controling animated curves

Support Basics & Interface
1

i want to use cuves to make tubes for pistons i’ve made

problem is how do i get each end to stay in position??

like armatures with ikSolver

do i have to key frames? as in tab>i>curve… forward a few frames, move points…i>curve repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,
repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,
repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,
repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,
repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat
:x :frowning: :expressionless: %| %|

you get the idea…frustration…

any other way?

2

Are these pistons in a syringe, a watergun, a steam locomotive, a gas engine ? Don’t you mean cylinders ? Or do you mean the head of the piston ?

problem is how do i get each end to stay in position??

I can’t even see why they would be moving in the first place !

like armatures with ikSolver

do i have to key frames? as in tab>i>curve… forward a few frames, move points…i>curve repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,
repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,
repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,
repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,
repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat,repeat
:x :frowning: :expressionless: %| %|

you get the idea…frustration…

And you for mine ? :wink:

Repeat with a bit more clarity, descriptions, explanations.

Jean
[/quote]

3

IamInnocent is right that it is not quite clear what you want to do.

As for the repeat, repeat … part I’d suggest to insert key frames for one “moving cycle” (two or three keys could be enough), set up the Speed Ipo in an appropriate way ( /-shaped )and set the extend mode to cyclic.

4

Sorry, k. here we go… hydrolic pistons…

… BBBBB
…BBBBB----’’’’'xxxxx
…body>BBBoB----__xxxxx<leg
… xxxxx
… oxxxx
…{ }
…[ ]
… [[[]]]

ignore all the … to the left

that prob makes no sense but hopefully i can explain clearly

the BBB part is a cube

the ---- part is the small tube of the hydrolic piston
----

the ‘’’’’’ part is the large tube of the piston
___

(this is simplified design!)

ok when the leg moves{the xxx part} the piston works…thats all fine.

but i want a tube to run from the “o” on the body to the “o” on the leg
(more pistons down there on full design)

i need the curve to stay connected to each of the “o”'s as the leg moves

i’d use armatures but they tend to bend the pipe…

clear?(as mud,eh? %| :expressionless: )

5

I think that i get it.

Indeed you shouldn’t need much more than 2, 4 keys to the most if, like I guess, the movement of the piston is in a straight line. The little bumps remaining are a matter of adjusting the Speed IPO…

If you still have a trouble send me the .blend by mail so I can look like a fool.

:wink:

Jean

6

Simpler even :

erase the Speed IPO ;
vertex-parent your piston to the control vertice of the curve that connects to it.
use your vertex keys to animate the piston.

Of course, all depends on the context.

7

thanx all,

give it another try… if i cant do it i’ll ajust my design (i know,…the easy way out)

8

If you want an example .blend I have one.

Jean