Creating a Simulation Graph

Simulations update iteratively based on the values at the previous frame. MCG lets you create simulation graphs for modifiers, controllers, and geometries.

To create a basic simulation, you need to do two things:

• Declare your graph to be a simulation. This tells MCG to generate the proper MAXScript for updating a simulation. It also adds a Simulation rollout to reset the simulation.
• Cache the values in the graph using cache nodes.

In addition, you may need to do other things depending on the specific situation. For example, if you are using Bullet Physics, you need to create a world and add objects and properties to it.

If you jump to a later frame in a simulation, the intervening frames get calculated automatically. If you jump back to an earlier frame, the simulation is recalculated from the first frame. For best results, make sure that Real Time is off in the Time Configuration dialog.

A couple of the sample MCG-based controllers, MCG 1 DOF Rotation Spring Controller and MCG 3 DOF Rotation Spring Controller, are examples of simulations built using the Bullet Physics nodes.