Hello,

I am having difficulty rigging this hexapod linkage, any help would be appreciated.
In example A, B swings through an arc, C follows and the C Z axis dimension is in the minus direction.
In example B, I want to move A in Z axis plus dirction to compensate (Trig function) for the drop in the C Z axis dimension so C stays on the same plane as it swings through the arc.
Using an expose transform to access the z data results in a self ref error when wired to A.
How should this be rigged to operate correctly?
This hexapod is based on a Stewart Platform (flight simulator) and is not a walking spider.

	Attachment

I need the top pivot point to raise in z so the resultant move of the attached lower plate is parallel to the x plane does not trace an arc and stays where it is in Z.

I don’t understand. Can you try to explain it again, maybe label the parts like A, B, C...?

3ds Max 2009 SP1, 2010 SP1
Maya 2012
Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
Dual Intel Xeon E5520, 6 GB Ram
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 OC

Looks like a fun problem to solve but I also don’t fully understand what it is you need.

Paul Neale
PEN Productions Inc.
penproductions.ca / paulneale.com
Master Classes for Max, Mudbox and Composite
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So you want it to function like Example B? Where C stays on the same plane and pushes A up as it moves closer?

3ds Max 2009 SP1, 2010 SP1
Maya 2012
Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
Dual Intel Xeon E5520, 6 GB Ram
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 OC

Are you trying to make the same rig do both motions?

3ds Max 9 thru 2013
Windows 7 Enterprise 64-bit OS SP1
Dual Intel® Xeon® 6 core X5650 @ 2.67GHz CPU 36GB RAM
NVIDIA Quadro 4000
450GB HDD (x3) and 2TB HDD

3ds Max 2012 Certified Professional Models to Motion

Looks like you need a bones rig solution which I am not versed in. Can someone help with a solution? I have included a shot of the full contraption. The center piece is to move only in the x and y plane if I understand correctly and the vertical “posts” move only up and down.

3ds Max 9 thru 2013
Windows 7 Enterprise 64-bit OS SP1
Dual Intel® Xeon® 6 core X5650 @ 2.67GHz CPU 36GB RAM
NVIDIA Quadro 4000
450GB HDD (x3) and 2TB HDD

3ds Max 2012 Certified Professional Models to Motion

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You don’t necessarily need bones. The rig in this file is just links and look at constraints. C & B are linked to Dummy A, B also has a look at constraint to Dummy B. A is then linked to B with all the rotation inheritance turned off and only Z inheritance for movement.

This won’t give you limits for movement so it will come apart if moved too far. Dummy A isn’t really necessary, but you could make it the central dummy for the full rig if you choose to animate with it instead of the geometry.

Edit: It needs a little more work to get Dummy B to move up & down so the A-B “pivot point” would stay correct.

3ds Max 2009 SP1, 2010 SP1
Maya 2012
Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
Dual Intel Xeon E5520, 6 GB Ram
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 OC

	Attachment
hexapod_rig__max_2009.zip

Is this what you want?

3D Studio DOS to 3ds Max 2010
Windows XP 64
NVidia Quadro FX 3700
Dual Quad Xeon, 6Gb Ram

Here is the file zipped instead of rarred.

3D Studio DOS to 3ds Max 2010
Windows XP 64
NVidia Quadro FX 3700
Dual Quad Xeon, 6Gb Ram

	Attachment
tripod01.zip

The usage will be for a 3 axis laser welder.

Please see the attachment for information on Parallel Kinematic Machines

	Attachment
parallelkinemtaicsmachines.pdf

The working solution, see attached file.

	Attachment
max_2010_working_linkage.zip