Troubleshooting GLB Animation Issues in React Three Fiber

Based on your description of the animation issues with your Blender exports, I can offer some suggestions to help troubleshoot the problems you're experiencing.

Issue Analysis

1. First file (animated-curtains.glb): Only the top of the cloth animates and appears glitchy
2. Second file (curtains-animation.glb): No animation at all (duration of 0, no tracks)

Potential Solutions

For the First File (Partial Animation)

The partial animation suggests there might be issues with:

1. Cloth simulation in Blender: The cloth simulation might not be properly baked or some vertices might not be affected by the simulation.

2. Weight painting: If you're using an armature to animate the cloth, check if all vertices are properly weighted.

3. Animation export settings: Try adjusting your export settings in Blender:

JAVASCRIPTCopied
// When playing the animation, you might want to adjust playback settings
actions[names[0]]?.reset();
actions[names[0]]?.setLoop(THREE.LoopRepeat);
actions[names[0]]?.play();

For the Second File (No Animation)

A duration of 0 and no tracks indicates the animation data wasn't properly exported:

1. Check animation actions in Blender: Make sure your animation is properly set up as an action.

2. Export settings: When exporting from Blender to GLB, ensure:

   • "Animation" checkbox is enabled
   • "Selected Objects" is checked if you're only exporting specific objects
   • "Include Animation" is set to "All Actions" or the specific action you want

3. Try different animation format: If you're using a cloth simulation, try baking it to keyframes before export.

Code Improvements

Your code looks generally correct, but here are some suggestions:

JAVASCRIPTCopied
useEffect(() => {
  if (names.length > 0 && actions[names[0]]) {
    // Reset and play the animation
    actions[names[0]].reset();
    actions[names[0]].setEffectiveTimeScale(1);
    actions[names[0]].setEffectiveWeight(1);
    actions[names[0]].play();
    
    console.log("Playing animation:", names[0]);
  } else {
    console.warn("No animations found or animation couldn't be played");
  }
}, [actions, names]);

Additional Debugging

Add more detailed logging to understand what's happening with your animations:

JAVASCRIPTCopied
useEffect(() => {
  console.log('Animations:', animations);
  console.log('Animation Names:', names);
  
  animations.forEach((clip) => {
    console.log('Clip:', clip.name, {
      duration: clip.duration,
      tracks: clip.tracks.length,
    });
    
    // Log details about each track
    clip.tracks.forEach((track, index) => {
      console.log(`Track ${index}:`, {
        name: track.name,
        times: track.times.length,
        values: track.values.length,
        valueSize: track.getValueSize(),
      });
    });
  });
}, [animations, names]);

Blender Export Recommendations

1. Use simple animations first: Test with a simple animation to ensure your pipeline works
2. Check for proper rigging: If using armatures, ensure proper weight painting
3. Bake simulations: For cloth simulations, bake to keyframes
4. Export settings: Use these settings in Blender's GLTF exporter:
   • Format: GLB
   • Include: Selected Objects
   • Transform: +Y Up
   • Animation: Enabled, with "Animation" set to the specific action

If these suggestions don't resolve your issues, you might need to examine your Blender file more closely or consider simplifying your animation approach.