topic Re: Help With Joints and Animation in Fusion Design, Validate & Document Forum

Help With Joints and Animation

doleksa — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 17:26:07 GMT

Hello,

I'm new to using joints and animation in Fusion 360. I have a model of a Hopper Car used in Model Railroading.

I would like to have this model follow the rails. I would like to be able to curve the rails left or right and up and down

and have the car follow the rails. Is this something that can be done in Fusion 360 or some other software?

Thanks,

Don

Re: Help With Joints and Animation

jhackney1972 — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 17:35:45 GMT

Please attach your model so someone can show you the process. Following the straight rails is possible, I am not too sure about following curves. If you do not know how to attach your Fusion 360 model follow these easy steps. Open the model in Fusion 360, select the File menu, then Export and save as a F3D or F3Z file to your hard drive. Then use the Attachments section, of a forum post, to attach it.

Re: Help With Joints and Animation

doleksa — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 17:39:59 GMT

Attached model.

Re: Help With Joints and Animation

jhackney1972 — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 18:29:06 GMT

I was expecting to receive an assembly model with Joints, but no, you send me one with just components. I went ahead and added joints to one truck. As you can see in the video the wheels are turning in relationship to their motion along the rail. If you have any questions, let me know. Model is attached.

(view in My Videos)

Re: Help With Joints and Animation

doleksa — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 18:49:22 GMT

Hi John,

Sorry for not having the joints in there. That was another problem I was struggling with, not knowing where to put the joints to get it to follow along the track. The video helps a lot. I'll try to add the joints on my model. Thanks very much!

Re: Help With Joints and Animation

laughingcreek — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 20:49:23 GMT

if you want to have a curvy windy track and have the car follow it, fusion isn't going to be the right tool. blender will do it beautifully, but it has a huge learning curve.

Re: Help With Joints and Animation

doleksa — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 21:34:09 GMT

Do you think it could follow this test track? In front of the hopper, the track curves right then left. Behind the hopper the track curves up then down. Included the model with the track. Sorry no joints yet, working on it.

Re: Help With Joints and Animation

davebYYPCU — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 08:29:51 GMT

Credit to @MichaelT_123 who got Fusion API scripts to do this, a few years ago.

https://a360.co/30W2BA3

Might help...

Re: Help With Joints and Animation

MichaelT_123 — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 12:46:29 GMT

Hi Mr Doleksa,

As you have been advised by the Expert(s), F360 doesn't handle kinematic-rich structures very well. As a matter of fact, not too many software do. The problem is at least two-fold. The respective algorithms and the math behind them are neither simple nor easy to implement. The other issue is that it is questionable to implement them in a real-time interaction scenario on the standard hardware. It might be reasonable to mention also … that the price level of Fusion Ultimate might not support the development-related expenses … hopefully only yet.

Having said that, please find some samples (I hope entertaining) of the development I committed years ago.

In the case of the problem 'Train in the track' movement animation ... I will politely say that your 'desire' to achieve such effect in F360 is excessive 😉 ... but if you have some spare change of perhaps x00K $, ANSYS or similar heavy weights could be the options here. Contact respective sales departments and ask for the quotation.

In the meantime, consider adding quite a few of DOF to your wagon bogies as a possible in Fusion development step, allowing it to travel on a curvy track.

Attached files:

LiftChain_mono.png 4K_mono ( 2MB) https://a360.co/3SlOygK

LiftChain_mono.mp4 4K_mono ( 5MB) https://a360.co/3BVsBPd

LiftChain _arcd.png 4K_stereo ( 2MB) https://a360.co/3fbdNnw

LiftChain_arcd.mp4 4K_stereo ( 17MB) https://a360.co/3UoI96p

PirxHell_mono.png 4K_mono ( 6MB) https://a360.co/3BzaSwM

PirxHell_mono.mp4 4K_mono ( 49MB) https://a360.co/3S38jtS

PirxHell_arcd.png 4K_stereo ( 16MB) https://a360.co/3UxgsrW

PirxHell_arcd.mp4 4K_stereo (223MB) https://a360.co/3R3T2re

To be viewed on 4K media devices (monitors, UHD TVs, projectors...) of reasonable performance. For the best experience, use stand-alone media applications (WMP, VLC) and the native resolution 3840x2160 - full screen. The '_arcd' files require an anaglyph red/cyan glasses, while '_al' is for an active shutter glasses 3D hardware (~30 deg viewing angle is recommended). Download the files over a network, where the cost of doing so is not a concern. The files are to be used for private, non-commercial purposes only.

Regards and All the Best

MichaelT