Houdini 20.0 Shelf tools

RBD Hinge Constraint shelf tool

Constrains an object to a point in space using a hinge-like connection.

On this page

Overview

This tool is useful for simulating anything that needs a hinge-like constraint, such as a swing.

You need to create an RBD object to apply this constraint to before you can use this tool.

Note

This constraint will not work with packed primitives. However, you can achieve the equivalent using a constraint network.

Using RBD Hinge Constraints

  1. Click the RBD Hinge Constraint tool on the Rigid Bodies tab.

  2. Select the object to constrain and press Enter to confirm your selection.

  3. Select the position for the hinge constraint and press Enter to confirm your selection.

    Note

    You can hold Alt to detach the constraint from the construction plane.

  4. Set the direction for the hinge using the handle in the scene view or by setting the Constraint Direction parameters in the parameter editor.

For specific parameter help see the RBD Hinge Constraint dynamics node help.

Moving an RBD Hinge Constraint

  1. Click the Dynamics Select Mode button on the selector and handle controls toolbar.

  2. Click LMB the constrained object in the scene view.

  3. Click RMB the Dynamics Select Mode button and turn on the Dynamics Modifiers checkbox.

  4. Click LMB the constraint you want to edit and press Enter to display the transformation handles.

Switching to the dynamics level

  1. Click the Dynamics Select Mode button on the selector and handle controls toolbar.

  2. Click LMB the constrained object in the scene view.

See also

Shelf tools

Using the shelf

  • Customize the shelf

    How to change the look of the shelf, change and rearrange its contents, and create your own shelf tools.

Technical