topic Re: Keeping an Object Oriented Perpendicular to Path? in 3ds Max Forum

Keeping an Object Oriented Perpendicular to Path?

stusic — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 19:01:46 GMT

I'm trying to animate an object between two splines and would like to keep the object perpendicular to the splines (like the axle of a train staying perpendicular to the rails).

I've set up the object to follow path on one spline and set up a LookAt constraint on a dummy that's path constrained to the other spline. It almost works, but since each spline is a different length (they're twisty and curvy), one Path Constraint outruns the other and my object ends up becoming slanted towards one or the other.

Am I doing this correctly? Is there a better method to keep the object oriented like I want? Thanks for any help 🙂

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Re: Keeping an Object Oriented Perpendicular to Path?

Diffus3d — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 00:55:09 GMT

You can use the "follow" checkbox to keep it aligned, and you can use the normalize spline modifier to ensure they move at a constant rate. If your objects still seem to change direction in route, then use a helper on the spline constraint and link your model to the helper. Then you can adjust the link info to not inherit certain transforms.

Best Regards,

Re: Keeping an Object Oriented Perpendicular to Path?

stusic — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 21:17:31 GMT

Thanks Alfred, that was helpful. I tried it this morning and got it to work 🙂 However, last night I tried doing it in Tyflow and got very good results with that approach. I think I'll go that route this project, but this will definitely help in the future. Thanks again 🙂

Re: Keeping an Object Oriented Perpendicular to Path?

Diffus3d — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 21:21:38 GMT

Tyflow is awesome, no doubt. Glad it worked out for you! I'll mark your post as a solution so that the next person with this issue has multiple options. Thanks for posting your solution!

Best Regards,