So I bought a pretty cool steampunk loco from Daz3d and while, in general, I'm not a locomotive sort of guy it looked so cool I had to have it.  Getting it into iClone I realize it has the rather common (but somewhat complicated) piston and bar arm thingee that moves the three wheels and drives the piston (for what I assume is where the power comes from -- again, not really a locomotive sort of person).  My first thought was I could go into Max with this and set up the linkage and animation (and, indeed, I even found a video from Warlord here, who talks about doing just that and then importing the resultant animation back into iClone) but I kind of hate Max on my laptop (the only place it resides nowadays) because at my old age I can barely make out the interface.

But I got to thinking -- we have all kinds of physics in Max, and I even have the physics toolbox.  Surely there must be SOME way to do the same thing in iClone?  I can't possibly have been the only person in the world who thought about it, right?  Except I seem to have been, or at least no one else has ever written or asked about it.  So I'm asking now -- anyone have any experience or thoughts in doing this?  Am I wasting my (precious left) time?  Because this is definitely one case I do NOT want to reinvent the wheel (pun completely intended).  

If it's just impossible in iClone I'll bite the bullet and rig it in Max, but before I give up I'd like to hear others' thoughts on this (because there are a lot of folks without Max out there who could probably benefit from it).

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Alienware Aurora R16, Win 11, i9-149000KF, 3.20GHz CPU, 64GB RAM, RTX 4090 (24GB), Samsung 870 Pro 8TB, Gen3 MVNe M-2 SSD, 4TBx2, 39" Alienware Widescreen Monitor
Mike "ex-genius" Kelley

Yes you can use the physics restraints which come with Iclone.  Reallusion has several tutorials ( non directly for a train)   There are a couple of restraint basics ( to get you going on Iclone stuff) know you worked with Max  physics so should be just getting acquainted with Iclone physics.   the one on the hobby horse should get you moving in the right direction on the train. it uses multi restraints to move different types of levers. 

Thanks, Paul -- yeah, after writing that I started looking at the manual (I bought the physics thing like years ago, and never used it) and while I see there are some changes (there don't appear to be the same things the manual talks about, like a cylinder type but there is a capsule type which seems to be similar) I think I can suss this out eventually.

If I come up with anything that works I'll post it so others can use it in the future (it's too bad they didn't provide this as a structure for folks -- while the Segeway engine is interesting it's hardly useful -- who the heck would even need that?  But I know a LOT of folks like trains).

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Alienware Aurora R16, Win 11, i9-149000KF, 3.20GHz CPU, 64GB RAM, RTX 4090 (24GB), Samsung 870 Pro 8TB, Gen3 MVNe M-2 SSD, 4TBx2, 39" Alienware Widescreen Monitor
Mike "ex-genius" Kelley

Sir,
As soon as I saw your post "Title".... without reading it.... Warlords post came to mind.
rogyrue... leans on you and you snap back.

The Bottom Line:
I have max.... as you... and learned how to use the Physics and Rigging tools.


"You say you could do it using 3ds Max, but I seriously doubt it."
Everything in iClone is NOW  a piece of cake to understand because I "Learned" 3ds Max tools.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Worldlord is using "Wire-Parameters"..... This QUICKLY snaps the motions together for iClone.
You can't see you max ui on your laptop.... "Turn on... "Old Folks Tools" ...and "Magnify Your Screen"

Your a good programmer, but need practice "Rigging"
Why else would you go through the "Pain" of tedious iClone steps to do what 3ds Max will do in seconds.

I am not trying to upset you, but rogyrue is surprised and "So Am I."
...years of industry experience, yet severely limited rigging knowledge.:w00t:

NOTE:
If you use.....Reaction Manager.... it's 10 times faster and MORE accurate than "Wire-Parameters."
~ You DON'T have to wire to individual tracks.
~ Select an object.... transform it.
~ Select ALL of the other objects.... transform them.
Result: "Move ONE object and the others objects follow. :Wow:

I will help you if you like.

As usual, Swoop, you miss the point -- so let me reiterate it for you.

I'm NOT going to use Max unless I absolutely have to use it -- you have zero understanding of my physical situation but I will try and be patient and tell you I absolutely cannot use Max anymore.  The @#$@%$ interface doesn't work for me no matter HOW I try and magnify it (and if you tried yourself you'd understand).  Particularly on my laptop, but even when I use it on an external monitor.  But just so you might get an inkling of what it's like to live with limited eyesight -- I have dual 42" monitors and I need them at regular HD (no greater) resolution with Windows at 150% AND using the manifest trick with large fonts just so I can see iClone enough to make it work.  So shut the fuck up unless you can walk in my shoes.

Because I have never used the physics engine in iClone I was just hoping someone else had done it before for this problem -- as it stands I will learn it (and I will learn it) but it's just one more thing I don't have time for in my limited life.  Again, unless you have aged as I have you have no compassion so stop talking like you actually know something.

In any case, I'm thankful Paul confirmed I won't be wasting that little time I have -- and I will share whatever I can come up with for others (which should be the purpose of this forum, not to complain to folks they don't know what they are talking about or asking about).

And I think, Swoop, this is the last time I'll ever respond to you -- about anything.  If there was an ignore button on this forum I'd use it (but, sadly, there isn't, so I'll just pretend you never write anything here again).

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Alienware Aurora R16, Win 11, i9-149000KF, 3.20GHz CPU, 64GB RAM, RTX 4090 (24GB), Samsung 870 Pro 8TB, Gen3 MVNe M-2 SSD, 4TBx2, 39" Alienware Widescreen Monitor
Mike "ex-genius" Kelley

Sir,
I DO know what it's like. I'm in my 50's and have sight problems, TOO!

Fact:
Anytime anyone mentions instruction on.... scripting or similar.... you "DROP" serious... detailed information in your post.
Many of your "Other" post do NOT contain any detail information of 3D Rigging and tool knowledge.

All Animation... starts with rigging. "Bone Control"
It is clear.... with your years of industry experience... You did NOT learn "Bone Control"... advanced rigging.
"There is far more to rigging than weighting bones to a mesh."

What does NOT add up is.....
You can see the iClone Ui...
Understanding iClone tools is a walk in the park,
IF...
You learned 3ds Max's Tools.

Why???  
because... (iClone was BUILT with 3ds Max)

We all start somewhere, but If you wish for me to stop...
I will.

Take Care

iClone has many hidden treasures, and it is not unusual not to be fully acquainted with a specific area. There's no shame in that.

Kelley, I look forward to your solution, because I like to learn.

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I agree wholeheartedly 100%. 
animagic... changing the past... there is an awful lot I can share (step by step) using max tools.
Wish I share the steps with Kellytoons... especially wire-parameters. This would greatly aide in understanding the up coming motion graph editor.
Perhaps, he already knows this and simply looking for a way in iClone.

Cool, looking forward to what you come up with. The only physics I have done so far is a Blackhawk using it for the rotors and turbines. It worked out well once i figured out how to get Iclone to center the restraint for me. 

FWIW. iClone's Physics Tool Box has all the Motion Templates you need, plus Help Files, If you have it., However, Model's moving parts need to be separate Sub-Props, Edited in 3DXChange. Sub-Props Pivot Points need to be in right place, with Y Axis precisely Edited, before you apply the Templates. 

BTW, there's an excellent iClone Market Place User created Model Loco.

Another BTW. Since this an iClone Forum, it would be interesting if sWoooooooooooooooooop & KellyToons could demonstrate their iClone expertise, by posting iClone Clips they've produced................  

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