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[Closed] Wired escalator steps

I’m trying to animate an escalator with sliders to control the speed. The problem is that I need to write a script to apply a path controller to every step with the correct wire parameter formula.

My problem is that I can’t close the parameterwire dialog from maxscript after each wiring operation… resulting in the script failing when the maximum number of dialogs max allows being open. Is there a way to apply the controller and paramwire without opening the paramwire dialog?

My script is currently:-

no_steps = $.count
float percent_div 
percent_div = 100/no_steps
for i = 1 to $.count do (
	str= "(percent*$slider01.value)+("+ percent_div as string +"*"+ i as string +")"
	print  str
	$[i].pos.controller = path follow:false
	$[i].pos.controller.path = $PTH_ESC_STEP
	paramWire.connect $CTRL_STEP.pos.controller[#percent] $[i].pos.controller[#percent] str
)

There is probably a more sensible approach to this kind of problem, so please tell if you know it!

2 Replies

I’m guessing this could be rigged in the same way a tank track is?

I’ve managed to get the script working so my problem is solved.

I’m guessing this could be rigged in the same way a tank track is?

I guess so. Can you point me to an example?
I found this tutorial which turns out to be pretty much exactly what I was trying to do anyway…
http://www.3dtotal.com/team/tutorials_3/tank_rig/tank_rig_part2_02.asp