MCG Bullet World

3 votes
Version: 
1.0
Date Updated: 
03/24/2016

MCG Bullet World is a rigid body physics simulation MCG tool using MCG Bullet Physics integration.

Tool is intended to be as user friendly as possible.
- Requires Max 2016 Extension 1 or newer.

Additional Info: 

__________________ ***Features*** :

- Simulate toggle. This turns the Simulation On or Off. Default is Off on creation. Set On when set up is done. Set Off to Remove objects or Add new ones.

- The simulation can be baked to max keys. This is to compensate the determinism issue of Bullet. To share to collegues or the send to a render farm, or playback speed.
To do so:
. Set Auto Key On,
. Play back the simulation.
. Set Auto Key Off.
. Uncheck Simulate in the Main tool.
> Animation is baked on the Simulated objects.

- Tools parameter are interactive, changing values updates the results in viewport, live.

- Parameters can be set individualy and can be changed via the Main tool or on any objects modifiers.
-- To set multiple objects at once, select them in the main tool list and modify parameters in the Main tool.

- Colliders can be animated in Max. The simulation will pick up the animation updates and simulate accordingly.

- Tools external changes, like moving modifiers or Dynamics parents does not update the graph live; scrubbing the time line will re evaluate the simulation.

****Scene set up*
- Create your objects.
- Create the Main MCG_BulletWorld in the scene.
- Select MCG_BulletWorld object, in the Modify panel use Add button to add objects to the Dynamics list and the Colliders lists. Use the Set up button to prepare the objects.
- Set Simulate On.
- Play back the scene.

****What Set up button for Lists does*
- For Dynamics objects.
-- Adds the MCG_BW_Dynamics modifier to all objects in the Dynamics list. This holds the individial parameters.
-- Adds a Start Position reference parent. This is needed by the graph. It is the Start position and orientation.
- For Colliders objects
-- Adds the MCG_BW_Colliders modifier to all objects in the Kinematic Colliders list. This holds the individual parameters.

****Start Frame*
- Start frame is Absolute frame for the start of the simulation.
-- It can be set to start simulation at any frames within the Animation Range.
-- A preroll of 1 second is possible. If your max frame rate is 30fps, a preroll up to -30 is possible. For 24 fps a preroll up to -24 is possible. Current limitation for preroll.
--- Note that this is 1 second max from Start time. If your Time range starts at -100, the preroll can go up to -130 at 30fps, and so on.

****Simulate*
- Simulation toggle the graph Physics simulation.
-- When On the List Add, Remove and Set up buttons are greyed out.
-- When Off the List Add, Remove and Set up buttons are enabled.

****Reset Simulation*
- Re evalutate the graph at will.
- Removes all key frames on Dynamics objects if the simulation has been baked to Max keys.
- Sets the Dynamics objects controllers to PRS; Position XYZ, Rotation XYZ and Scale XYZ. This is needed to baked simulation to Max keys.

***Main Tool Properties Parameters tabs*
- Both List objects can be selected, individually or multiple selection (shift select) and will display object(s) parameters.
-- When the parameters are *empty* it means that the selected objects parameters are different. They can still be edited, all will get the same value.

****All Parameters edits are live*
- Editing and parameters in the tools UI (Main tool of modifiers) will update live in the viewport.

__________________________ ***Installation*** :

Download and unzip MCG_BulletWorld.zip
Copy the /MCG_BulletWorld/ folder to your favorite MCG folder :)
Default would be:
C:/Users//Autodesk/3ds Max 2016/Max Creation Graph/Tools/Downloads/

****Package content*:
- MCG_BulletWorld.maxtool
This is the main graph, a Geometry output.
The tool is found in Create Panel > Bullet Physics

- MCG_BW_Colliders.maxtool
This is a modifier, it is needed by the main tool and is applied by the Set up button in the main Tool.
It's used to hold Collider objects parameters and update the main graph on changes, only.
The tool sets the modifier Off. So it does not alter your objects in anyway.

- MCG_BW_Dynamics.maxtool
This is a modifier, it is needed by the main tool and is applied by the Set up button in the main Tool.
It's used to hold Dynamic simulated objects parameters and update the main graph on changes, only.
The tool sets the modifier Off. So it does not alter your objects in anyway.

- Compounds_common
This folder contains compounds that are already in your Compounds folder, but are provided as they are needed by the tools.
Use it if need be.

- Compounds folder
This is the MCG Bullet World Compounds, it is mandatory to be copied with the Tools. They are identified by their MCG prefix.

- MCG_BulletWorld_SampleScenes
These are 8 sample scenes.
Note that these sample scenes playback and results may vary depending on the CPU.

3ds Max Version Requirement: 
2016
Other Requrements: 
Extension 1
Video URL: 
AttachmentSize
mcg_bulletworld.zip483.89 KB

Comments

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boumay's picture

I wish I could make it work (max 2020)

First of all thank you for your mcg.
However, I tried to copy everything in max creation graph folder/compounds, but it doesn't show up in max.
I have no idea where to copy the respective files.
Can someone help me please?

jgk1981's picture

Cool stuff

I like it a lot. On the future can you please upload it as msg installer? It's more handy that way ;)

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