Hey folks, any of you using the add_mesh_gear.py script with Blender 2.59? I know it was written for earlier versions but was wondering if anyone had any success installing it with the latest release. 

script info can be found here:

http://blenderartists.org/forum/showthread.php?172956-Gear-script-fully-ported-to-2.50-alpha-0

and here:

http://www.swineworld.org/blender/gears/

There is an add_mesh_extra objects which does have a regular gear and a worm gear but I don't think they have the same capabilities as the gears python. The python also gives you some options for other types of gears.

I think I followed the install instructions as far as what folder to put the script in, but when I go to the UI window and install it It doesn't show up in the list of scripts...

Any help would be appreciated. Im a sick, sick boy and while it is too cold to ride my motorcycles this winter I'd like to build a model of the engine/transmission. 

The add_mesh_py script was incorporated into the addon add_mesh_extra objects and incorporated into trunk in May. As far as I can tell the only gear option that is not supported by the options panel is a rack but that can be done easily enough through normal modeling methods.

 

Thanks for the reply! I think that an option for internal gear is missing as well unless there is a way to adjust the parameters of the standard type gears to achieve this. I was able to create, arrange, and keyframe two gears succesfully. I think with the script there is a way to simply keyframe the first gear. From swineworld.org:

• place the two gears with their radii touching
• rotate one of them so that the teeth mesh properly
• key that rotation at frame 1
• go forward 1 second (= frame 26 if the framerate is 25 f/s)
• rotate the same gear the number of degrees it will turn in 1 second and key that rotation
• set the extrapolation of the curve to 'linear'
• drive the rotation of the second gear by creating a new IPO and referenci

I have to confess that most animation I have done with all the applications I've used has been via key frames. Im a bit lost at the last two lines. After a hubt about I haven't found where to set the extrapolation curve type and I'm not sure what a IPO is or how to ref. it... 

For internal gears just set the radius value to a negative value. Best to do this in small increments as sometimes it sets things screwy if you use a large value off the bat.

Once you have set your keyframes open the f-curve editor window and select the required curve from the list. Then hit CTRL E and choose linear from the popup list. You can also select it from the window menu by selecting Channel>Extrapolation Mode>Linear.

Setting the curve to linear means that you will get a constant rotation speed instead of a slowing at the beginning and end.