Rigid Body Effector
Updated: 4 Dec 2023
Applies a Rigid Body simulation to A cloner system.
Rigid Body Effector
Method #
The Rigid Body Effector node turns clones into rigid bodies. The resulting bodies are able to collide with each other, or with other bodies that are part of the same physics system - under the same Rigid Body Root.
If this node is parented via a Rigid Body Root it will be part of the physics system of that Rigid Body Root. Otherwise, this node is capable of acting as its own physics system, allowing for easy rigging of a simple physics system with a single cloner.
For best results ensure that the clones do not overlap in their initial position before dynamics is applied.
Unlike other cloner nodes, this Effector is a simulation node. This means that jumping in time will not produce predictable results, as the simulation needs to process the frames in between.
Connect the output to the effector input of any cloner node to apply it to the camera system. Multiple effectors connected to the same output will stack, and order of operations chosen by position on the nodegraph.
Parameters
These properties control the 3D transforms of the node. Transforms will generally be inherited by child nodes, although they can be ignored through the Inherit Transform Channels attributes.
Parameter Details Position X
The objects position along the local x-axis.
Position Y
The objects position along the local y-axis.
Position Z
The objects position along the local z-axis.
Rotation Heading
The objects rotation around the local y-axis.
Rotation Pitch
The objects rotation around the local x-axis.
Rotation Bank
The objects rotation around the local z-axis.
Scale X
The objects scale along the local x-axis.
Scale Y
The objects scale along the local y-axis.
Scale Z
The objects scale along the local z-axis.
Control the inheritance of the transforms from the parent.
Parameter Details Position
Toggle inheritance of the Position from the parent.
Rotation
Toggle inheritance of the Rotation from the parent.
Scale
Toggle inheritance of the Scale from the parent.
World Position Only
Inherit the world position from the parent only, rotation and scale will be ignored. Overrides above properties.
Inherit Time
Toggle inheritance of time from the parent.
These properties control the physics settings the clones will be simulated under. Parenting a Physics Root node node will disable many of these properties as the node inherits those parameters instead.
Parameter Details Mode
How the Clones are used in a physics simulation.
- Static : A static rigid body does not move and can’t be moved by physics, but will act as a collider for other dynamic objects.
- Kinematic : A kinematic rigid body is not moved by physics but has a velocity that can affect dynamic bodies.
- Dynamic : A dynamic rigid body has its initial position set by its transform, but transform control is taken over by physics as soon as the simulation starts.
- Disabled : Physics will not be applied, and the object will be ignored for simulation.
Shape Type
The shape of the rigid body used for simulation of each clone. Often times, a simpler approximation of a mesh can be used for significantly improved performance.
- Cloned Objects (Simplified / Convex Hulls) : the cloned geometry attached to the parent cloner is used as rigid body geometry - but simplified convex hulls via the mode specified by Convex Hull Mode. Convex hull simplification is often necessary to ensure objects are suitably low poly and convex, as rigid bodies must be.
- Boxes : A box, useful for emulating boxy objects
- Spheres : A sphere, useful for emulating balls or roundish objects.
- Input 3D Objects : Use the geometry from the Collision Shapes input as the rigid body shapes.
- Chunked 3D Object : A single, chunked 3D object is used - and each clone uses a chunk. This is suitable when the Rigid Body Effector is linked to a single chunked object via the Chunk Effector Deformer.
- Cloned Objects (Original Geometry) : The rigid body shape from the cloner node is used.
Convex Hull Mode
If the Convex Hull shape is used, determines the convex hull mode used to wrap around the clones geometry.
- 10 Faces (Cylinder) X-Axis : A simplified cylinder with 10 sides pointing along the X axis.
- 10 Faces (Cylinder) Y-Axis : A simplified cylinder with 10 sides pointing along the Y axis.
- 10 Faces (Cylinder) Z-Axis : A simplified cylinder with 10 sides pointing along the Z axis.
- 14 Faces (Capsule) - X-Axis : A simplified capsule with 10 sides pointing along the X axis.
- 14 Faces (Capsule) - Y-Axis : A simplified capsule with 10 sides pointing along the Y axis.
- 14 Faces (Capsule) - Z-Axis : A simplified capsule with 10 sides pointing along the Z axis.
- 18 Faces (Rounded Box) : A simplified beveled box with 18 sides.
Max Velocity
The maximum velocity any rigid body in this system can reach.
Max Angular Velocity
The maximum angular velocity any rigid body in this system can reach.
Dampening
Reduces the velocity and angular velocity of bodies over time.
Smoothing
Smooths motion of bodies over frames to remove the visual appearance of jitters in the physics system.
Gravity
Gravity strength. Defaults to 9.8 but should be adjusted to reflect the scale of the scene.
Floor Collision Enabled
Generates a default floor plane to collide all rigid bodies with.
Floor Height
The height of the default floor plane.
Floor Static Friction
How much friction the floor has relative to static object.
Floor Friction
How much friction the floor has relative to moving objects.
Floor Bounciness
How much rigid bodies will bounce off of the floor.
Show Rigid Bodies
Displays a debug view of the actual rigid body shapes being used to calculate collisions.
Time Till Idle
The amount of time an object can be within the Idle Movement Threshold and remain active.
Idle Movement Threshold
The minimum amount a physics object can be moving before it stops receiving updates.
These properties control the selection of clones that you want the effector to influence.
Parameter Details Selection Mode
Set the mode for Index-Based Weighting.
- Disabled : Effector influences all clones.
- ID : Use clone IDs to define which clones the effector influences.
- Index : Use clone indexes to define which clones the effector influences.
Selection Operation
Set how you want top define the selection.
- Index : Select a specific clone that will be influenced by the effector.
