Can a dummy that is controlling other objects through wire parameters be animated?

[adrianoledur]

Hello,

I am trying to animate a dummy that controls other objects through wire parameters. When the dummy translates in the Z axis it rotates those bars and elevate the platform. I set a key in position  Z 0,0 and then in position Z 30,0 but the animation wont play.

Why not? How could it be done?

Thanks.

[CAMedeck]

Based on what I'm seeing, and your description, it should work.  When you say the animation won't play, what exactly is happening?  Does the dummy move when you move the time slider?

[adrianoledur]

No it doesn't.

I had to move the dummy manually, since I wanted to show what the positions should look like.

When I set the keys, the transformations are not stored in them, it seems.

[adrianoledur]

Animation wont play

[leeminardi]

There are several ways to rig the action I think you wan to achieve.  I would use an HI IK Solver as in the attached file. Select and move box003 in z to see the action.

[CAMedeck]

I wonder if there's a problem with how you added the animation keys to your dummy.  Try deleting all the keys on the dummy object and setting it to the starting position.  Next, enable Auto Key (shortcut n) and move your time slider to the desired frame.  Now move the dummy to the final position.  3ds Max should generate a key at your current frame and your start frame.

[adrianoledur]

Leeminardi,

I have already animated it manually, since it is something quite simple to do.

But the question remains. For some reason that dummy can not be animated, as it seems.

Thanks anyway for you reply.

[adrianoledur]

Medeck,

I have tried with autokey turned on but to no avail.

It generates keys, but the animation dont work.

[CAMedeck]

Would it be possible to upload the file here?  At the very least, just save out your Dummy object so we can check it out and see why it won't animate.  I can think of several things that might cause this, and it would take a couple pages to type out all the steps.

[adrianoledur]

Here it goes.

[CAMedeck]

Sorry, I'm still on Max 2023 and can't open your file.  Can you save it back?

[MartinBeh · Accepted solution]

No idea how you got there but if you replace the nested sub-controller "Z_Position Animation" in the dummy z position, which is another wire controller, with a normal bezier float controller you can keyframe it again.

[adrianoledur]

Martin, hello!

Thanks for you solution. I already tested here and it works.

I must have rigged it with the two way connection and later removed it but for some reason the float wire got stuck.