3ds Max : how tos: Animate along path using bones

This is useful for animating trank tracks, conveyor belts, pulleys etc Create patha curve that runs along the object, be it a chain, belt etc

Create Bones

Create along the complete track (shown in picture is an incomplete trackmainly for display)

It is advisable to create the bone length towards the direction of the animation. Not that it is compulsory. Now we only need to do is create an IKspline and lock the same on the curve.

The abve command has to be done with the base bone selected.

A selection cursor (with dotted line) appearsselect the top bone and then the curve Depending on the option various control boxes will appear along the curve

Modify (animate) the %along Path for the Bones to move along the path There are now two ways of doing things.one is bind it to boneshowever there will be stretching and bending along curvessince this is not desiredit is better do to a parent child relation of objects to the bones

Of Course if you have a belt with sprocketsyou can still use the above method or a simple path deform

Pick the path and do some very basic adjustments if needed, Like move the object to the path or rotate the objector stretch it to fit the curve etc.

In order for the track/gear sprocket to move Modify/animate the percentage

Digitally signed by Prem Moraes DN: cn=Prem Moraes, o=Autodesk, ou=M&E, email=prem.moraes@autodesk.c om, c=IN Date: 2013.01.18 16:39:09 +05'30'