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Drawing an FMU Collar
Posted: 10 April 2018 09:31 AM   [ Ignore ]  
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Joined  2018-01-24

Hello,

I’m drawing an FMU collar for a video animation. I draw the total in a flat shape with 4 fastening clips. The four fastening clips must be bent 90 degrees outwards.
I have let it bend 360 degrees with the bend deformer, but in this way the four fastening clips also deform.

How can I bend a flat FMU to 360 degrees for a video animation without bending the fastening clips. Or does anyone have a tip on how to sign this?

See the attached photo.

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Posted: 10 April 2018 02:02 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 1 ]  
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Hi Arjan Gelderblom,

Thanks for the images, that illustrates it nicely.

The key problem is, that one could “Restrict” the “fastening clips” from being bend with the 360º Bend Deformer; But then they would stay in place. So, no go.

Please have a look at the file:
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/XkSpWgTJJFG7Rby76HFpOYyBMLribjTxF6a3BHis9r2

My little trick/workaround is based on the idea, that I would love to have the 360º Bend Deformer move everything in place, but without affecting the fastening clips too much. So, I scale them down, bend first 360º followed by the 90º and then scale them up again. This scale down and up is all done with two Correction Deformer. Note that this is not noticeable, but the sequence/hierarchy is critical. Since we work with the Correction Deformer, a more natural bend can be “shaped”, as we really go from an round shape in a 90º bend to a flat object.

Here is a sketch with the full 360º/90º animation:
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/5iShtDfOY9REwdF5EaVt8nNDzmxcwA142p1aofsQa0M

The best way would be with joints, are you familiar with such?

All the best

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Dr. Sassi V. Sassmannshausen Ph.D.
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Posted: 11 April 2018 03:19 AM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 2 ]  
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Thank you for your response. I am going to look at it.

It’s all a bit new for me, i’m working with Cinema 4D since january so i am not familair with joints.

Kind regards

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Posted: 11 April 2018 03:37 AM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 3 ]  
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You’re very welcome, Arjan Gelderblom.

The suggestion above is without joints. I tried to make it simple. Perhaps the Correction Deformer gives you some new ideas, as in: Animate as you had intended it, but correct (as the name suggest) with the Correction Deformer.

Joints would be a “little” bit more complex and work-intensive.

If I have a better idea in the morning, I will share it here.

My best wishes

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Dr. Sassi V. Sassmannshausen Ph.D.
Cinema 4D Mentor since 2004
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Photography For C4D Artists: 200 Free Tutorials.
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Posted: 11 April 2018 05:45 AM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 4 ]  
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Hello Dr. Sassi,

I don’t understand how it works and what is the right order. 

Attached my basic object. Could tell what i have to do first

File Attachments
Test collar_1.zip  (File Size: 302KB - Downloads: 61)
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Posted: 11 April 2018 03:23 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 5 ]  
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Thanks for the file, Arjan Gelderblom.

The set up shows me that we have to go a step back to the basics.
I have set up four files to show a little bit (!) of the fundamental knowledge needed here.
I assume you have checked out most of the deformer tutorials, so here is an option to explore how it works.

Scene files:
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/aIM3pq7Zr2j67YjhxGB2tbliCnh8hvi919MGj0U5MwW

The first one showcases the order (hierarchy), the second shows the area of influence, the third shows then the Restriction, and finally, just an example with the Correction and Falloff. If there is anything not clear, try to recreate them in a new file from your memory. If there is anything unclear after this exercise, let me know and I have to find something else.

Perhaps, a complete different approach is needed. Here is a sketch (!) just to share the working idea of it. It would then created out of more detailed elements, but the Connect Object might be able to join things so it becomes one object after all. The beauty is given in the procedural animation.
Scene file
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/xKTKtylGjAwOcPjKLMm8Oc9at8bGurgaC64SewqvgDk

Enjoy.

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Dr. Sassi V. Sassmannshausen Ph.D.
Cinema 4D Mentor since 2004
Maxon Master Trainer, VES, DCS

Photography For C4D Artists: 200 Free Tutorials.
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Posted: 12 April 2018 11:47 AM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 6 ]  
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Hello,

The flat drawing was that okay? And where and how do I scale those clips? In de Correction Deformer?

