3
$\begingroup$

I'm trying to make a garage door open or close by rolling up or down like they usually do. I know how to make an object follow a path in one direction along a curve using constraints, but I need it to move in both directions. Is there a way to do this?

Also, when I try using the Follow Path constraint with a NURBS Path, the object attached to it only goes about a third of the way along the path and then lifts off and heads out into space. By reducing the number of keyframes, I can get it to follow the path just long enough to roll up like I want it to, but that seems to be a poor way to do this, and it still only allows the object to go in one direction.

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
8
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ "in either direction" what does that mean? $\endgroup$
    – eromod
    May 16, 2016 at 1:38
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Please include a Blender screen capture to clarify your success and problems. $\endgroup$
    – atomicbezierslinger
    May 16, 2016 at 5:36
  • $\begingroup$ A screen capture won't help much, since I don't know how to capture this problem. $\endgroup$
    – Anthony Forwood
    May 16, 2016 at 6:26
  • $\begingroup$ I want to move an object in both directions along a curved path. I.e. move it in one direction along a curve, as well as move it back in the other direction. Garage doors go up and down along the same path. That's what I'm trying to simulate. $\endgroup$
    – Anthony Forwood
    May 16, 2016 at 6:32
  • $\begingroup$ There's a better way to do this, using array modifier and curve modifiet, I'm away from my computer now, but you can find lots of answers using this method. $\endgroup$
    – Georges D
    May 18, 2016 at 0:13

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
8
$\begingroup$

It all depends on what kind of garage door you are talking about.

You can start with a single plank or slat.

enter image description here

Then add an array modifier to replicate it on the Z axis.

enter image description here

Add a curve with the path you want the door to follow (it's important that the door and the path have their origins on the same place):

enter image description here

On the original plank add a curve modifier and select the curve as guide object:

enter image description here

Move the door up and down on the Z axis, and it will curve following the path.

enter image description here

If you are dealing with a rigid door. Then instead of the curve modifier add a Follow Path constraint. And select the curve as target. Enable "Follow Path", Set "Up" to Y and "Forward" to -Z

enter image description here

Then animate the offset value:

enter image description here

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
2
  • $\begingroup$ Thank you for your explanation. It appears to work for me. The Follow Path constraint doesn't work well with arrays, as I've found out. $\endgroup$
    – Anthony Forwood
    May 19, 2016 at 22:46
  • $\begingroup$ Unfortunately this doesn't want to work in the BGE, which was my ultimate aim. I used cegaton's method and created two actions, one opening the door and one for closing it. These are controlled by the arrow keys on the keyboard. The door moves but it doesn't follow the path of the curve any more. <img src="http://blend-exchange.giantcowfilms.com/embedImage.png?bid=1317" /> $\endgroup$
    – Anthony Forwood
    May 20, 2016 at 2:58
1
$\begingroup$
  1. Select your curve. Put more frames in 'Path Animation' and tick 'Follow'.
  2. Select your object. Add 'Follow the Path' in Constraints
  3. Specify curve and hit 'Animate Path' button.

enter image description here enter image description here

UPD: "and then lifts off and heads out into space." -- make sure you don't have any animation moving your object off it's original center position. If you have two or more animations combined, affecting center point of object, it will cause all sorts of strange movement.

UPD2: Door.blend uploaded http://www.pasteall.org/blend/41938

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
5
  • $\begingroup$ That allows me to move it in one direction only. I want it to move back and forth, as I've tried to explain twice already. $\endgroup$
    – Anthony Forwood
    May 17, 2016 at 4:40
  • $\begingroup$ Just resize your Nurbs Circle (the curve to follow) into the line. $\endgroup$
    – Andrey Lebedenko
    May 17, 2016 at 18:53
  • $\begingroup$ I give up. Nobody is reading the question properly and I can't state it any clearer. $\endgroup$
    – Anthony Forwood
    May 17, 2016 at 22:04
  • $\begingroup$ Blend file uploaded. $\endgroup$
    – Andrey Lebedenko
    May 17, 2016 at 23:54
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @AndreyLebedenko please consider using blend-exchange.giantcowfilms.com to upload files. Files in pasteall.org expire after a few weeks. Other users will not be able to learn from your answer after that. $\endgroup$
    – user1853
    May 18, 2016 at 1:21

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .