Create a Nail constraint

A Nail constraint nails a single active rigid body to a position in the workspace. It works as if a solid bar connects the rigid body to the constraint position. You cannot use a Nail constraint on a passive rigid body.

If you animate an active rigid body with a field such as gravity, you can use a Nail constraint to create effects such as a ball swinging from a cord.

To create a Nail constraint

1. Select the active rigid body you want to constrain.
2. Select Soft/Rigid Bodies > Create Nail Constraint> to display the options window.
3. For the Constraint Type, select Nail.
4. Turn on Set Initial Position and enter X, Y, and Z values for the nail position.

   If you don’t turn on Set Initial Position, Maya puts the constraint at the rigid body’s center of mass.

5. Click Create in the Constraint Options window.

   To alter the constraint after creation, see Edit constraints.