Tutorial:
Make a Spinning Cube Actor Blueprint in Unreal Engine
In this tutorial you will learn how to make a simple spinning cube blueprint. While the foundation for in-game pickups and other moving objects - the main goal of this tutorial is to learn about basic blueprint actor creation.
Add a new Blueprint class to the Content Drawer
Navigate to your Content Drawer and right click in an empty space in your content folder. A pop-menu will appear like the picture on the right. Select Blueprint Class.
Creating a new Actor Blueprint
A new window will appear asking you to pick a parent class. We will just be creating a simple actor today so click the first one 'Actor'
Once you do this, a new blueprint icon will appear in your Content Drawer - with its default name highlighted. I usually name my blueprints starting with BP_ - so name yours something like BP_ActorCube. --or what ever you like ;) --
After you name it, press enter. Then double click on the new blueprint icon to open up the Blueprint editor.
Getting to Know the Blueprint Editor screen
You should now be in the blueprint editor like the image on the right.
On the left top side of the screen you should see a Components panel (1)
On the right side the Details Panel (2)
In the middle top you can see 3 tabs: Viewport, Construction Script, Event Graph. (3)
On the bottom left is the Blueprint panel where you will manage and Graphs, Events, Functions and Variables. (4)
In the center is the somewhat empty Viewport with the Default Scene Root icon. (5)
Add a Cube
Head over to the Components Panel and click the add button.
Look for the Cube under 'Common' or type Cube into the search bar.
Add the Rotating Movement Actor component
Actor component give actors all sorts of cool gameplay behavior. This simple rotation component is a quick way to add some animation to your game.
Once again click the Add button on the Component Panel and this time search for 'Rotating'
Select the RotatingMovement component and add it.
Optional: By default, this Actor Component will rotate the cube 180 degrees a second. If you select the RotatingMovement in the Components panel and then look over at the Details panel on the right there is a section called Rotating Component where you can change the rotation rate.
Compile and Save
Click the Compile Button and then the Save button.
Then click the Scene tab at the top (Has an Orange Mountain icon just about Compile and Save!) to go back to your level scene.
Add you new Blueprint Actor to the Level
Now click and drag your Blueprint icon in the Content drawer and drag it into the scene view. Use the location/translation arrows to move around - making sure it is about the floor.
Then click Play and take a look at the new actor as it spins!
