/
Running a Test Simulation

Running a Test Simulation

Oct 08, 2024

 

You can use the test simulator in the Scene, Mechanism, or Assembly editor to play your scene, mechanism or assembly right inside the Editor.

Warning Running a simulation in an external application is not supported for assemblies.

Testing the Scene

Inside Vortex® scenes, mechanisms, and assemblies, you can run a test simulation using the Test toolbar:

  • Play activates the physics engine and the parts behave according to the constraint settings. While the test runs, you can interact with the mechanism in the 3D View or by adjusting values in the Property panel.

  • As soon as you start the simulation, the Play button changes to a Pause button, which you can click to pause and resume the test.

  • You can also Step frame by frame through the simulation when it is paused.

  • Press the Stop button to completely stop the simulation and reset everything to the initial values.

There are several handy tools which can be accessed through the following keyboard shortcuts to help you test the scene.

Note LMB, MMB, and RMB are acronyms for Left Mouse Button, Middle Mouse Button, and Right Mouse Button.

Tool Name

Keyboard Shortcut

What It Does

Tool Name

Keyboard Shortcut

What It Does

Mouse Spring

Alt+LMB

Simulates dragging an object behind, like there is a spring between the object and the mouse.

Freeze/Unfreeze

Alt+MMB

Toggles between freezing and unfreezing a simulated object

Rotate

Alt+Shift+MMB

Spins the object underneath the middle mouse button

Move

Alt+Shift+LMB

Repositions the object around in space

Information and Debugging Tools

There are a number of tools provided by Vortex® that can provide information about a variety of things: