Slider Property Editor
 
 
 

| Constraint | Attachment | Limits | Motor

Sets the options for the slider constraint to determine its behavior in a rigid body simulation. Slider constraints make connected rigid bodies move along a straight line, as in a telescope or along a piston shaft. They provide one degree of freedom in position.

To create a slider constraint: Choose Create Rigid Body Rigid Constraint or Multi Constraint Tool Slider from the Simulate menu. Then pick the location for the constraint object and the rigid bodies to be constrained.

To redisplay this property editor: Select the slider constraint object and press Enter.

For more information on constraints in general, see Types of Rigid Body Constraints [ Simulation].

Constraint

Active

Toggles the activeness of the constraint. Deselect this option to mute the constraint, which prevents it from affecting the simulation.

Visible

Toggles the display of the constraint object in a view. Deselect this option to hide the constraint object.

Attached Bodies Intercollide

Toggles the collision state of rigid bodies that are attached together by this constraint. For example, if you don't want a forearm to collide with a biceps, deselect this option.

Parameters

Spring (Kp)

The constant that determines the strength of the spring (the spring coefficient in Hooke's law). Kp is multiplied by the extension of the spring (beyond its rest length) to determine the force exerted on each rigid body. The units are based on Newtons per meter.

Damping (Kd)

Reduces the velocity of the constrained object. Kd is the damping coefficient, which is multiplied by the rigid bodies' mutual velocity to determine the damping force (which acts in the opposite direction as the Spring). The units are in Newtons per meter per second.

Rest Length (R)

The length in Softimage units which the slider tries to return to during the simulation.

Feedback

These parameters are for informational purpose only: you cannot modify them.

Attachment

These parameters allow you to offset the position of the slider's attachment points on either constrained rigid body.

These parameters are available only if you are using the PhysX dynamics engine.

For more information, see Offsetting Spring and Slider Constraints [ Simulation].

Body A - Local Offset

Using the X/Y/X sliders, offset the position of slider's attachment point to the Body A rigid body while remaining anchored to the Body B rigid body. Body A is the first rigid body that you picked when you created the slider constraint.

Body B - Local Offset

Using the X/Y/X sliders, offset the position of slider's attachment point to the Body B rigid body while remaining anchored to the Body A rigid body. Body B is the second rigid body that you picked when you created the slider constraint.

Limits

These limits restrict the range of movement allowed for the slider:

Minimum Extension

Active

Toggles the activeness of the Minimum Extension limit. When you activate limits, a red icon appears at either end of the slider to show you the current range of movement.

Minimum Extension

The lowest position in the range of movement at which the slider stops; that is, it cannot go below this value. This value (in Softimage units) must be lower than the Maximum Extension value. A value of 0 corresponds to the constraint's initial state orientation.

Maximum Extension

Active

Toggles the activeness of the Maximum Extension limit. When you activate limits, a red icon appears at either end of the slider to show you the current range of movement.

Maximum Extension

The highest position in the range of movement at which the hinge stops; that is, it cannot go above this value. This value (in Softimage units) must be higher than the Minimum Extension value. A value of 0 corresponds to the constraint's initial state orientation.

Motor

A motor applies a torque (force) to a constraint to get it to move at a desired speed (velocity). The motor only works with two rigid bodies used in the constraint relationship.

Motor Active

Toggles the activeness of the motor.

Power

Motor Velocity

The maximum amount of linear velocity that the motor can generate.

Maximum Torque

The maximum amount of force that can be applied to the constrained object.