I need to make a simulation(animation) where a part is scaled over time how would you do this in an assembly animation?
I have a… err,r ummm,’ Blobluar’ ? shape that needs to expand from a tiny shape to a large one. the idea is showing a fluid expanding into sand from a pipe with holes in it.
Here is a followup on questions and comments on Casts 2 and 3 in regards to animating a spring and how to solidify a handle plus the freeform feature.
freeform
solidhandle
springanimation
The related surfacing handles cast is here
The related spring episode is here
Here is a link to the m4v Movie File
Ben
Wow, amazing tutorial as usual!
I come to this site everyday now just to watch your tutorials. They are the best! I have learned a lot. I especially like when you show tricks i had no idea existed. Finished the handle(i was the one that asked for handle tutorial) and have to say it was all your help that i was able to make it. I used only techniques i learned from your tutorials(not just the handle tutorial.A lot of tips and tricks from your tutorials made it soooo much easier to make.) and it came out just the way i hoped it would. I used your advice on how to make it solid too. Thank you!!!You are really the best!!!
I’m somehow missing the part on solidifying on this movie. Am i the only one?
Gahh I thought I included it in the video I guess not….. below is the solidify segment that was missed.
Thanks! Although it is a bit rough for my taste. The audio levels need some work but I am getting there.
I have been asked to do a animation by one of my clients and it will involve a pipe with a fluid flowing through it. Any thoughts on how to accomplish this?
Are you looking to show turbulence, linear flow or just level of fluid?
Looking at a turbulence model. It will show the fluid going down the pipe in cross section (level of fluid) and then after that scene I would like the fluid to appear to be moving in the direction of flow. I am not looking to have a technically perfect model just one to show to a layman that fluid is pumped down a pipe hopefully without using arrows….
Could you apply a texture to the ‘fluid’, and have configs of differing levels. Then when iterating through the configs, the texture would (hopefully) move along the pipe.
Hummm Ill try it. Thanks
I had to show fluid movement once a few years ago. I did it by suppressing/unsuppressing colored balls. You might be able to do something similar.
Jeff, is that legal in your state?
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would try making an Extrude or Sweep that’s length depends on a dimension & animate the dimension.
Ben, would you be able to show a sample animation of whatever you come up with?
Jeff, are you able to show us your animated, ummm, spheres?
Ben, expanding on Jeff’s idea of the balls, you might be able to use the Gravity option in the Simulation tools to ‘flow’ the balls through the tube.
CBL… Great idea! I will be working on it over the next few weeks so stay tuned.
This is actually fairly easy to do by animating an assembly level cut.
I am familiar with this method, and there was a online tutorial somewhere on it. Are you familiar with this and know where it is? Also how do I get the ‘turbulent’ look in the column of fluid?
Thanks for the suggestion Rob I forgot about this…
I have the actual tutorial but I’ll have to send it later, don’t have access to it right now. The turbulent look will have to be done with appearnaces and rotation. I created a 1 minute 20 second animation very similiar to this recently and that’s how I did it. I’ll send you a link to the video so you can see it. You know if you attended my session at SWW you would have seen this 
My bad… I will never miss another one of you sessions at SWW again.
Ben 1:37 pm on October 7, 2009 Permalink
Ok I am going to pat myself on the back on this one. Here is how to do it. Based on a post I did a while back at SolidMentor:
http://solidmentor.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=159
Ok make a part and then add 3 flex functions with stretching. Then make a sketch with a line that has a driven dimension on it. Then make an equation that links the line length to the stretch length of all three stretch functions.
Create an assembly with a empty part floating to drive the line length. Add the blobular structure, and then edit the blob incontext with the assembly and link the motion point part to the lines free end.
Then get out of the part edit and animate the motion point! Voila!
I know the instructions are cryptic and I will do better in a bit on a podcast with spines and animating. But right now I have to get this thing out the door ASAP! Here is the model to check out…
blob animation check this out! Effing cool if you ask me
Attachment – 2009_10_7_14_36