Two Connected Components -> Parent Animation, Child Animation?

[DaveR]

If I were going to animate that door I would set the component origin for the inner of the two doors on the hinge line between the two doors so the door can rotate about its blue axis on the hinge pin.

You did that sort of thing for the other door so it pivots on the hinge line next to the door frame.

[DoubleE]

Whoo, that was a fast response. That’s actually what I did originally, but when I went to animate it the first time, the door animated wrong. BTW, I used “Sketchup Folding Door Tutorial Using Dynamic Component” by Fountainhead Design Studio as a guideline, as it’s the only folding-anything tutorial I could find.

[DaveR]

I made a simple example but I just figured it out on my own and didn’t follow any tutorials so it’s probably not the most efficient. I’ve never made a dynamic bifold door before, though.

Here are the axes for the components. You can see the one on the left here has the origin set where the hinge line between the two panels would be.

Here’s the Attributes setup. Component#1 is the panel with the hinge line running up through it on the right. It didn’t need any attributes because the 90° swing is for Component#3. I guess I could have done a better job of naming them but it’s getting late and I’m about to call it quits for the night. Pay attention to the math for Component#2. It shifts to -2 times the rotation angle of Component#3 because clockwise rotation is negative. Component#2 rotates counter-clockwise so it’s rotation angle is positive. A negative times a negative is a positive.

And the animation looks like this:

Here’s a plan view animation.

[DoubleE]

example1.skp (1.9 MB)

Thank you. It works properly now.
When you get the chance, please reply including an image of the component attributes of the final model. It would be helpful to other people also modeling a detailed dynamic bifold door and potentially give them less frustration for the search of an answer.

[DaveR]

I’m glad you got your door working correctly.

Are you asking me to flesh out my example of the bifold door? FWIW, it would just require converting components 1 and 2 into nested components containing the components of the frame and louvers.

I will often simplify a model of this sort to the bare minimum like I did with the door so I can get it working as I want and then complicate it afterwards.

I’ll have a look at your model when I get back to my computer.

[DaveR]

FWIW, I modeled a quick frame and panel door assembly to replace the simple example from last night.

I started by modeling the door. I did it in place above the left side component and then made a copy of the door for the right side.

Then, one at a time I cut the door to the clipboard and then pasted it in place inside the component underneath the door so it replaced the geometry of the block below it. None of this involved editing the DC attributes so it works just the same as the simple example. I didn’t bother with the hinges although I certainly have enough hinges already modeled, I should do that. Anyway, here’s proof that it works as the simple one did.

Good work on your door, too.