Tuesday December 13, 2011 at 1:15pm
I discovered this by accident recently and can't think why I haven't used this before. If you want to show off an animated simulation result and at the same time be 'inside' the plot, just use a camera view. The workflow is this:
1. Create a simulation
2. Create a camera view with a wide angle lens
3. Switch to the camera view
4. Animate the simulation result (usually with an exaggerated deformation scale).
Move around inside the animation using the camera - controlled either by your mouse or the arrow keys work equally well.
Try this - it is great for a sales presentation. It is especially powerful for physically large assemblies and helps you get a really good 'feel' for the actual size of deformations.
You can also get similarly impressive effects using the 2011 or (even better) the 2012 Walkthroughs. Try it and you will like it!
Andy Fulcher
Technical Manager
Solid Solutions Management Ltd