Fundamentals of rigging

Rigging
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Hey all,

I’ve been in the industry for over a decade specializing in hardsurface modeling and texturing, but lately I’ve been diving deeper into design work. I’m getting increasingly interested in rigging - specifically how it can inform and validate my design decisions.

I want to rig my mechanical designs to demonstrate realistic operation and movement. The challenge is that rigging feels overwhelming with so many interconnected concepts, and I’m not sure where to begin as a complete rigging novice.

I’m focused on technical/mechanical rigging rather than character work. My goal is understanding design principles through rigging - how joints function, constraint systems work, and how components relate to each other mechanically.

What fundamentals should I learn first? Should I master basic rigging concepts before tackling mechanical systems, or can I jump straight into mechanical applications?

I’m looking for the best learning resources - tutorials, courses, or documentation that build solid foundational knowledge. Which 3ds Max tools should I prioritize learning?

I really want to understand the underlying principles rather than just memorizing solutions to specific problems. My theory is that the deeper I understand mechanical movement, the more it will expand my design vocabulary and inspire new mechanical patterns.

What common beginner mistakes should I watch out for? Where’s the best starting point for someone who wants to truly grasp how this all works?

Any guidance would be incredibly appreciated!

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While Character specific, I think @Theodox 's 2006 GDC talk summarizes the fundamentals better than anything else:

For rigging in 3DS Max specifically, I learned the most from Paul Neale (not sure if he’s a member here at TAO) :

As for 3DS Max Tools to prioritize, I would prioritize Max Script. For me, learning Max Script helped me understand what Max is doing under the hood in a way that the UI tools didn’t. Though it has been almost a decade since I looked at Max, and if the 3DsMax Python ecosystem has matured, Python might be a better choice.

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