How do I anchor a switch layer at the end of an IK chain?

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j0llyr0ger
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How do I anchor a switch layer at the end of an IK chain?

Post by j0llyr0ger »

I have a robot that has flexible tube arms like Robbie the robot and claw hands at the end of the arms.

I made a six link IK chain through the arm that with a little manual work gives a very nice curve effect and I used a switch layer for three different open angles on the claw- open half and closed.

The trouble is I can't figure out how to get the claw switch later to move with the end of the last bone in the arm chain.

Does anybody have an idea how to do it?
myles
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Post by myles »

In summary:

Bind the claw switch layer to the last bone (or add still one more bone to the chain of you want the claw to rotate independently).

In detail:

The switch layer must be a direct child of the bone layer.

Click on the switch layer in the Layers panel to make sure it is selected and highlighted.
Position your switch layer so the claw is at the end of the arm.

Make sure the switch layer is still selected in the Layers panel.
Click on the Bind Layer tool (looks like a cartoon bone sitting half on a piece of paper with one corner folded).
Click on the bone that will control the claw - it should turn red.
(If it didn't turn red you missed and the process didn't work, try again - Bind Layer tool, then click on the controlling bone.)

That bone will now move the entire switch layer around, no matter which sub-layer is currently selected.

Regards, Myles.
"Quote me as saying I was mis-quoted."
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j0llyr0ger
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Post by j0llyr0ger »

Perfect-thanks, Man!
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Rasheed
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Post by Rasheed »

I have had a similar problem and couldn't find a solution (so I abandonned it, because I was just fiddling with bone setups).

Thanks for that solution, Myles. I won't have to abandon a small project in the future because of this anymore.
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