# Possible to animate engineering mechanisms? **URL:** \ **Category:** Uncategorized\ **Created:** [March 19, 2002, 12:29pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/possible-to-animate-engineering-mechanisms/2878 "2002-03-19T12:29:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 12:29pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/possible-to-animate-engineering-mechanisms/2878/1 "2002-03-19T12:29:59Z")
g’day everyone,\r\rI’m new and impressed by the knowledge on this site!\r\rDoes anyone know how to control the position of the two endpoints of a straight-line over time? I’d like to import the (x,y) coordinates of these endpoints from a \*.txt file.\r\rOr alternatively, has anyone animated or know-how-to animate a four bar linkage mechanism? I’m trying to get something like this in flash: [www.brockeng.com/mechanis…Rocker.htm](http://www.brockeng.com/mechanism/CrankRocker.htm)\r\rAny advice whatsoever would be greatly appreciated 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 12:34pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/possible-to-animate-engineering-mechanisms/2878/2 "2002-03-19T12:34:45Z")
Yep. With scaling. That can be fun to try.\rAnd don’t worry, if I can’t get it to work, I’m sure Sinfiniti will. The Force is very strong with him…\r\rpom 0] ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 3:33pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/possible-to-animate-engineering-mechanisms/2878/3 "2002-03-19T15:33:10Z")
OK… I’ve done something… It wasn’t easy, but it’s there. It’s funny because a normal motion doesn’t seem to be possible. You can drag both the starting and the ending point, but I never got a normal motion (without a detachment). I guess you have to play with the lenghts…\r\rpom 0] ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 3:46pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/possible-to-animate-engineering-mechanisms/2878/4 "2002-03-19T15:46:00Z")
That looks great! Thanks Ilyaslamasse.\rYou’re right, some configurations cannot achieve circular motion of both crank and follower (e.g. [www.brockeng.com/mechanis…Rocker.htm](http://www.brockeng.com/mechanism/CrankRocker.htm) … the follower is actually a rocker). It all depends on the geometry.\rCould you possibly post or send me the source for that?\rThanks!\rstella ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 3:59pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/possible-to-animate-engineering-mechanisms/2878/5 "2002-03-19T15:59:25Z")
I’m glad you like it ! Thanks. And actually, there are some configurations that DO work…\r\rGive me a minute to comment on the code. It’s \here\ if you don’t care for explanations.\r\rpom 0] ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 4:24pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/possible-to-animate-engineering-mechanisms/2878/6 "2002-03-19T16:24:53Z")
Thank you! Comments would be great, only if you can get around to it.\rMuch appreciated,\rstella ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 4:35pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/possible-to-animate-engineering-mechanisms/2878/7 "2002-03-19T16:35:46Z")
I updated the link. I put a little note in the FLA, I’d really appreciate it if you took it into consideration. \r\rAnd if there’s something you don’t understand, POST !!\r\rpom 0] ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 7:29pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/possible-to-animate-engineering-mechanisms/2878/8 "2002-03-19T19:29:19Z")
I certainly will!\rthank you 🙂 \rstella