sketchucation logo sketchucation
    • Login
    ℹ️ Licensed Extensions | FredoBatch, ElevationProfile, FredoSketch, LayOps, MatSim and Pic2Shape will require license from Sept 1st More Info

    Another Steam Engine

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Gallery
    69 Posts 15 Posters 62 Views 15 Watching
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • B Offline
      bexar
      last edited by

      Dave,

      Very nice work, I am very impressed. I have been "modeling" for a short time and now would like to dip my toe into steam engine "animation". I saw your video of the Muncaster "automation". Another "home run".

      I have tinkered with MS Physics a bit, I really haven't got my head wrapped around the tool' methodology. I was wondering which animation tool did you used on the Muncaster (Ms Physics, Animator, Key Frame or other)??

      Again, nice work on all of your models.

      bexar
      Southeast Queensland

      Dave RD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • Dave RD Offline
        Dave R @bexar
        last edited by

        @bexar thank you.

        My animations of the various steam engine models were done without using any "animation tools". I just use copies of components, tag visibility, scenes, and the native animation export option straight out of SketchUp. For me that's straightforward and simple.

        Etaoin Shrdlu

        %

        (THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE)

        G28 X0.0 Y0.0 Z0.0

        M30

        %

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • B Offline
          bexar
          last edited by

          WOW! Can you direct me to resources (youtube, pdf, etc) that explains that process that you use? Now, I'm even more impressed by your skill set!!! Have a good day!!

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • Dave RD Offline
            Dave R
            last edited by

            Thanks! There's really not a lot to it. I make multiple copies of the components along their route of travel. There's a different tag applied to each of the copies and then a different one of those tags is visible for each scene. This screen shot shows a simpler engine model with four of the 24 tags turned on. There are 24 scenes for the animation.

            Screenshot - 8_18_2025 , 4_48_29 PM.png

            It gets a little more complicated with an engine like the horizontal Muncaster because of the steam valve and the linkages.

            Here's the resulting animation:
            https://flic.kr/p/2n7xvyh

            Etaoin Shrdlu

            %

            (THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE)

            G28 X0.0 Y0.0 Z0.0

            M30

            %

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • B Offline
              bexar
              last edited by

              Thank you so much for that information. I'll certainly do a bit of self-education. The animation was just so smooth! Thank you so much for your helpful reply!

              Dave RD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • Dave RD Offline
                Dave R @bexar
                last edited by

                @bexar you're welcome.

                FWIW these engine animations are exported with no transitions between scenes so there are only as many frames as scenes. Then in a video editor I just copy and paste the animation to create a repeating sequence.

                Etaoin Shrdlu

                %

                (THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE)

                G28 X0.0 Y0.0 Z0.0

                M30

                %

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • Dave RD Offline
                  Dave R
                  last edited by

                  2 Gears Render 4K.png

                  Etaoin Shrdlu

                  %

                  (THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE)

                  G28 X0.0 Y0.0 Z0.0

                  M30

                  %

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 5
                  • Rich O BrienR Offline
                    Rich O Brien Moderator
                    last edited by

                    Clean modelling. You going to 3D print these?

                    Download the free D'oh Book for SketchUp 📖

                    Dave RD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • Dave RD Offline
                      Dave R @Rich O Brien
                      last edited by

                      @Rich-O-Brien thank you. I don't know. It hink I'd be disappointed in the results.

                      Etaoin Shrdlu

                      %

                      (THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE)

                      G28 X0.0 Y0.0 Z0.0

                      M30

                      %

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • 1
                      • 2
                      • 3
                      • 4
                      • 4 / 4
                      • First post
                        Last post
                      Buy SketchPlus
                      Buy SUbD
                      Buy WrapR
                      Buy eBook
                      Buy Modelur
                      Buy Vertex Tools
                      Buy SketchCuisine
                      Buy FormFonts

                      Advertisement