I am looking for a mentor to show me how to take a static prop and turn it into a figure with moving parts. The images you see are a figure I modeled in wings and assembled in Poser 7 one piece at a time. I exported the entire project and welded the pieces without names. The Geometries are still intact as I did not know if they were needed in or out for figures. The manual is quite vague on alot of issues. If there is someone out there that is interested let me know. you payment will be that you get to keep the one I send you but I retain the creative rights and saleability of the unit.

 

this is a side view of it

and a back view

I can show you how to rig it, but it must be grouped correctly before rigging can start. By correctly I mean that each part ('actor' to be) that needs to articulate must have its own unique group, each part should consist of only one group, and the groups should have names that make some sense, eg "lClaw1", "rClaw2", "rCal2PistonRod", etc. Until you get to that point (lets hope you are there already) you can't start rigging.

If you can import each part seperately and parent them together as a prop you are part way there. 

If you have that go into "heirarchy editor" check that everything is parented correctly and press the button near the botton thats "make figure" (or something like that)

By correctly I mean hand>forearm>shoulder>chest>hip like that.

You will find your new figure in the figures library under New figures.  You then have to turn bends off, and adjust the pivot points using the joint editor.

 

There should be a tutorial on making figures , try DrGeeps website.

 

 

you will have  a problem with those hydralic rams that connect two parts. There is a trick to do them but it is a bit complicated.

 

Essentially you make the ram in two parts, connect each to the body part they attach to

Thigh< ram_a-1     and hip<ram_a_2   and  then you use point at to get them to work. It does take some adjusting of the joint center.

I would leave them out for a first attempt.

Nice model, wouldn't mind seeing a wire-frame of that just for curiosities sake...

By the way, I would seriously consider lesbentley's offer... Dude is very knowledgeable about the intricacies of Poser.

Quote - you will have  a problem with those hydralic rams that connect two parts. There is a trick to do them but it is a bit complicated.

The hydraulic rams should not be too hard. What has me worried is those hydraulic pipes, if they need to bend, that could be very difficult.

I did not notice the pipes , a few more pics would be nice.

Perhaps rig as a rope and use ERC ?

IK ?

could be a real challange.

 

 

 

With the new Mechwarrioronline game coming soon...I forsee a market opp for just this sort of mesh. ;)

"The Blood is the life!"

 

The hydraulic rams should not be too hard. What has me worried is those hydraulic pipes, if they need to bend, that could be very difficult.

Just a thought about the hydrolic lines...could they be treated like a finger with maybe three bones in them with the final bone using point at to hold it in place. as for wire mesh images...here you go

Quote - Just a thought about the hydrolic lines...could they be treated like a finger with maybe three bones in them with the final bone using point at to hold it in place.

The idea certainly sounds worth a try, I don't know if three segments would be enough to get a smooth curve, I suspect you would need more, perhaps six, but I'm only guessing. Another idea is to rig it as an IK chain, but I like your idea better.

one of the T-888 model freebies used bending shoulder-hydraulics.  normally with these robots, one would turn off bending, but the hoses require it IIRC.  fortunately nobody does animations, otherwise this could be a big problem.

really very beautiful model there hhfspinball...

Great looking model... I'll look forward to seeing it rigged

Having to reload the unit into poser to keep the part names for groups. almost done with it. when I get the last piece in i'll come back here and let you know.

Attached Link: Rigging The Arachadonis

*cough*

Comitted to excellence through art.

Attached Link: Monster Rigging

*cough, cough*

Comitted to excellence through art.

look into an ancient free program called PHI builder.

You use it to build a PHI from an obj, which then gets converted into a figure in poser. this is technology circa poser4, so it works in any version

Another person to ask about mecha rigging is Valandar over at the DAZ forums

tip: most mecha parts will be set to not bend, that is, not to mush when bent

Lyrra

Well Dark Edge I see you've been in the dusty basement again. thanks, Will look at it in a bit. Will check it out Lyrra thanks

 

Yeah, a little dusty down here. These are somewhat old (2-3 years) but the basics covered in Poser are still relevant today.

Comitted to excellence through art.

Unlike some programs, poser tends to stack new tech on top of previous tech. So by and large things that worked circa poser4, still work exactly the same as they used to with some minor exceptions. Even the new weightmapping is in addition to, not instead of, the classic rigging.

Lyrra

OK. last piece in. all parts have names now what