# Best way to duplicate the same FBX model?

**URL:** <https://discourse.threejs.org/t/best-way-to-duplicate-the-same-fbx-model/14772>\
**Category:** Questions\
**Tags:** animation\
**Created:** [April 29, 2020, 5:10pm UTC](https://discourse.threejs.org/t/best-way-to-duplicate-the-same-fbx-model/14772 "2020-04-29T17:10:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![fuzzy\_wobble](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.threejs.org/fuzzy_wobble/32/2413_2.png) [@fuzzy\_wobble](https://discourse.threejs.org/u/fuzzy_wobble)\
**Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 5:10pm UTC](https://discourse.threejs.org/t/best-way-to-duplicate-the-same-fbx-model/14772/1 "2020-04-29T17:10:34Z")

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Hello. If I wanted to duplicate an animated FBX model many times throughout a scene what would be an efficient way to do that? I also want to preserve a unique material for each model. All the models will be the same but have different colors/materials.

The code below throws the error, “Cannot read property ‘frame’ of undefined” when render is called.

```
fbx_loader.load( file, ( fbx ) => {

var clone = fbx.clone();
clone.animations = fbx.animations;
MYTHREE.scene.add( clone );

```

});

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mugen87](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.threejs.org/mugen87/32/5645_2.png) [@Mugen87](https://discourse.threejs.org/u/Mugen87)\
**Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 6:14pm UTC](https://discourse.threejs.org/t/best-way-to-duplicate-the-same-fbx-model/14772/2 "2020-04-29T18:14:15Z")

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`Object3D.clone()` will not properly clone instances of `SkinnedMesh`. You have to use [SkeletonUtils.clone()](https://threejs.org/docs/index.html#examples/en/utils/SkeletonUtils.clone) for this scenario.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![fuzzy\_wobble](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.threejs.org/fuzzy_wobble/32/2413_2.png) [@fuzzy\_wobble](https://discourse.threejs.org/u/fuzzy_wobble)\
**Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 6:36pm UTC](https://discourse.threejs.org/t/best-way-to-duplicate-the-same-fbx-model/14772/3 "2020-04-29T18:36:44Z")

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Nice. Working so far. How do I preserve a unique material. Right now, if I change the color on the clone it changes the color of the original.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mugen87](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.threejs.org/mugen87/32/5645_2.png) [@Mugen87](https://discourse.threejs.org/u/Mugen87)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 11:01am UTC](https://discourse.threejs.org/t/best-way-to-duplicate-the-same-fbx-model/14772/4 "2020-04-30T11:01:57Z")

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Cloning a mesh will not clone geometry and material(s). Meaning if you need a unique material per clone, you need to clone the material by yourself.