This is a sample I did for a GE Gas Compressor. I really wanted to get back to doing CAD conversion and I decided to do it on something very ugly in nature. Pipes and gauges are not usually considered pretty, but in the right lighting and the right environment, it can look pretty awesome. I used some grungy metal shaders in order to make the machine look real. Along with fun camera moves, this piece really came out nice.
CAD Modeling credit: Snehil Gopalka
A gas compressor is a mechanical device that increases the pressure of a gas by reducing its volume. An air compressor is a specific type of gas compressor.
Compressors are similar to pumps: both increase the pressure on a fluid and both can transport the fluid through a pipe. As gases are compressible, the compressor also reduces the volume of a gas. Liquids are relatively incompressible; while some can be compressed, the main action of a pump is to pressurize and transport liquids
In this sample I used a technique I found that lets you bring in camera data from 3DS Max into After Effects. I then created the text in Element 3D which was incredibly useful. I then did not need to rerender the project because I kept the animated text completely independent.
If this was a real project, this technique would give me ultimate flexibility moving forward with changes and adjustments which would in turn allow for quicker delivery and a happier client.
I love doing samples like this because I enjoy working with hard surface models and rendering them in interesting ways. I used generic titles on this sample because I was only really attempting to show a proof of concept here. I can create an animation calling out individual parts of a machine similar to this.
