Add Soft Springs

Add Soft Springs...

Note
When you create a soft body, initially it has no springs. Using this dialog, you can add the required springs. If Points are selected when you add the springs, the springs will attach selected points only; otherwise, a layer of springs will be added that covers the entire soft body

General

This dialog enables you to add springs to the soft body. There are two places where you can access the dialog. Either select Plugins > Dynamics > Add Soft Springs from the main menu or select Springs > Add Soft Springs from the Soft Body dialog. You will be able to access and edit the springs later using the Soft Body dialog.

The springs will be attached to points in the soft body using one of several attachment methods. For example, with the Structural method, each point will be connected to its neighboring points, providing a supportive structure to the body.

Remove Duplicates

When enabled, this option will delete duplicate springs. A duplicate spring is a spring that attaches the same two points as another spring.

Method

This defines how the springs should be attached to the soft body’s points. The following can be defined:

All

Connects each point to all other points.

Use All with caution, it will create an enormous number of springs if the soft body has a large number of points.

MinMax

Connects each point to all other points within the distance range specified under Min and Max. For example, if you set Min to 40m and Max to 60m, each point will be connected to points that are from 40m to 60m away.

The MinMax diagram shows a plane that is 400 units by 400 units in size. Min has been set to 380, Max has been set to 400. Subsequently each point is connected to points that are from 380 to 400 units away.

Structural

Connects each point to its neighboring points (the points it shares polygon edges with).

This attachment method will help the soft body to maintain its shape, hence most soft bodies should have a layer of Structural springs.

Shear

Connects the points in a way that will stabilize four-sided polygons. Without this stabilization, the four-sided polygons could collapse.

Flexion

Connects each point to the neighbor of its neighbor. Flexion springs are ideal for giving the soft body a degree of stiffness.

Cloth

Connects the points using a combination of Structural, Shear and Flexion springs. Use Cloth if the soft body should simulate clothes, a flag or another type of cloth.

Selection Set

If Selection Set is enabled, the springs will be added as a selection. After the springs have been added, the selection will then appear in the list area of the Soft Body dialog, under Selections. See the following two diagrams.

Selection Set enabled. The selection, named Structural, will later appear in the list area of the Soft Body dialog, under Selections.

Default

When Default is enabled, the spring selection will be named after the Method setting. For example, if Method is set to Structural, the name will be Structural.

User

Enable this option if you want to enter a name for the selection under Name.

Advice on Adding Springs

Due to the complexity and number of springs in a typical soft body, fail-safe advice is difficult to offer. In general, to simulate a very light material such as a silk cloth fluttering in the wind, use just two layers: Structural and Shear. For other types of cloth, Cloth springs are usually a good choice. Even a rubber ball that distorts when it bounces can be simulated with Cloth springs.