by RM3D-Arts·Motion Graphics
Images © RM3D-Arts. Used for product review; image policy.
Chain Crafter earns a place in the Superhive library for keeping chain creation, posing and animation inside object mode, backed by a side panel and 75+ bundled assets.
Chain Crafter is a Blender add-on for generating procedural chains with control handles. You can create chains three ways: by drawing with Draw Chain, by connecting two objects with the Connecting Chain command, or by converting a curve to a chain. Connected chains are automatically tethered to the objects at both ends. Once a chain is drawn, chain controls attach to it, and you can add or remove controls as needed.
The controls let you position, tilt and animate chains entirely in object mode. You can set or remove keyframes for all chain controls at once, save a default pose stored with the blend file, and adjust each control's size, shape and visibility. A large set of modifier parameters changes the look of each chain, and Extract Mesh creates mesh copies of chains without altering the originals.
The add-on bundles 75+ chain assets — 50 chain links and 25+ chain clasps — organised in catalogues in the Asset Browser. All functions sit in a side panel in the 3D viewport, arranged in categories, with predefined keyboard mappings.
Chain Crafter is best for blender artists who need posable, animatable chains built procedurally with control handles.
Chain Crafter is completely free to download and use.
Chain Crafter supports Blender 4.4, 4.3 and 4.2. It is listed as Blender Extension compatible and is distributed as an add-on. The add-on is also compatible with Blender 4.4 animation slots. Its assets are organised in catalogues within the Asset Browser, and all functions appear in a side panel in the 3D viewport with predefined keyboard mappings. A full list of shortcuts is available in the add-on's preferences, so you can review the mappings before working.
Chain Crafter offers three ways to create a chain. You can draw one with Draw Chain, after which chain controls attach automatically once you finish drawing. You can connect two objects using the Connecting Chain command, and those connected chains are automatically tethered to the objects at both ends. You can also convert an existing curve into a chain. After creation, you can add or remove chain controls as needed and adjust their size, shape and visibility.
Chain Crafter is listed as free in this catalog. It is released under the GPL license. For current licensing details and any purchase terms, check the developer's page from RM3D-Arts. The add-on is a Blender Development Fund contributor. A demo video is also available if you want to see more before downloading, and the add-on includes documentation covering its functions and shortcuts.
Chain Crafter uses Cycles as its render engine. The add-on bundles more than 75 high quality chain assets, made up of 50 chain links and 25+ chain clasps, all organised in catalogues within your Asset Browser. You can also modify the look of each chain using a large set of modifier parameters, and create mesh snapshots of chains with Extract Mesh without altering the originals.
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