topic Re: Chain simulation. in 3ds Max Modeling Forum

Chain simulation.

raymondwganderson — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 07:26:58 GMT

Hello Folks, Been doing a few tutorials on Max chain simulations using the gravity function, Have got up to speed with a straight chain falling down to the ground, now I would like to know if it is possible to have a chain that is along a path do the same ie a curved chain falling to the ground. I have tried everything to get this but no luck, there appears to be no tutorials on Youtube showing a curved chain falling to the ground, they all show a simple straight chain. I am not even sure if it is even possible to do what I need hence the post on here.

Ynt: Chain simulation.

3dtasarimokulu — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 19:40:31 GMT

you can use massFX, it isnt a plugin.

Re: Chain simulation.

raymondwganderson — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 07:23:22 GMT

Ynt: Chain simulation.

raymondwganderson — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 07:21:45 GMT

@3dtasarimokulu Many thanks, I shall have a try.👍

Re: Chain simulation.

MartinBeh — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 11:27:13 GMT

Do you need a full chain simulation, i.e. with every chain link moving independent of each other, or would a rope simulation be sufficient (i.e. the chain links would always touch each other but align to the rope)?

Re: Chain simulation.

raymondwganderson — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 13:08:15 GMT

@MartinBeh Thanks for the reply, I would prefer to be able to do the most realistic one. although the rope one would suffice [ especially since I have no idea how go about any of them ]

Cheers.

Re: Chain simulation.

MartinBeh — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 16:55:20 GMT

@raymondwganderson wrote:

@MartinBeh Thanks for the reply, I would prefer to be able to do the most realistic one. although the rope one would suffice [ especially since I have no idea how go about any of them ]

Cheers.

Some pointers for setting up a rope simulation:

using MassFX: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_CprxMM-9w
using Cloth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gx0L-9wgC38

Once you have a good rope animation (i.e. a spline that moves the way you want it), you can use that rope spline as the target for a Path Deform modifier applied to your chain mesh - or (probably better) you use the spline as the target for the Array modifier, which generates your original straight chain links.

Re: Chain simulation.

MartinBeh — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 17:25:43 GMT

PS: Also found these on how to do a chain in MassFX:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyuYnJD97j0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTMV9t4uulw

I have to admit that I did not trust MassFX to do this well, with a full setup of individual chain links, but it seems to actually work (I had to increase the simulation substeps from 3 to 10 to avoid the chain links from losing connection to each other)