How to animate multi part object diagrammatic explosion using NLA

Question

I wish to animate a mechanical part (train bogie) exploding and imploding for a realtime system (taqtile manifest) using an fbx export. I have keyframed the actions shown below.

Then cycle back to frame 0 position at frame 500. Frame 0-125 and frames 275-350 are hold positions.

I have successfully exported this as a straight keyframed animation, though the realtime system i am exporting to has the function to load animation sequences based on names which is what i need to achieve. I am pretty certain this is achieved by "pushing" the keyframed actions to an NLA strip. I have tried to simplify the sequence by just trying to do the same to four coloured boxes. Even doing this i cannot work out how i can get the desired result. Ideally i would export an object that would have the options of a) Unexploded b) Exploding c) Exploded d) Imploding

If I create an action which is then pushed to NLA how can I combine all of the NLA to occur simultaneously. ie all objects "explode" or "implode" or remain static.

I have access to a model that does what i need in the realtime and when i import it i see the following... I note that the NLA tracks have the name of the animation that is selected in the realtime.

Any help much appreciated. I have only been using Blender for a couple of weeks.

Answer 1

NLA isn't too much intuitive, but if you understood it, it's great.

So to take your 4 box example, you just need to animate once (if both ways are the same), so i have this animation here:

This looks now in NLA like this:

Now pushdown all actions:

Now go to edit -> duplicate

and move them like this:

Now you have to select the right actions again (don't know why, but in my case i didn't see the properties for the actions on the panel), so click the first, then shift select the others, then in then panel (press N if you don't see it) hold CTRL down and press "reversed"

then you will get: