Maybe it is best sp setup, but pieces (legs, arms ...) dont colide as they look like. You can see my models similar to this on my site: http://forsa07.wix.com/dl-design#!design/cc9
In case someone else gets stuck on this, you can download LazyScript, install it, click the 'UI' button, and put the required ruby script in the box at the bottom, probably best under the item 'comp'. Either this or you can download a third party ruby console plugin (not the existing sketchup ruby console).
I am working on a really unique SP project - two joysticks, over 20 different machinery functions being simulated - but I am facing many challenges given the lack of documentation and lack of SP discussion on the forum now. If anyone expresses interest I can put up what I learn about joint control here..... its quite fun and I am learning (through trial and error) many things that I haven't seen discussed on the forum.
You should just put hinge to limit movement, and motor to move. Put high damp and high speed on motor to make it stand still in position. That is how I make my models, which you can see on my site: http://forsa07.wix.com/dl-design#!design/cc9
I had been looking for an animation tool that allows me to animate really technical stuff - I think I may have found it in Simfonia Animation Tools.
It's not the easiest tool to learn but the documentation is pretty comprehensive, however, it is surprisingly powerful.
This is an animation I have made whilst learning to use the tool(s) of Simfonia. The parameters of this animation are controlled by a .csv file - note how rotor blade speed slowly increases, the angle of the chopper tilts forward at an accelerating rate, the chopper begins moving forward while still rising upwards and then accelerates off screen at an increasing rate - these are all things that are not possible to control with other plugins (correct me if I'm wrong) and I'm just getting started.
If you can be bothered spending the time to go through the documentation I recommend checking this tool out.
It's not a funny way really - it's brilliant, and it does so for a very good reason ๐
If you have fought with other 3D programs where the textures scale themselves when you move a line or do some other modifications, which is what happens with normal UV mapped faces, you ought to love the way SU does it. The textures keep the same physical size whatever you do to the model (except scale the group/component, in which case the texture is scaled with the rest of the group), unless you tell it to scale, rotate, shear etc by using the Texture tools.
This is one of the features that makes SU so great for architectural models etc.
Hmm it seems that the DWG/DXF exporters can handle only so much data, beyond which nothing gets exported. Thanks for your attempt to help Anssi but I can't post as Intellectual Property presented in the model is sensitive. Thanks for your attempt to help but I fixed the issue by cutting back the amount of data.
Perhaps the advent of windows 7, and therefore more ram, will alleviate this issue somewhat??......
Unity (and others) may not look as good but at least they have the possibility to make a presentation available thru a webpage or an exe that can be put on a cd.
I couldnยดt agree more.
I actually got kind of carried away discussing something that actually has more to do with game modding than with presentation itself.
Thanks Aerilius I forgot I had maximum textures turned on and was using a 9MP image so that is probably the issue but I will check it soon and let you know. Great advice, thanks
Still it's not the same which render engine you are using for ray tracing. It all depends on that engine as it may or may not support high poly count, SU components and such so your "strategy" should be up to that renderer. Anyway, if you use any external renderers, AA should be set there (if needed).
These scripts both seem to toggle back and forth for me....Have I done something wrong? Also, what would I add to the last script to allow a second key to control the opposite direction of rotation; ie a +/- key
The trouble with freezing them is that they are on a moving conveyor when they get cut (not an ideal situation i know), the hidden geometry will help however.
I'm creating a model of a sawmill and its quite a challenge, good fun though.