ExtraWheel Questions

[Mike Truly]

I am currently evaluating CDS and specifically currently exploring the ExtraWheel feature.

I made a simple test file and ExtraWheel works fine for my needs. But when I try to apply the same principles to a more complex scene, I must be doing something wrong because after simulating, there are no keys and the wheel does not roll as desired. I'm wondering what I'm missing.

Here's the setup of the simple scene. Imagine a POINT helper that is animated to simply move from pointA to pointB with two keys. I created the ExtraWheel and linked it properly (gravity to ground object, chassis object to animated POINT object, wheelmesh object to chassis object). When I record the simulation, the result is that as the POINT object moves-the wheel rolls as desired. This is great.

But in a more complex scene, I can't get the wheelmesh object to roll and there are no keys visible after simulating when selecting the wheelmesh object.

Any ideas what I might be doing wrong?

Thanks!

Mike Truly

[Mike Truly]

Hmmm... something must have gotten wacked somehow because if I delete the ExtraWheel and start over, I can create a new EW and link it in exactly the same way and when I record, I get the desired rolling motion and keys, etc.

So the question is, what are things to watch out for with EW? If you rename the objects or the EW in CDS does it wack the functionality?

Also, even though I got the desired result with a new EW, some things are still a bit wacky. For example, after recording the sim the WheelMesh object is not in the proper location on frame0 anymore... it is off in space somewhere. When I look at frame1, it is not with the vehicle(animated POINT). At frame2, it jumps into position with the vehicle(POINT).

Anyway to get it to leave frame0 alone always and start doing what it's supposed to be doing on frame1?

Thanks!

[Mike Truly]

OK, more questions.

1. If I have a sim setup on an ExtraWheel and I go to clone that item, I get a copy of the EW without animation on it. Is it possible to clone and have the new copy have the animation as well?

2. This relates to #1. When I convert the EW to standard keyframes, I lose the EW within the CDS list. I want to make a perfect clone of the EW (including animation) and convert this one to keyframes... keeping the original in the list. Is this possible?

3. If you have recorded a sim on an EW and the chassis and wheelmesh now have animation keys on them... how do you remove the animation keys and get the EW back to the state with NO animation on it?

4. And the original question still stands. I have created a sim on an EW from frame 50-800. Keys are present on frame 50-800. Yet, the position of the wheelmesh object is wacked on frame 0 and doesn't jump into the proper position until frame 51 or 52. I must be able to preserve a pure, unmolested frame0... how? (See attached image).