1. Setting Up Continuous Rotation Using Curve Editor
Step 1
Open the stand fan.max file in 3ds Max which has been provided with the tutorial. I have created a simple model just for the tutorial purpose.
Step 2
Turn
on Auto Key button.
Step 3
With
the propeller of the fan selected, go to 20th
frame on the timeline and rotate the propeller in 180 degree in Y axis.
Step 4
Turn off Auto Key button. Right now, the propeller will rotate till 20th frame only. After that it will stop. But I want it to rotate continuously. So, I need to apply a loop expression on the rotation property.
Step 5
With
the propeller selected, go to Graph
Editors > Track View – Curve Editor.
Step 6
It
open the Track View – Curve Editor
window.
Step 7
Select
Y Rotation transform property. You
will see the rotation curve inside the curve editor.
Step 8
Go to Edit > Controller > Out Of Range Types.
Step 9
It
opens Param Curve Out-of-Range Types
window.
Step 10
With the Loop option selected, click on OK.
Step 11
You will see loop in rotation property. If you play the animation, the propeller will keep rotating in loop.
Step 12
The ease in ease out tangents make the rotation a bit jerky. So, with both key frames selected, click on Set Tangents to Linear icon. It makes the propeller’s rotation smooth and constant.
1. Controlling the Rotation Using Wire Parameter
Step 1
With the propeller selected, go to Animation > Parameter Editor. Alternatively, you can press Alt-1 key.
Step 2
In
the Parameter Editor window, select Spinner as UI Type. Change the name
of parameter to Controller or
anything as per your wish. Click on Add
button.
Step 3
You will see that a new Controller parameter appears in the Editable Poly section of the propeller.
Step 4
Now, I'l apply some wire parameter work so that the speed and rotation of the propeller can be controlled by the Controller parameter.
With the propeller selected, right click on it and select Wire Parameter in the fly out menu.
Step 5
Go to
Modified Object > TurboSmooth >
Custom_Attributes > Controller.
Step 6
It shows a wire. Don’t lose or click the mouse button anywhere else. Drag the mouse onto the propeller and then left click on it.
Step 7
A fly out menu pops up. Go to Transform > Rotation > Y Rotation.
Step 8
It
opens Parameter Wiring window. The
controller parameter is at the left side and the rotation parameter is at the
right side. I want controller to control the rotation.
Step 9
Click on the left to right control direction arrow. Click on Connect button. The parameter wiring is now done.
Step 10
Play with the Controller parameter’s value. You'll see it is controlling the rotation of the propeller. You can stop and start the propeller’s rotation at any frame.
I have animated the controller’s value to get a random rotation of
the propeller.
Conclusion
Wire Parameter is a great technique in 3ds Max to control the parameters or different properties.
