topic Re: Constrain pole vector elbow/knee ctrl problem in Maya Animation and Rigging Forum

Constrain pole vector elbow/knee ctrl problem

Anonymous — Fri, 25 May 2018 14:27:18 GMT

Hi, I have controllers for elbows and knees on my model. I am trying to use pole vector to constrain the knee ctrl to the leg IK but after my knee bends on the inside. Do you know why?

Thanks

Re: Constrain pole vector elbow/knee ctrl problem

stephenkmann — Fri, 25 May 2018 18:05:26 GMT

I'm guessing you mean it bends the wrong direction.

IK wants to bend in 1 direction that is determined by the Preferred angle of the joints.

when you build your joints. if they are straight, you want to rotate in 1 axis only ( usually something like Y ) , and then set the preferred angle.

do this by keeping the joint selected and rt click in open space and choose "set preferred angle"

if you build the joints bent. the preferred angle will be inherited by the bend.. and so will use that.

if the creation of the pole vector moves your joints.. then you want to put it in the correct spot..

try selecting the IK handle and hitting t this will show the extra manips for affecting the movement of the ik handle at the top of the joint chain you will see a white triangle,, this is your polevector.

also notice on the IK handle there are values for poleVectorX , Y, & Z

this is an offset from the root of the joint chain.

try making a locator and snapping it to the top of the joint chain.

freeze the transforms on the locator, and then match it's translate X Y and Z to the ik handles poleVector X Y Z

and you should see that the locator, and the poleVector, ( when you press t ) are in the same position.

making that locator the poleVector constraining object. should not move the joint chain when you create it

hope that helps

-=s

Re: Constrain pole vector elbow/knee ctrl problem

Anonymous — Fri, 25 May 2018 19:48:09 GMT

Thanks stephenkmann for your help.

Your solution using the manipulator tool (t) to move the pole vector orientation really helped me to put the knee back in line but unfortunately, my problem is still there. I have a locator in front of my knee that is the controller/object that I used to constrain the leg IK, the problem is that when I use the pole vector, the typical line that shows the connection between the IK and the object it doesn't appear and the object is useless, but I am sure that the pole vector is there because I can see it in the Outliner under the leg IK.

Re: Constrain pole vector elbow/knee ctrl problem

gautham.chandran47 — Sat, 26 May 2018 05:43:04 GMT

Can you post a screenshot or preferably a screencast of your issue?

Re: Constrain pole vector elbow/knee ctrl problem

Anonymous — Sat, 26 May 2018 08:28:48 GMT