This section covers the following operators and tests for using Particle Flow in MassFX simulations:
Topics in this section
mParticles World Operator
The mParticles World operator associates the particles in the current event or system to a specific simulation world, in the form of an mParticles World Helper (driver) in the scene. After you make the connection, that helper's settings affect all particles in the event.
mParticles Shape Operator
Use the mParticles Shape operator to define the particle shape for collision purposes during a physics simulation. Along with the mParticles World operator, the mParticles Shape operator is necessary in order to have a simulation. Also, place the mParticles Shape operator after the Shape operator in the event.
mParticles Force Operator
The mParticles Force operator is similar to the standard Force operator but is better suited to simulation usage. The regular Force operator adjusts particle speed. This is not convenient if you use mParticles World to run the simulation, because you need to use the mParticles Switch operator to relay the adjusted speed information to simulation by turning on Match Position or Speed > Speed. Even with that, the constant direct manipulation of speed data can distort the simulation workflow. mParticles Force defines actual forces that influence particles, and the force field information is passed to the MassFX simulation.
mParticles Drag Operator
mParticles Drag is a fast alternative to the mParticles Force operator for adding a slowing factor to a simulation. With the mParticles Drag operator, you don't need to first create a Drag space warp and then designate it in the mParticles Force operator. Also, mParticles Drag uses native MassFX properties to simulate friction. Last, you can use the slowing factor to stabilize the simulation (reduce jitter) and make it appear more natural, since it lets you introduce energy dissipation due to friction.
mParticles Buoyancy Operator
Use the mParticles Buoyancy operator to simulate the behavior of objects (particles) in a liquid. Depending on the relative densities of the particles and the liquid, particles rise or sink within the liquid.
mParticles Switch Operator
Use the mParticles Switch operator to adjust the pure simulation animation by defining events containing this operator as kinematic (particle motion is driven by standard Particle Flow actions) as opposed to dynamic (particle motion is driven by the MassFX simulation engine).
mParticles Collision Test
The mParticles Collision test is similar to the standard Collision test, but instead of allowing collisions between particles and Deflector space warps, it enables collisions between particles and standard objects applied with the PFlow Collision Shape (WSM) Modifier. Usage is similar to the Collision test, but some details differ due to the nature of physics simulation and the MassFX setup.
mParticles InterCollision Test
The mParticles InterCollision test registers interparticle collision and redirects particles to other events based on the collision information. It does not control whether particles collide with each other. By definition, particles whose shape is defined with an mParticles Shape operator, and that participate in a MassFX simulation, can collide with each other.
mParticles Glue Test
The mParticles Glue test creates bindings between particles, thus serving as a "glue" for particle matter. With mParticles Glue, particles tend to stay together in their original formation, but can break apart during the simulation based on physical actions or the influence of the mParticles Solvent operator. Like many other tests in Particle Flow, you can use mParticles Glue without necessarily connecting it to another event, in which case it functions as an operator.
mParticles Solvent Operator
The mParticles Solvent operator can remove bindings created by the mParticles Glue test, with different filtering imposed by mParticles Glue IDs, timing, a Boolean data channel and simple icon geometry. To use, use any test to direct bound particles into an event that contains the mParticles Solvent operator.