Artwork > Finished Works and Works in Progress
Paddle Steamer engine
johnar:
Hi :)
Its hard to see the exact mechanics of this beautifull machine, but got me thinking of pistons and rods.
I made a short test of a 'very simple' setup, which seems to work ok in its basics.
Possibly the idea of using morph targets for any 'in/out' movement, might free up the rig a bit..?
I realise your rig is far more complex, but, just thought... maybe... :-\
I feel for you man, and wish i could help more... ;)
ENSONIQ5:
Nicely done johnar, very smooth. I may well use morph targets as a way of adjusting for the not-strictly-sine-wave motion of the pistons and valves. I have made pretty good progress using the scripting method, I'll post early results soon
Also, the concept of quaternions was clearly invented by a sadist. I've been trying to wrap my head around these mathematical nightmares used in element rotations and now my brain hurts a lot. I've managed to distil a workable solution for calculating sinusoidal linear motion from a rotating object... more through trial and error than an actual understanding of the mathematics but it'll do!
ENSONIQ5:
Near-side gear running reasonably well, short test animation below:
There's a bit of wobbliness where the valve rods link to the gear slider mechanism, should be able to fine tune that out. All motion is driven from the rotation of the crankshaft with the exception of the valve itself which is currently keyframed, it will be possible to script this from the crankshaft orientation once I've tuned the motion of the gear slider properly which currently isn't strictly sinusoidal (ie. rocking back and forth smoothly, evenly and rhythmically, like a metronome). I will transfer all scripts and motion control targets to the far side gear, phase-shifted 90 degrees, once the near side is sorted. Then I can get back to completing the modelling.
Blick Fang:
Congratz ENSONIQ5, you just blew my mind yet again!!! Nice work! I guess you'll soon be doing a Union Pacific Big Boy next? ;)
P.S. Do you play keyboards?
ENSONIQ5:
Cheers Blick Fang. I kinda plan to plonk this engine in the bowels of a paddle steamer at some stage in the future, I love those old boats and would enjoy attempting to construct one in Anim8or. I have little doubt that this will end up another unfinished project among many that litter my hard drive but I am enjoying the process so far and will see how far it goes.
Yes, I do play keyboards... hence the Ensoniq tag (the 5 is totally random, some forum a long time ago needed a number in the username so I just mashed at the num pad and hit 5!). I have a somewhat vintage Ensoniq SQ-80 that I bought back in the early 90's (still used and loved daily), plus recently acquired Korg digital piano and King Korg synth. Also have an oldish Technics keyboard that's used mostly as a drum kit and extra MIDI controller. My first synth was a Roland Juno 6 bought for $600 when only a couple of years old, unfortunately I sold it in the 90's "when analogue was dead" for very little $. These days they sell for well over $1000 on eBay! *slaps forehead*
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