This section describes each menu item, button, and parameter of the plug-in. If you like to jump right in, stop reading and go play! When you have a question about a feature, you can come back here and look it up.
For a solid grounding in MassFX concepts, we recommend that you read the Using MassFX in 3ds Max section of this help.
Topics in this section
MassFX Toolbar
The MassFX toolbar provides quick access to the most commonly used commands.
MassFX Tools Dialog
The MassFX Tools dialog provides ready access to most general settings and controls for creating physical simulations in 3ds Max. It contains four tabbed panels, each of which is described in detail in its own topic within this section. You can open the dialog by clicking the leftmost button on the MassFX toolbar, or you can go directly to the panel of interest by choosing its button from the MassFX Tools flyout on the toolbar.
MassFX Submenus
The MassFX submenus provide access to most MassFX tools and interface elements. There is a submenu for each subset of MassFX features. Most of these commands are also available in other areas of the MassFX interface.
MassFX Rigid Body Modifier
For a geometric object to participate in a physics simulation, it must have the MassFX Rigid Body modifier applied. (Alternatively, use the mCloth modifier.) The easiest way to convert an object to a rigid body is by selecting the object and then choosing the appropriate rigid body type from the flyout on the MassFX toolbar.
mCloth Modifier
mCloth is a special version of the Cloth modifier designed to work in MassFX simulations. It allows cloth objects to participate fully in physics simulations, both affecting and being affected by the behavior of other objects in the simulation.
MassFX Constraint Helper
The Constraint helper in MassFX lets two rigid bodies work together, as with a door and its frame using the Hinge constraint. Alternatively, you can use a constraint to link a single rigid body to a point in space. For an overview of constraints, see Constraining Physics Objects.
MassFX Ragdoll
The Ragdoll helper is a component of MassFX that lets animated characters participate in simulations as Dynamic and Kinematic rigid bodies. The character can be a Bones system or a Biped plus, optionally, an associated mesh using Skin.