OpenRocketAnimator for Blender

ORA is a Blender add-on that allows you to import 3D models exported from OpenRocket and animate them using simulation data in CSV format. Ideal for creating physically accurate 3D rocket flight visualizations.

🛠️ Features

1. Import a Rocket Model

Load an .obj file (exported from OpenRocket).

Includes an option to correct the model scale.

2. Load Flight Simulation Data

Load a .csv file generated by OpenRocket.

Automatically detects the necessary columns (position, time, rotation).

3. Animate with Simulation Data

Animate the position and optionally the roll of the rocket.

You can specify:

Start offset (frames).

Keyframe frequency (useful for controlling the number of frames inserted).

Enable or disable rotation (roll).

4. Manage the Cameras and Focus Your Rocket

Have the active camera point directly at the rocket and follow it in its trajectory.

You can add new cameras mounted on the rocket and have them shake for added drama.

📦 Installation

• Download the ORA.zip file
• Launch Blender.
• Go to Edit/Preferences/Add-ons.
• In the top right corner, select "Install from File." Navigate to the folder where you downloaded the zip file, select it, and that's it!

✅ How to Use

Import the OBJ model

• Export from OpenRocket in OBJ format.
• In Blender, use the OpenRocket panel in the sidebar (N).
• Select the OBJ file and press "Import OBJ."
• If the model looks too large/small, adjust the scale factor and use "Fix Scale."

Load Simulation

• Select the CSV file with the simulation data.
• Configure the animation
• Define whether you want to include rotation (roll).
• Adjust the start offset and keyframe rate.

Generate animation

• Click "Animate from CSV".
• (Optional) Use the "Linear Animation" button to make the curves linearly interpolated, avoiding the automatic acceleration/deceleration that Bézier mode produces when the keyframe rate is different from 1. This is useful for maintaining a more accurate technical simulation.
• Manage the the cameras to follow your rocket or mount some on it.

🧪 Requirements

• Blender 4.0 or higher.
• .obj model and .csv simulation exported from OpenRocket.

License

This add-on is distributed under the GPL-3.0 license.

NO WARRANTY: The author is not responsible for the use of the add-on or the results obtained.

wana help or contribute?

https://github.com/infamedavid/OpenRocketAnimator

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