RIGGING

Requirements:

  • Autodesk Maya
  • Cinemax 3D
  • Model for Mechanical Design from Solid works

Introduction:

For rigging we began by exporting the model from Solid works as a assembly file (.SLDASM) into Cinemax 3D and then exporting the file from Cinemax 3D as a OBJ (.obj) file. We then imported the OBJ file created from Cinemax 3D in Maya. Since the model is the actual mechanical design it allowed us to place the joints at the exact position as the servo motors and the pivot points for all 5 functions. Please find the rigs for all the functions with a link to a video providing a demo of the function.

1MOUTH FUNCTION:

2HEAD TURN FUNCTION:

3. HEAD TILT FUNCTION:

4. TORSO FUNCTION:

5. SCEPTER MOVE FUNCTION:

For rigging and replicating the mechanism we have used inverse kinematics. We have also used MEL scripting to replicate the mechanism for HEAD TURN and HEAD TILT functions. We used the expression editor so that when the head turn controller rotates at 90 degrees the head turn pivot joint rotates at 40 degrees and similarly when the head tilt function rotates at 80 degrees then the head tilt pivot joint rotates at 40 degrees.

SCRIPT USED FOR REPLICATING MECHANISM :

$strokelength=.I[0];

$torso=.I[1];

if (TOM_MOUTH_CONTROLLER.rotateX <= 0)

{

TOM_MOUTH_PIVOT_FUNCTIONAL.rotateX= TOM_MOUTH_CONTROLLER.rotateX;

}

if(TOM_HEAD_TILT_CONTROLLER.rotateZ >= 0 ||TOM_HEAD_TILT_CONTROLLER.rotateZ < 0 )

{

TOM_HEAD_TILT_FUNCTIONAL.rotateZ= TOM_HEAD_TILT_CONTROLLER.rotateZ * 0.5;

}

if(TOM_HEAD_TURN_CONTROLLER.rotateY >= 0 || TOM_HEAD_TURN_CONTROLLER.rotateY < 0)

{

TOM_HEAD_TILT_PIVOT_FUNCTIONAL.rotateY= TOM_HEAD_TURN_CONTROLLER.rotateY * 0.44;

}

To understand more about the scripting used to replicate the mechanism for the mechanical design please look at the video below:

We then used the 3D model of Tom that we created and placed the rig created after referring to solid works with that model. We then skinned the model and began using the 3D model for animating Tom for his show content.

Please refer to the videos below for each function to get an idea about how the rig can be used with the 3D model of Tom:

TOM MOUTH FUNCTION :

TOM HEAD TILT FUNCTION:

TOM HEAD TURN FUNCTION:

TOM TORSO BEND FUNCTION:

TOM SCEPTER MOVE FUNCTION: