Resetting pivot points when using rotate transform in autokey mode

[Anonymous]

First off, I'm a newcomer to 3ds Max and 3d modeling in general so your patience with my questions is appreciated.

I'm attempting to do an animation in 3ds Max 9 with a car model where the body and the four wheels comprise five separate groups. To make the wheels roll in sync to the movement, I've followed a tutorial that works as long as the wheels and the car body stay in separate groups so I can't combine them into one group.

THE PROBLEM: In the animation I'm currently working on, I want to use the rotate transform to adjust the car's heading. Whenever I attempt to rotate the car body and the 4x wheel groups during autokey mode, the car body group and each wheel group rotate around its own central axis.

The odd thing is, when autokey mode is off, I can make the car body and all four wheel group rotate cohesively around the same single pivot point.

From what I've been able to figure out, I need to somehow manually reset the pivot point(s) so all five groups rotate around the same pivot point when autokey mode is on.

Hopefully, what I've written makes sense. Thanks for reading.

[Steve_Curley]

Rule 1. Don't animate Groups - they can be kinda tricky (i.e. they don't work well at all).
Rule 2 (just in case 🙂 ) Never scale objects at the Object level, always scale at the sub-object level. For similar reasons, animation can/will go wrong.

Ungroup the objects - use the "Select and Link" tool to link the objects together into a hierarchy. Always link from the child to the parent. If necessary, create a Dummy object, link all the parts (of one wheel) to it, then link it to the car.

[jafari.maziar]

I have the same problem. It's very stressful. Why is there is no solution to this thread?

[leeminardi]

Can you post a simplified model that  shows the problem you are trying to solve?

[jafari.maziar]

I found the solution to this problem in another thread (that I cannot retrieve right now). Basically, in the top menu selecting customize, then preferences. In the opened window select animation tab, then check local center during animate. I don't know how to post a simplified model. Could you tell me how? Is it a screenshot? @leeminardi @Anonymous 

[leeminardi]

To attach a file just drag and drop a  .max (or .zip) file as noted below when you reply.

[jafari.maziar]

Ok, thanks for the info @leeminardi