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!

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!!

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

A few years ago I tried a product called 'Cubify Design' and followed the tutorials available.

One tutorial discussed threading of a bolt blank done much like a metal lathe would in the real world. A 2D cutter head was drawn outlining the thread profile and placed at the start of the bolt blank (cylinder). In the real world lathe the material is turning and the cutter head progresses along the cylinder axis cutting the threads.

In the Cubify Design world I'm not sure if the bolt blank is rotating and the cutter head travels along the axis of the bolt blank (like a real world lathe) OR the bolt blank is stationary and the cutter head is rotating around the bolt blank as it (the cutter head) travels the length of the bolt blank. Doesn't really matter, the threads are being 'cut' by relative motion of one of the two (bolt blank or cutter head).

I've seen plugins that can 'extrude' threads then combine with the cylinder (bolt blank) to form a threaded bolt.

What I'm looking for is a Sketchup method to have a thread outline (cutterhead) rotate around the bolt stock and travel the length of the bolt stock by following a helix profile. Replicating a real world lathe.

I've tried some 'follow-me' tool stuff and can get a 'cutter head' to revolve (follow-me)around the edge of a circle. Creating something like chess set pawn. But can't get the cutter head profile linked up to a helix to where the cutter head will travel along an axis.

Can this be done in SU and if so can someone point me to a tutorial that even an eight year old can understand???

Thank you!!

Hi folks,

I am using SU 8.0, consequently no "Install Extension" button on the Preferences panel display.

I have no trouble installing a .rb plugin by copying to respective Sketchup8 plugin folder. Such plugins (.rb) work as advertised.

How do I install a plugin with .rbz as the file type??

Thank you!

@pilou said:

Maybe you have not the SketchUp 8 M2 ?

http://sketchucation.com/resources/tutorials/108-installing-sketchup-plugins

So make a manual installation

Or better Install Sketchup 2016 !
As you have no plugins installed that will the best for you!

Popped mover.rb into the Sketchup 8 Plugin folder and all going great.

Thank you to everyone that helped out with the issue!

@pilou said:

Take of course the last one .rbz version!

And install it from the Menu of Sketchup: Windows / Preferences / Extensions / Install Extension
so no need to find the good folder for install all that!

pilou,

Thank you for the reply.

I'm using SU 8, I can follow the "Windows / Preference / Extensions / Install Extension" trail OK, EXCEPT FOR the "Install Extension" option does not appear!

Any other thoughts or options??

Cheers,

bexar

@pilou said:

Yes, you can make anything you want!
The only thing is that you must use components
for have the possibility to command positions of the the axis
else you will obtain erratic rotations/movements!

Alas only default : Scale will be not entierely working!
Only by direct step between scenes without smoothing animation! (Big/Small)

Here only 2 static scenes! Of course it's compatible with animations of scenes themselves!
[attachment=0:1kf415oi]<!-- ia0 -->GIF_charn.gif<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment:1kf415oi]

pilou,

Thank you so much! Looks like 'mover' is exactly what I'm looking for. I'm using SU 8, would you recommend mover v 5 or mover v 6?

This will be my first SU plug-in, so I might have more questions later.

I sincerely appreciate the time and effort that you have put into your helpful replies.

bexar,
SE Queensland, Australia

@pilou said:

Try Mover

This sort of thing ?

[attachment=0:33sjdo8u]<!-- ia0 -->GIF_move.gif<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment:33sjdo8u]

Not exactly, but close! Say your 3D box was cut in half and each half joined by a hinge. The first scene would show the halves together (closed), next scene the one half has rotated 5 deg, next scene the same half has rotated another 5 deg, the next scene the same half has rotated another 5 deg, and so on.

Each half is a 'group'. The first half (group) is stationary, the second half (different group) rotates in 5 deg increments about the same axis point.

Similar to the sequential steps of a door opening - the wall is fixed and the door rotates around the hinge axis opening 5 deg in each scene. Each 5 deg rotation is captured as a scene, the animation shows the door opening.

Will 'Mover' do that??

Thank you for your help.

Question about 'scenes'.

I can create/add 'scenes' after changing the 'view' (with Orbit tool) and later show the animation as expected on the computer monitor.

But that is not what I want to do!

I want to change the model (hinged groups, one rotating, the other fixed) a few degrees of rotation, add a view, change the rotation, add a view, change the rotation, add a view, etc., etc. The camera, zoom, orbit is never changing, always fixed in same position. Only the position of the rotating group is changing.

As I create/add each 'view' it is shown in the Scenes dialog box showing the rotation. When I 'animate', the scenes step through as expected in the Scenes window, but nothing changes on the display monitor, still displays the last model position created.

What I want to do is to animate the 'changing model', not the 'changing view'.

Can SU do this? If so, how and what version of SU??

Thank you!