Solidworks Animator problem

[BRIGGS118]

I am tring to make a avi of a large assemble for advertising. The assembly has approx. 225 parts.
When I create the path as shown in he help section,
it seems to work, but when I hit play to see the animation,
nothing happens. The assembly just stays still.

I went and created a avi with only 2 parts and it did work,
then I tried it with an assembly with 9 parts and had the same problem as with the 225 piece assembly.

Is there a problem with Solidworks?
We are using 2003 version Sp 4.0., operation sys is XP Pro.

Please advise
Briggs118

 

[Rocko]

make sure your parts are loaded lightweight.

 

[SBaugh]

I think the problem is probably in your path. When using animaitor you have to be some what creative, it's not cut and dry like SW is.

Try RMB (under the animator tab) on the part you want to move, and click on Create path. You will have to play with animator, like I said above it isn't cut and dry.

You will have to add more than just one path when creating an animation.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
3DVision Technologies

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376
When in doubt, always check the help

 

[BRIGGS118]

Rocko

I did try loading the assembly in lightweight form but still had no luck.

Thanks
Briggs118

 

[rockguy]

Your mates could be holding you back. I animate doors that open in many of my assemblies. To create a path for the doors to open I pick a path point with the door closed and then adjust my mates so the doors are fully open and then pick another path point. When I play the animation I must suppress the mates controlling the doors otherwise they won't move. This could be your problem if you are trying to move specific parts and not just viewpoints in your animation. To simplify I set up a specific configuration just for animation with the neccessary mates suppressed.

 

[rockguy]

I should have also added, as Scott pointed out. To animate specific parts you need to give each part a path. If I'm swinging two double doors open I need to give each door in my feature a path to follow. I would love to see SolidWorks simplify animator and give it more power at the same time. It's long over due for that add-in.

 

[G1DESIGN]

IS THE PART PATH IN THE TOP LEVEL ASSY

I have had this problem when a child component of an inserted assembly has had a path apllied to it eg even if a part is set to flexible inside the assembly it seems that animator will only move parts in the top level

 

[jbknudsen]

This is actually a problem with solidworks. I have had the same problem in the past. I sent the assembly to my SW rep and service bulletin was generated as a result. In smaller assemblies, there is not much of a problem. I now use a zoomed in view and only use the immediate parts needed when I am making presentation avi's for our design team. Kind of a pain but until it is fixed from SW, I dont know what else to do. If you find a work around, let us know.


Best Regards,

Jay

 

[BRIGGS118]

JAY

I WAS ABLE TO MAKE THE AVI FILE OF MY LARGE ASSEMBLY.
HERES HOW
WHEN CREATING THE PATH, USE THE PART OR ASSEMBLY THAT THE MATE IS APPLIED TO AS THE PATH NAME.
HIT THE ADD PATH POINT
GO BACK THE THE MATE GROUPS AND CHANGE THE MATE OF THE PART/ASSY TO THE NEXT POINT.HIT THE ADD PATH POINT.
SET YOUR TIME OF VIDEO
HIT DONE
SUPRESS THE MATE YOU WERE USING TO SET UP THE PATH AND
HIT THE PLAY BUTTON TO SEE THE ASSY MOVE.

GOOD LUCK
BRIGGS118

THANKS TO EVERYBODY FOR YOUR SUGGESTIONS
MY SW REP WAS NO HELP.

 

[jbknudsen]

AHHH Yes BRIGGS118,
Now that you mention it, I have used the supress mate trick before but I have not used the naming approach. Thanks for the tip, I will give it a try.



-Jay