Fixing translation on joint in a multi-joint mechanical system

[diskprotek]

I'm trying to animate the motion of several toggle links in a mechanical device.  I've recreated the relevant portions of the device in simplified form.  The device looks like this:

 

The selected pin is attached to the rear plate.  Moving that pin laterally causes the back plate to move in the same direction (e.g., it is attached to the pin).  It also causes the vertical plate to the right of that pin to rotate clockwise.  When you rotate that plate clockwise, it causes the pin to the left of the highlighted pin to rotate up.  The picture below shows the action of the rotation.

 

Everything about that rotation is correct, except for the action of the distal plate that is pointing up from the middle pin.  I'd like that plate to remain attached to the last pin on the left and drag that pin and that plate only laterally to the right.

In other words, the highlighted pin and the attached plate should move only laterally to the right.

I'm rather new to Maya so this may be easy, but I cannot figure out how to rig this with joints/IKs to replicate the motion I'm trying to accomplish.  

Thanks in advance for your help.  [I tried to attach the simplified file, but I keep getting the error: "The attachment's ik test.ma content type (application/octet-stream) does not match its file extension and has been removed."]

[osidedan]

Hello! What you are trying to do can definitely be accomplished with a combination of joints, an IK solver, and some constraints. I'm attaching a video of a quick mock-up of what I think you are trying to do. Check that video and let me know if that's what you are trying to achieve.

If that is what you want to do, let me know and I can record a quick video of the setup process, as it is easier to show it than to try and write out all of the steps haha. 

Cheers!

[diskprotek]

Thanks for the help.  I was able to work it out.  Although I did use two different joints chains - the one you demonstrated and the one I showed on the original post.  If you were contemplating one joint chain for all the movement, then I'm not sure how that would work and a video would be great.  

[osidedan]

That’s awesome you got it figured out! As for the video demo, it would just have been how to set up that second joint chain haha, so it’s not needed since you got it working!