Animating a Sequence of Viewpoints

You can create show 3D data from a variety of viewpoints, take a camera shot of each viewpoint, and link the viewpoints in a sequence.

A camera shot is a representation of the geometric data from a specific viewpoint. To alter the viewpoint, you manipulate the Robot. You can create a sequence of different shots that show the same data from different viewpoints. Each shot is represented by a point in space; the lines connecting the shots in your specified order are referred to as the track. Just as with the track commands, you can delete, modify, duplicate, or reorder the shots, which in turn modifies the track segments

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin: Open a manufacturing simulation in 3D Simulation.
See Also
Viewpoint Action Dialog Box
Players

Create a Sequence of Viewpoints

You can create a sequence of viewpoints.

  1. Click New Viewpoint Action .
    A player and the Viewpoint Action dialog box appear in the work area.

    An initial thumbnail appears in the Excitations panel.

  2. Set the parameters for the viewpoint action.
    1. If you want to rename the animation, click Name in the Viewpoint Action dialog box, and add a new name.
    2. If you want every change of viewpoint you make until you end the sequence creation to be a part of the viewpoint sequence, select the Automatic Insertion check box.
    3. Click Insert .
  3. Manipulate the viewpoint with the Robot, and click Insert . Repeat.
    Each shot appears as a thumbnail.



    Notes:

    The top right corner shows the total time within the simulation required to arrive at this viewpoint shot from the beginning.

    The Duration shows the time required during the simulation to arrive at this viewpoint shot from its previous shot. The duration for a shot can zero or more. The first shot, is set at 0 initially, although you can modify that duration after the first shot is created. Once a shot's duration has been modified, the total duration for the viewpoint is updated.

  4. Use the Player to run through your animation; modify the sequence if necessary. Click OK.
    The viewpoint animation is represented in a thumbnail.



  5. To see the animated version of your sequence, under Excitations , select the Viewpoint Animation you want to see, and click Play in the Compass.

Modify a Shot in the Animation

You can modify an animation of viewpoints by changing a point (shot) within the sequence of viewpoints.

  1. Double-click the viewpoint thumbnail.



    The Player and the Viewpoint Action dialog box appear in the work area. Thumbnails of the viewpoints that comprise the animation appear in the Excitations panel.
  2. Click the thumbnail to modify.
    The thumbnail becomes highlighted (in this case, the third thumbnail).

  3. Modify the viewpoint using the Robot and click Modify .



    The thumbnail is updated.
  4. Right-click the first thumbnail and select Duplicate.
    A copy of the first thumbnail appears in the sequence, immediately after the first thumbnail. The copy is highlighted.
  5. Drag the highlighted thumbnail so that it appears at the end of the sequence.
  6. In the Viewpoint Action dialog box, click OK.
    The viewpoint sequence is modified.