9.0

190 RIGID BODIES
DYNAMICS
DYNAMICS
RIGID BODIES 191
If the settings of the selected springs differ — e.g. if one spring has a Rest Length of
50 and another a Rest Length of 30 — the parameter boxes that hold the differing
values will be highlighted with a bright color. You will still be able to enter new values
using these highlighted parameters. The highlighting is simply to make you aware
that the corresponding values currently differ for the selected springs.
When you change a setting, the new setting will be applied to all of the selected
springs, regardless of whether the parameter was highlighted or not. If you need to
specify an individual parameter for a spring, you must select that spring only and
edit it separately.
Name
You can optionally type in a name for the spring.
Add, A, B
To nd out the point’s number, ensure
the rigid body is selected in the Object
manager (click on its name). Select
the Points tool, then select the point
in question. Now, open the Structure
manager (main menu: Window >
Structure Manager). Ensure the Points
mode is active (Structure manager:
Mode > Points). The point’s number will
be highlighted under the Point column.
The Add button creates a spring. The spring will appear in the spring list, which is
the large region in the left half of the dialog.
Having created a spring using Add, you need to dene which rigid bodies the spring
should be attached to. To do this, enter the names of the rigid bodies under A and B.
You must type in the names exactly as they appear in the Object manager. To the right
of A and B input boxes are two further input boxes. Use these to dene two points of
the rigid bodies to which the spring should be attached. The default value of -1 will
attach the spring to the mass centre. To change this, enter the point’s number.
Angular
Enable this option if you want to dene the spring as an angular spring. In this case
you should enter the name of the rigid body under A.
Delete
Deletes the spring that is currently selected in the spring list.
Duplicate
Duplicates the spring that is currently selected in the spring list.
Calc. Rest
Sets the Rest Length value to the spring’s current length. This is useful after you have
attached the spring to two rigid bodies since it will set the Rest Length accordingly.
Show Springs
Controls whether springs are displayed in the viewport.