

MALAISE

[pilou]

Before launch the Animation observer (positions adressed), better is save, quit and restart!
@Tim
Start Animation Observer only when all positions Objects are adressed!!!
That is that your error !
Objects (must be grouped) are independent of the scene! But will be animated inside the moving of the scenes!

Just go in the scene 1 and take 4 positions of your objects (or less) if you have 4 scenes

@ Solo
Yes
Just take the 4 positions (or less)of each objets in the scene 1 (if you have 4 scenes)
And of course scenes can be rotated for Lelouch style! Your is fixed! Japan style

Very speedy conceptual
Load the file
Start Animation Observer
Play Animation (of the scenes) as normal way

---

ani.skp

[pilou]

Updated the anim above
Always very basic but showing that you can animate anything in classical way
All is time to make
Difference with the Layer method is that you have just to click on a group for change it

[Tim Danaher]

@unknownuser said:

Before launch the Animation observer (positions adressed), better is save, quit and restart!
@Tim
Start Animation Observer only when all positions Objects are adressed!!!
That is that your error !
Objects (must be grouped) are independent of the scene! But will be animated inside the moving of the scenes!

Just go in the scene 1 and take 4 positions of your objects (or less) if you have 4 scenes

Pilou --

Thanks, but...

in Scene 1: Set Position - 1 (start), move car, Set Position - 2, move car, Set Position -3, move car, Set Position -4.

Start Animation observer.

Play scene animation.

Car does not move. The car is a self-contained group.

?

[pilou]

You have not save, quit reload!
and why 1 (start), move car ? Start is only when all is adressed!

Can you post your car or a simple objects with same nature group

[Tim Danaher]

@unknownuser said:

You have not save, quit reload!

Yes, I have. Just didn't state it.

@unknownuser said:

and why 1 (start), move car ? Start is only when all is adressed!

Because, in my experience with other packages, I want to set a keyframe for the starting position.

@unknownuser said:

Can you post your car or a simple objects with same nature group

OK. 'Lift Car' is the name of the group that I want to animate.

---

Earl's Court Lifts_Proper_Anim_Simple.skp.zip

[pilou]

@Tim
What is the probem?
Your animation works very fine like a charm !!! (I am on PC)
I have just exploded the first level group !

What a lovely blue lift car
And sorry for the "Start" it was the same Name that the function

[Tim Danaher]

Like I say... I set the four positions for the lift car (all in the same scene), save, quit, re-open SU, turn on Animation Observer, play the scene animation... The lift car doesn't move.

I can make it move within the same scene by choosing 'Get Position - X', it's just when I play the scene animations, there's no movement.

I still must not be understanding something.

[pilou]

Maybe it's the Mac!
Have you explode the first level of objects as I said?

---

[Tim Danaher]

OK, right, once the component is exploded, it works... but the lift car moves in one scene, then stops while the scene changes, then moves again, then stops...

Any way to get continuous movement across changing scenes?

p.s. "I have just exploded" = "Je viens de faire exploser", "I just exploded" = "j'ai simplement fait exploser", d'oú, peut-être ma confusion...

[pilou]

I don't believe you can
You can reduce time between scene transition (Menu View / Animation/ Settings)

Or in this particular project : Use just 2 Scenes! So no need beetween's levels floors

[Tim Danaher]

Yes, that's what I figured...

Is there, I wonder, a Ruby that allows you to vary the time transition between scenes? In combination with Proper Animation, that would be really cool.

[pilou]

That 's existing!
And it's for the Proper animation!
Look here made also by Morisdov

@unknownuser said:

Ruby script plugin Controlling Animation Scenes Transition Times

N°4 Set_Transition_time.rb
Tell me if it's good for you

[Tim Danaher]

Fabbo...

Blimey, I'll be able to get a whole othter article out of this... !