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Posted: 12 April 2018 01:38 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 7 ]  
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Hi Arjan Gelderblom,

How was the exploration of the four files?

The correction Deformer was used in the example above, scale down on one axis to 20%, and after the bend process, another one is used to scale that axis up to 500%. In that way the bend deformer had little influence.

You talk about a flat drawing, I got only a very dense high mesh. In one direction you could have used way less subdivisions.

“Was the flat drawing was that OK?” By itself, without thinking about animation: sure, nice mesh, as a minor suggestion it is just too dense from where I look at. Perhaps have a look how simple and clean a hole or rounding can be done with a lower density mesh and SurfaceSudDivision.

Just a thought, typically each process of animation requires a different preparation of the objects. In other words, to just start and hope to get something done later on, limits your options, hence why I showed you the sketch with MoGraph. (Is MoGraph available to you?). For the work with Joints, I would suggest a much lower polygon mesh, and for MoGraph, we would have the need to split things up, as shown. This is what I trying to share with you, so your projects in the future will work more in the way you like.

Nevertheless, here is your file back, and I have sorted, adjusted and added things. Please compare it to your file. Everything is animated, if it doesn’t start already, please press play.

Scene file
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/RNd3wehCTzSHdxA1q5LS4iZaOK576J6t35DTtiHDdsc
A little bit more correction with four added FFDs.
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/65S5Brt6TTxHaRaMCWih5Gl0dfzHYoEB2kfTftC934c

Just to add the joint based method, here is a sketch.
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/KzihE7flPOzcwN6ToKI3JKxDNqK1NCYEpeOjALULLbr
(The set was mainly based on the function [selected] “Edge To Spline”, and Convert “Spline To Joint, with some manual sorting. This looks a like a lot of work, but it isn’t that much after all.)

Cheers

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Dr. Sassi V. Sassmannshausen Ph.D.
Cinema 4D Mentor since 2004
Maxon Master Trainer, VES, DCS

Photography For C4D Artists: 200 Free Tutorials.
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Posted: 13 April 2018 10:01 AM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 8 ]  
Total Posts:  21
Joined  2018-01-24

Thank you very much.

I have tried to make it also but i am doing something wrong again, because there is only one clip that bends?

Have a nice weekend

File Attachments
Test collar_1 (2).zip  (File Size: 321KB - Downloads: 73)
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Posted: 13 April 2018 12:16 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 9 ]  
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Hi Arjan Gelderblom,

Yes, two things:

The Selection Tag is only for one clip
The Selection Tags are not named differently, that can (but mustn’t) cause later on trouble.

Have a nice weekend as well!

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Dr. Sassi V. Sassmannshausen Ph.D.
Cinema 4D Mentor since 2004
Maxon Master Trainer, VES, DCS

Photography For C4D Artists: 200 Free Tutorials.
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Posted: 16 April 2018 03:39 AM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 10 ]  
Total Posts:  21
Joined  2018-01-24

Good morning,

How do I make one bend deformer for 4 clips like you did in your file?

Kind regards,
Arjan Gelderblom

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Posted: 16 April 2018 02:08 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 11 ]  
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Hi Arjan Gelderblom,

Please check post #9, and you have your answer. The Deformer from “Testcollar_1(2).zip” (post #8) was set up correctly, but the selection wasn’t OK.
I had made several educational files, there was the answer as well. Post #5. Please check ALL these files carefully, my suggestion rebuild them from memory!
.

Here is your file back, I added some cuts for the second selection, so it is easier to have the bend “sharp or smooth”, as shown in the clip.
Please find in the links as well a one minute screen capture, I hope that helps to communicate the set up.
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/nqKfoaS1qyhhGpiJObWo32h7WkG35GIVI0GdgAUap9x


All the best

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Dr. Sassi V. Sassmannshausen Ph.D.
Cinema 4D Mentor since 2004
Maxon Master Trainer, VES, DCS

Photography For C4D Artists: 200 Free Tutorials.
https://www.youtube.com/user/DrSassiLA/playlists

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