animate a mannequin or skeletal wireframe?

[Horton]

Does anybody know of a software package that will let me animate a mannequin or skeletal wireframe? If you seen the old West Coast slalom video, I'm looking for something sort of like that. I've spent a stupid amount looking for this already. It would just be so nice to have a tool to show the biomechanical results of specific movements. When I say animation, I'm not really looking for motion I just wanted to do things like then knees and rotate hips and show relationship with other body parts.

I'm not looking for  fancy that just want a better way to illustrate body position.

[MCskiFreak]

Do you have access to rhino? There are a few plug in for that, that work well for animation, and if all you want to do is be able to manipulate joints than any 3D modeler will work.

[Bud Man]

 

 

Horton,

This might sound like a joke but it might be the simplest depending on what you are trying to do. Get an action figure or “Ken†or “Barbie†then simply put it in the position and post the picture. I hope I haven’t planted a seed in your hairy head to manufacture “The Krista†doll.

 

If the action figure will not move into the position you are trying to illustrate, maybe use pipe cleaners, then post a picture. Might be easier than working with a new software package.

 http://kwikcrafts.com/crafts/category/Pipe-Cleaners.html?gclid=CKiSmqXM3acCFcns7QodA15g9whttp://kwikcrafts.com/Merchant5/graphics/pc_stems.jpg

http://kwikcrafts.com/Merchant5/graphics/pc_stems.jpghttp://kwikcrafts.com/Merchant5/graphics/pc_stems.jpghttp://kwikcrafts.com/crafts/category/Pipe-Cleaners.html?gclid=CKiSmqXM3acCFcns7QodA15g9w

[MCskiFreak]

If you do end up wanting to use a software package I think I may have a model of one that I used for doing some ergonomic checks for a project I was working on last fall.

[Horton]

I have one of these. And I could manipulate and photograph it. I'm really looking for  from software is a time-saving measure. It would be nice to be able to quickly push out clear instruction. Unfortunately running this website is more time-consuming than anyone imagines.

 

[Craig]

Check this out

http://www.k-3d.org/

 I have no idea if it is any good or not, I found it on a search of sourceforge.net

[Horton]

I said I was looking for a faster way and you give me this? Laughed pretty hard when I watched the video.

 

[Horton]

Honestly the explanations that software paid me laugh hysterically. I mean seriously listen to that guy.

[Craig]

Ok, I admit, I hardly looked at the software. Compared with some CAD software out there it doesn't seem THAT bad, but a lot of non-intuitive things going on there, for certain.

It was free, did 3D, and animations.  

What are you using now? Do you need 3D?

[Horton]

I'm not using anything now. Maybe I'm dreaming, I was just hoping to find something simple.

[Craig]

I think am desensitized to complicated software.  All of my CAD experience is in ProE, which is far from simple.  Come to think of it, I may be a bad person to give advice to anyone looking for anything that is either fast or simple.

Well, some other options......maybe Google SketchUp?  There is an animation plugin available, it looks like:

http://sketchup.google.com/

 There also appears to be other projects on Sourceforge that would be worth looking into:

http://sourceforge.net/search/?q=3d+animation

 

[Gloersen]

Poser

W C Slalom DVD animation looked a lot like Poser.

Relatively simple to use 3-D animation software but not too cheap; maybe the basic packages would suffice.

[Horton]

That might be it. I will play with that later this week. Cool

[MattP]

Brent thats just creepy but very cool

[MattP]

Would the xbox have to be 10-15 away as well?

[Horton]

When this software thing gets settled down that has to be looked at.