This tutorial is a bit longer one. In the end, we are covering 3 main areas:

1. Overall Design Creation
2. Rigging Clock Arms Animation
3. Forge Dynamics

In each of these areas I show you a number of workflows and automations. For example, assigning Font Size to specific numbers for more pleasant design. Or using one Behaviour (Frame) to drive 3 clock arms at different speeds and being able to adjust initial starting position. All of these tips add up to more efficient workflow.

This is a bit weird one. Let’s look at the Doc’s Description.

Kinematic – A Body’s position and rotation will be dictated by any keyframe animation on the Input Shape

One one hand, keyframes can drive Forge Dynamics animation. There is no mention of using Behaviour for this. On the other hand, in the tutorial above, I used Frame Behaviour to drive entire animation.

Also, during my testing, Kinematic bodies change how the animation behaves. It seems that you NEED extra fields or forces, like Gravity, to add motion to your bodies. Kinematic bodies will “move” the bodies away. In “push” type of motion. There is no bounce.

Because of the whole “push away” motion, rather than “hit and bounce”, I ended up using Impulse Collision Event. With some clever rigging + Falloff, I was able to simulate extra forces inside Forge Dynamics, limit them to only a specific area with Falloff and direct overall simulation. I will make another tutorial exploring Collision Events in the future for sure, as they are fun to explore and play with.

Just remember – small values first. Otherwise, things get a bit too crazy 🙂

Below you can see 2x Forge Dynamics Simulations. One is simply animated with Keyframes – solid rotation throughout the animation. Second one, is the result of the tutorial:

• Frame Behaviour
• Get Vector
• Direction Field
• Drag Fields
• Impulse Collision Event
• Falloff

All these tools, behaviours and utilities add up to more complex and interesting motion. It takes a bit of a setup, but you get an intricate and adjustable motion in no time.