Help with path animation...

Maya for 3D Printing - Rapid Prototyping

In this course we're going to look at something a little different, creating technically accurate 3D printed parts.

# 1 09-11-2002 , 07:00 AM

Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2002

Posts: 117

Hi there,
I have a spring type object in my scene and i have to animate a bal rolling down it. How can create a curve to take the exact same shape as the spring to work as the path?

Thanks for the help! Ari

user added image

Thanks,
Ari

Quote

# 2 09-11-2002 , 07:03 AM

The Maya Mountain
Join Date: Aug 2002

Location: Seattle, WA

Posts: 8,245

The easiest way would be to create a nurbs spring, duplicate a surface curve, delete that curve's history and use it. Did you create that spring object using curves? extrude surface perhaps?

-Mike
The Maya Toolbelt

Quote

# 3 09-11-2002 , 07:06 AM

Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2002

Posts: 117

Nope, it was created using the premade spring option in 3ds max, then i imported it into maya.

I couldn;t figure out how to make a spring in maya.

Thanks,
Ari

Quote

# 4 09-11-2002 , 07:34 AM

The Maya Mountain
Join Date: Aug 2002

Location: Seattle, WA

Posts: 8,245

ah, ok. Check out my tornado tutorial. I've got a video in the VIP section and also a free text version at my site (link in sig). I go over how to create a spring shaped curve. From there you should be able to take it.

Hope that helps. user added image

-Mike
The Maya Toolbelt

Quote

# 5 09-11-2002 , 12:04 PM

Moderator
Join Date: Sep 2002

Location: London, UK

Posts: 3,198

Ari: Another finn here? (if so, nice user added image

)
Welcome aboard anyway user added image

Kari
- My Website
- My IMDB

Do a lot, Fail a lot and Learn a lot!

Quote

# 6 09-11-2002 , 01:05 PM

Subscriber
Join Date: Aug 2002

Posts: 1,135

How about this?;

One can simply make a nurbs-curve by klicking the numerous vertices on the spring-objects of yours.

It's not done in ten seconds, but it cannot take forever etither.

If the curve need modification;
1) Make a locator aligned to the center of the spring.
2) Set pivot point of the curve to the locator and scale the X and Y axis.
3) Leave the Z axix alone. Simply move the whole curve a little down or a little up if this is needed.

Just some thoughts.

I do not support Bush! Nor Saddam! Long live UN!

Quote

# 7 09-11-2002 , 04:18 PM

Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2002

Posts: 117

Hi there mtmckinley

I followed your tornado tutorial, but there is a problem..

Once i extrude my curve into the spring like shape, it becomes an extruded surface, which i cannot use as a motion path.
How can i use this shape as a simple curve?

I appreciate the help.

Thanks,
Ari

Quote

# 8 09-11-2002 , 04:34 PM

The Maya Mountain
Join Date: Aug 2002

Location: Seattle, WA

Posts: 8,245

once you have that shape, select an isoparm, Edit Curves > Duplicate Surface Curve. It will duplicate the isoparm to create a spiraling curve. Select the curve, delete it's history. You can then delete your surface and you are left with the curve to use as a motion path.

Hope that made sense. user added image

-Mike
The Maya Toolbelt

Quote

# 9 09-11-2002 , 05:05 PM

Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2002

Posts: 117

Gotcha!!
Thanks!

Thanks,
Ari

Quote

# 10 09-11-2002 , 05:39 PM

Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2002

Location: Queens, NY

Posts: 31

Just download Goomoo Utilities from Highend3d. Its a script with a lot of cool primitives in it. Including spiral and spiral along curve.

https://www.highend3d.com/maya/

its the 25th line down -
(10-30-02: Updated Goomoo Utilities v0.6 in ( Maya > Scripts ))

Quote

# 11 09-11-2002 , 09:46 PM

Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2002

Posts: 117

Thank you everyone for your help!

Thanks,
Ari

Quote

# 12 10-11-2002 , 12:43 AM

Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2002

Posts: 1

Mayebe this would work?

I'm no maya master, but why couldn't you just make a cv curve and make that your motion path. Using side and top views it couldn't be too hard. i actually found animating with motion paths to be the easiest thing for me in Maya and i've only been working with Maya for about 6 months.

Quote

# 13 10-11-2002 , 02:30 AM

The Maya Mountain
Join Date: Aug 2002

Location: Seattle, WA

Posts: 8,245

Yeah, that could work too. We're just giving him options that would create a generated spiral curve is all. user added image

-Mike
The Maya Toolbelt

Quote

# 14 10-11-2002 , 07:33 AM

Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2002

Location: Minnesota, USA

Posts: 3,709

BTW, Goomoo Utilities rocks!

I've used it since v0, and it just keeps getting better.

My fav function is: Extrude face along curve.

Simple and easy.

Israel "Izzy" Long
Motion and Title Design for Broadcast-Film-DS
izzylong.com

Quote

Reply to this thread