Project: Blender Extensions
Tracker: Py Scripts Upload
Blender: 2.57
Category: Rigging
Python: 3.2
Script name: build_armature_from_joints.py
Dependencies: add_joint_object.py
Author(s): Terry Stafford
Status: Open

Joint Object Features:
Features:

The script does a 'sphere fit' on the selected vertices.
Using a 'sphere fit', an Empty is created at the center of the sphere with size of sphere radius.
If the mesh object has animation data the joint object is animated using the vertices of the transformed mesh.
If the mesh object data has animated shapekeys the object is animated using the vertices of the shapekeys.

This script adds a joint object to a Blender scene.
Joint objects are used in Blender for the automated building of armatures.
The add_joint_object.py script is part of a workflow to build armatures.
The other script in the workflow is the build_armature_from_joints.py script.
After all joint objects are created from the mesh object,
the build_armature_from_joints.py script builds an armature from the joint object names and location(s).

Setup:

Uncompress this file to any location.
Start Blender.
From User Preferences-->Add-Ons-->Install Add-On
Pick add_joint_object.py from previous location.
Select Object filter to see add-ons in the Object category.
Check the box by Object:Add Joint Object.

Check for Add-->Mesh-->Joint_Object from menu.

Manual:

Pick any mesh object. Select desired vertices.
Choose Add-->Mesh-->Joint_Object from menu.
Enter name for joint object in popup dialog and press OK.

See enclosed add_joint_object.pdf for more details.

Armature from Joints Features:

This script tests or builds an armature from selected joint objects.
The build_armature_from_joints.py script is part of a workflow to build armatures.
The other script in the workflow is the add_joint_object.py script.
After all joint objects are created from the mesh object, the build_armature_from_joints.py
script tests or builds an armature from the joint object names and location(s).

Setup:

Uncompress this file to any location.
Start Blender.
From User Preferences-->Add-Ons-->Install Add-On
Pick build_armature_from_joints.py from previous location.
Select Rigging filter to see add-ons in the Rigging category.
Check the box by Rigging:Build Armature From Joints.

Check for Armature-->Build Armature From Joints-->Build|Test from menu.

Manual:

Select joint objects that describe the armature to be built.

If File-->Armature-->Build Armature From Joints-->Test is choosen,
a test build of an armature from the joint objects is run.
The test results are written to the terminal.

If File-->Armature-->Build Armature From Joints-->Build is choosen,
A build of an armature from the joint objects is run.
The resulting armature build is written to the terminal.