MassFX Toolbar

Show MassFX Tools

Show MassFX Tools: Toggles the MassFX Tools dialog. This command is also available as the Show MassFX Tools command on the Animation menu Simulation - MassFX Utilities submenu.

Rigid Bodies Flyout

Set Selected As Dynamic Rigid Body: Applies a non-instanced MassFX Rigid Body modifier to each selected object, with Rigid Body Type set to Dynamic, and creates a single convex physical mesh for each object. If any selected objects already have a MassFX Rigid Body modifier, the existing modifier is changed to Dynamic, not reapplied.
This command is also available as Set Selected As Dynamic Rigid Body on the Animation menu Simulation - MassFX Rigid Bodies submenu.
Set Selected As Kinematic Rigid Body: Apply a non-instanced MassFX Rigid Body modifier to each selected object, with Rigid Body Type set to Kinematic, and creates single convex physical mesh for each object. If any selected objects already have a MassFX Rigid Body modifier, the existing modifier is changed to Kinematic, not reapplied.
This command is also available as Set Selected As Kinematic Rigid Body on the Animation menu Simulation - MassFX Rigid Bodies submenu.
Set Selected As Static Rigid Body: Apply a non-instanced MassFX Rigid Body modifier to each selected object, with Rigid Body Type set to static. A single convex physical mesh is created for the object. If any selected objects already have a MassFX Rigid Body modifier, the existing modifier is changed to Static, not reapplied.
This command is also available as Set Selected As Static Rigid Body on the Animation menu Simulation - MassFX Rigid Bodies submenu.

Constraints Flyout

Each of these commands creates a MassFX Constraint helper. The only differences among them are the values that are applied as reasonable defaults for the type of constraint described.

Before invoking the command, select two objects to represent the rigid bodies to be affected by the constraint. The first object you select will be used as the parent of the constraint and the second object as the child. The first object must not already be a static rigid body, and the second object must not already be a static or kinematic rigid body. If either selected object does not already have a MassFX Rigid Body modifier applied, a confirmation dialog opens, offering to apply the modifier to the objects.

After invoking a Create ... Constraint command, drag in a viewport to set the initial location of the constraint as well as its display size. The constraint is then created and linked to the parent object.

Create Rigid Constraint: Add a new MassFX Constraint helper to the project with settings appropriate for a rigid constraint. A rigid constraint has the translation, swing, and twist all locked, attempting to hold two rigid bodies at the same relative transformation as when the simulation starts.

This command is also available as Create Rigid Constraint on the Animation menu Simulation - MassFX Constraints submenu.
Create Slide Constraint: Add a new MassFX Constraint helper to the project with settings appropriate for a slide constraint. A slide constraint is similar to a rigid constraint, but with a limited Y translation enabled.

This command is also available as Create Slide Constraint on the Animation menu Simulation - MassFX Constraints submenu.
Create Hinge Constraint: Add a new MassFX Constraint helper to the project with settings appropriate for a hinge constraint. A hinge constraint is similar to a rigid constraint, but with Swing 1 limited to 100 degrees. This command is also available as the Create Hinge Constraint command in the MassFX menu (Constraints sub-menu).

This command is also available as Create Slide Constraint on the Animation menu Simulation - MassFX Constraints submenu.
Create Twist Constraint: Add a new MassFX Constraint helper to the project with settings appropriate for a twist constraint. A twist constraint is similar to a rigid constraint, but with Twist set to unlimited.

This command is also available as Create Twist Constraint on the Animation menu Simulation - MassFX Constraints submenu.
Create Universal Constraint: Add a new MassFX Constraint helper to the project with settings appropriate for a universal constraint. A universal constraint is similar to a rigid constraint, but with Swing 1 and Swing 2 limited to 45 degrees.

This command is also available as Create Universal Constraint on the Animation menu Simulation - MassFX Constraints submenu.
Create Ball & Socket Constraint: Add a new MassFX Constraint helper to the project with settings appropriate for a ball & socket constraint. A ball & socket constraint is similar to a rigid constraint, but with Swing 1 and Swing 2 limited to 80 degrees, and Twist set to unlimited.

This command is also available as Create Ball-and-Socket Constraint on the Animation menu Simulation - MassFX Constraints submenu.

Simulation Controls

Reset Simulation: Halts the simulation, moves the time slider to the first frame, and sets the transforms of any dynamic rigid bodies to their initial transforms.
This command is also available as Reset Simulation on the Animation menu Simulation - MassFX Simulation submenu, and on the MassFX Tools dialog Tools panel.
Start Simulation: Runs the simulation from the current frame. The time slider advances by one frame for each simulation step, causing kinematic rigid bodies to move as part of the simulation. If the simulation is already running, causing the button to appear to be pressed in, clicking the button pauses the simulation.
This command is also available as Play Simulation on the Animation menu Simulation - MassFX Simulation submenu (when Start Simulation is active on the MassFX toolbar), and as Play on the MassFX Tools dialog Tools panel.
Start Simulation Without Animation (from Start Simulation flyout): Similar to Start Simulation, described preceding, except that the time slider does not advance as the simulation runs. This can be useful for letting dynamic rigid bodies move to a resting spot in preparation for using Capture Initial Transforms.
This command is also available as Play Simulation on the Animation menu Simulation - MassFX Simulation submenu (when Start Simulation Without Animation is active on the MassFX toolbar), and as PNA on the MassFX Tools dialog Tools panel.
Advance the Simulation By One Frame: Runs the simulation for a single frame while advancing the time slider by the same amount.
This command is also available as Step Simulation on the Animation menu Simulation - MassFX Simulation submenu, and as Step on the MassFX Tools dialog Tools panel.