3ds Max7: Spider Animation

[Troyjinman]

Hey all. I'm new to the forum and I'm currently stuck on a project for class. For the assignment I need to animate a crawling spider-like robot across a small obstacle course. I have the Robot all modeled out, all I need to do now is animate the legs so that they look similar to how a spider crawls. Are there any tutorials out there that would help me with this?

[Kage]

You could use IK to animate all the legs, and there are loads of spider videos on the net of crawling, etc you could use to help.

What you'd first do is set up a middle object to be the body of course, and then add more maybe boxy objects for all the legs inside the spider mesh, a box for each joint.

You'd then go to Animation/ IK solvers, and one of those should suit it. You'd then using this, link the bones (Or objects. You could do it both ways) up together to create a chain, which'll allow you to move only 1 bone to move all of them in a realistic fashion.

You'd then use the Skin modifier to make the mesh move with the bones.

Looking up IK in Max will give you more of an idea, and maybe a tutorial. Plus, look up Skin.

I hope this helps :)

[McFly]

I'll jump on that to ask a similar question: when you have it all set up (IK and stuff), how do you make the spider move forward?

I managed to make a walk cycle with a 6-legged bug but it didn't move, I mean the body stayed on the spot with legs rotating. I don't have a clue how to make it go forward. I know with Character Studio you can set some steps and the model just follows but with bones?! If I move the body, the legs don't follow, the feet stay on the ground while the rest of the legs move a bit.

Any help appreciated. :)

[Kage]

Selcet all the objects you want, and then create a Character, and this'll appear as a circular spline type thing above the object (You'll need to set rotations, etc, as this will be the rotation point), which connects all the objects up together, including the rig. You move this forward, which will also carry the rig forward, while that is doing its own thing, so can be keyframed seperatly.

Its rather like a Group, but allows you to select objects individually without having to Open and Close it.

[cjthompson]

just look at some video of spiders....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=95KJic75TZE

that has some good footage.

I have a 3ds max spider all rigged that I could email you, that might make a good reference of how to rig your robot? just let me know and I'll mail it off.

[Troyjinman]

just look at some video of spiders....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=95KJic75TZE

that has some good footage.

I have a 3ds max spider all rigged that I could email you, that might make a good reference of how to rig your robot? just let me know and I'll mail it off.


that would actually be amazing if you could do that!? I'm doing what everyone's been telling me, but I'm still a bit confused. I'm more of a visual learner and I'm sure a visual model would help drastically. I'm still relatively new to max... If you wouldn't mind..... Troyjinman@Gmail.com

thank you!

[cjthompson]

no problem, I've sent it :)

[Troyjinman]

ok well i've managed to rig everything up, the only thing that's troubling me is how to create a walk cycle for a Quadruped? As I've previously stated, im fairly new to this program, so my apologies for the numerous questions.

[cjthompson]

http://www.hash.com/users/threechickens/Spider.htm


hope that is of some use :)