The animation sequence occurs over a 180 frame period. Before you begin to set keyframes you set the playback range in the Time Slider.
To set the playback range in the Time Slider
To simplify the keyframe workflow, you first set keyframes for the mechanical arm, and then set keyframes for the weight attributes of each parent constraint for the cargo box.
To set keyframes for the mechanical arm
To set the remaining keyframes for the arm and the swivel base, use the table below as a guide, and set the attributes in the following order:
Don’t be concerned if the list of keyframes indicates to set a key twice for the same position over two frames. This is necessary to animate the parent constraint weights over a period of one frame.
Frame | Select | Set attribute | Select |
---|---|---|---|
1 |
ArmControl |
TransY: 0 TransZ: -8.5 |
Set Key |
30 |
ArmControl |
TransY: 6.5 TransZ: -8.5 |
Set Key |
59 |
ArmControl |
TransY: -9 TransZ: 0 |
Set Key |
60 |
ArmControl |
TransY: -9 TransZ: 0 |
Set Key |
80 |
ArmControl |
TransY: 6 TransZ: -8.5 |
Set Key |
80 |
SwivelBase |
RotateY: 0 |
Set Key |
100 |
SwivelBase |
RotateY: -100 |
Set Key |
100 |
ArmControl |
TransY: 6 TransZ: -8.5 |
Set Key |
120 |
ArmControl |
TransY: -9 TransZ: 0 |
Set Key |
121 |
ArmControl |
TransY: -9 TransZ: 0 |
Set Key |
140 |
ArmControl |
TransY: 6 TransZ: -8.5 |
Set Key |
140 |
SwivelBase |
RotateY: -100 |
Set Key |
160 |
SwivelBase |
RotateY: 0 |
Set Key |
160 |
ArmControl |
TransY: 6 TransZ: -8.5 |
Set Key |
180 |
ArmControl |
TransY: 0 TransZ: -8.5 |
Set Key |
Once the keyframes for the mechanical arm are set you can use the playback controls to playback the motion for the mechanical arm.
To playback the animation using the playback controls
The mechanical arm animates over 180 frames. The cargo box does not move because the weight attributes for the parent constraints are set to zero and have not yet been set for the animation.
In the next steps, you set keyframes for the parent constraint weight attributes so the cargo box is lifted, moved, and placed in the second location. You set keys for the weight attributes on the parent constraint node.
To set keyframes for the parent constraint weights
A drop-down list appears.
Key Selected sets a keyframe for the selected attributes only.
To set the remaining keyframes for the parent constraint weights, use the table below as a guide, keeping in mind that you set the attributes in the following order:
Frame | Select | Set attribute | Select |
---|---|---|---|
1 |
CargoBox parentConstraint |
ArmControl W0: 0 Platform W1: 0 |
Key Selected |
59 |
CargoBox parentConstraint |
ArmControl W0: 0 Platform W1: 0 |
Key Selected |
60 |
CargoBox parentConstraint |
ArmControl W0: 1 Platform W1: 0 |
Key Selected |
120 |
CargoBox parentConstraint |
ArmControl W0: 1 Platform W1: 0 |
Key Selected |
121 |
CargoBox parentConstraint |
ArmControl W0: 0 Platform W1: 1 |
Key Selected |
To playback the animation using the playback controls
The mechanical arm moves through the motion of the animation and picks up and moves the cargo box to the new location.
You have completed this lesson.