Constraint Modifier

This option enables/disables the effect of the constraint modifier.

There are six constraining methods to the constraint modifier. The first three create new constraints, and the last three modify existing constraints.

Make By Overlapping Box checks all of the bodies in the dynamic world and records which ones bounding boxes that overlap. It makes constraints at those points. Make By Contact checks all of the bodies in the dynamic world and records which ones have opposing faces that are touching (such as those created by the Shatter command, making constraints at those points. When Make By Proximity is selected, there are two other channels that work with this option: the Proximity Search Range, and Max Constraints. Proximity Search Range is the maximum distance, using the body centers, that it looks to find neighboring bodies. Max Constraints is the maximum number of constraints that is connected from one body to other bodies. It should be noted that there is only ever allowed one constraint between two bodies, so any connected bodies don't count against the Max Connections value. In this mode, if you have the constraint modifier selected, you can see a preview of the constraints that are created. The Break, Decay, and Strengthen options modify existing constraint values when layering subsequent constraints.

Defines the type of constraint created between the bodies. A Pin constraint is a fixed rigid connection and a Point constraint rotates around on the connection point.

Limits the types of items that constraints are added to, providing three options. None is for no limits. Volume Less Than uses the bodies calculated volume, only considers bodies whose volume is less than the specified Volume Threshold, and Volume Greater Than only considers bodies whose volume is less than the specified Volume Threshold.

This takes a wildcard string that is compared against the item's name. Considers bodies that are true. If the filter field is set to Cube*, only items whose name is prefixed Cube is considered.

Note:  This option is case sensitive.

An additional control for constraining items.

• All - All bodies are considered. If groups are attached to the modifer, only the items in that group are considered, if not, all dynamic items are considered.

• Boundary - If multiple groups are attached, this only considers creating constraints between items in those groups.

• Area - This, along with the Area channel, divides up the space of the attached bodies and only constrains items that fall into the same section together. The Area channel defines how many cubic meters the space should be divided into.

There are three Phase options, Start and Tick and Birth. This option defines when the constraint modifier fires. Start is at the beginning of the entire simulation, Tick is every simulation sub-step (defined by the Physics Rate (Hz) value of the solver item), and Birth fires every simulation tick, but only affects newly created rigid bodies.

Defines the strength of the connection between the constrained items for this particular constraint.

Determines a randomizing amount for the Glue Value applied to constrained items.

If this option is enabled, then the specified Glue Value is multiplied by the Glue Value defined on the dynamic element itself.

When forces hit a constraint they weaken it until it breaks. When the Make By Contact constraint method is selected, the Recovery value determines how quickly a constraint recovers to full strength.