chainMaker 1.0.0 for Maya (maya script)

Chain Maker v1.0 by Benyaminu

Chain Maker is a little script that quick make an easy chain, pattern-limit free and ready to animate.

Installation :

Just place "chainMaker.mel" and "makeChain.mel" into your script directory (i.e MyDocsmaya*version*scripts)

Reboot Maya, then follow the instructions.



How to use :

- First, select the objects you want to be the patterns (in the order you want them to be placed) You can select more than one object before selecting the curve.

- Then select the curve you want to be the path

- Finally, run the script or type "chainMaker;" (without the quotes " " ) in the quick MEL command (so you can make a shelf button)


---- Ready for Animation ! ----
The script adds an Attribute "Roll" to the path Curve which controls the rotation of all the pieces. Integers corresponds to a complete revolution along the curve. (For instance, a value of 1 equals to 1 complete revolution, 2 equals to 2...)

Then you can connect the roll Attribute to the rotation of an object and make for instance a realistic-animated bike chain.




---- PARAMETERS EXPLANATIONS ----

Fit to Curve : (Default = Active) When active, it calculates automatically how many patterns are needed to fill best the curve (size of pattern objects are calculated in World Space, with minX / maxX bounding box coordinates).

Max Count : (Default = 4) When "Fit to Curve" is inactive, max Count is directly the number of duplicate that you want. The patterns will be spread regularly along the curve.


Delete Originals :(Default = Inactive) When active, delete original objects that have been used as patterns.

---------------------------------------------------------

Tested Maya 2008 x64 Extension 2 and Maya 8.5 x64

This script still in work, so if you have any comment or idea to improve it, don't hesitate !

Benyaminu