- Range : Select a range of clones that will be influenced by the effector.
- Step : Select every n clone to be influenced by the effector.
- Random In Range : Clones will be selected randomly to be influenced within a set range.
Index
The first clone index in the range.
Max Index
The last clone index in the range.
Index Step
The increment used in “Step” mode.
Index Seed
The seed used in “Random In Range” mode.
Index Falloff Range
Falloff amount for Index-Based Weighting.
Index Falloff Power
The curve power of the falloff for Index-Based Weighting.
The properties control the physical properties of the clones, dictating how they will behave when they interact with each other or other physics objects in the scene.
Parameter Details Static Friction
How much resistance there will be for rigid bodies that are at rest relative to each other to begin moving.
Friction
How much other rigid bodies will be able to slide along side this rigid body. When two rigid bodies of different frictions interact, the minimum value is used.
Bounciness
How much this rigid body will bounce off of other rigid bodies in the scene.
Density
The density of the rigid body. The density is scaled by the area of the shape to determine the mass of the body.
Collision Radius
The radius of collision shape if applicable.
Collision Mode
Mode for calculating collision if applicable.
- Volumetric : Calculate collisions inside the object.
- Surface : Only calculate collisions on the surface of the object.
Inputs
These properties control the 3D transforms of the node. Transforms will generally be inherited by child nodes, although they can be ignored through the Inherit Transform Channels attributes.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Position X | The objects position along the local x-axis. |
| Position Y | The objects position along the local y-axis. |
| Position Z | The objects position along the local z-axis. |
| Rotation Heading | The objects rotation around the local y-axis. |
| Rotation Pitch | The objects rotation around the local x-axis. |
| Rotation Bank | The objects rotation around the local z-axis. |
| Scale X | The objects scale along the local x-axis. |
| Scale Y | The objects scale along the local y-axis. |
| Scale Z | The objects scale along the local z-axis. |
Control the inheritance of the transforms from the parent.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Position | Toggle inheritance of the Position from the parent. |
| Rotation | Toggle inheritance of the Rotation from the parent. |
| Scale | Toggle inheritance of the Scale from the parent. |
| World Position Only | Inherit the world position from the parent only, rotation and scale will be ignored. Overrides above properties. |
| Inherit Time | Toggle inheritance of time from the parent. |
These properties control the physics settings the clones will be simulated under. Parenting a Physics Root node node will disable many of these properties as the node inherits those parameters instead.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode |
How the Clones are used in a physics simulation.
|
| Shape Type |
The shape of the rigid body used for simulation of each clone. Often times, a simpler approximation of a mesh can be used for significantly improved performance.
|
| Convex Hull Mode |
If the Convex Hull shape is used, determines the convex hull mode used to wrap around the clones geometry.
|
| Max Velocity | The maximum velocity any rigid body in this system can reach. |
| Max Angular Velocity | The maximum angular velocity any rigid body in this system can reach. |
| Dampening | Reduces the velocity and angular velocity of bodies over time. |
| Smoothing | Smooths motion of bodies over frames to remove the visual appearance of jitters in the physics system. |
| Gravity | Gravity strength. Defaults to 9.8 but should be adjusted to reflect the scale of the scene. |
| Floor Collision Enabled | Generates a default floor plane to collide all rigid bodies with. |
| Floor Height | The height of the default floor plane. |
| Floor Static Friction | How much friction the floor has relative to static object. |
| Floor Friction | How much friction the floor has relative to moving objects. |
| Floor Bounciness | How much rigid bodies will bounce off of the floor. |
| Show Rigid Bodies | Displays a debug view of the actual rigid body shapes being used to calculate collisions. |
| Time Till Idle | The amount of time an object can be within the Idle Movement Threshold and remain active. |
| Idle Movement Threshold | The minimum amount a physics object can be moving before it stops receiving updates. |
These properties control the selection of clones that you want the effector to influence.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Selection Mode |
Set the mode for Index-Based Weighting.
|
| Selection Operation |
Set how you want top define the selection.
|
| Index | The first clone index in the range. |
| Max Index | The last clone index in the range. |
| Index Step | The increment used in “Step” mode. |
| Index Seed | The seed used in “Random In Range” mode. |
| Index Falloff Range | Falloff amount for Index-Based Weighting. |
| Index Falloff Power | The curve power of the falloff for Index-Based Weighting. |
The properties control the physical properties of the clones, dictating how they will behave when they interact with each other or other physics objects in the scene.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Static Friction | How much resistance there will be for rigid bodies that are at rest relative to each other to begin moving. |
| Friction | How much other rigid bodies will be able to slide along side this rigid body. When two rigid bodies of different frictions interact, the minimum value is used. |
| Bounciness | How much this rigid body will bounce off of other rigid bodies in the scene. |
| Density | The density of the rigid body. The density is scaled by the area of the shape to determine the mass of the body. |
| Collision Radius | The radius of collision shape if applicable. |
| Collision Mode |
Mode for calculating collision if applicable.
|
| Name | Description | Typical Input |
|---|---|---|
| Rigid Bodies | Input Rigid Bodies from other systems to interact with the clones. | Rigid Body |
| Rigid Body Affectors | Input forces which can move and affect the Rigid Bodies. | Force Affector |
| Collision Shapes | Input geometry to use as collision shapes for the rigid bodies instead of the built in shapes or convex hulls. | 3D Object |
| Procedural Falloff | Use a procedural system to generate falloff from. Useful for creating complex and unconventional falloffs from an Effector. | Procedural Root |
| Transform Modifiers | Apply the transforms of another node to this node. | Null |
| Target Node | Modifiy the rotations of the node to always direct the z axis towards the input. | Null |
| Local Transform Override | Apply the transforms of another node to this node, relative to its parent. | Null |