PPassAB Operator

 

The PPassAB Operator acts like the Group operator used within thinkingParticles. The great advantage of PPassAB is the support for particle interaction. It is the only way in thinkingParticles to create highly optimized inter-particle interaction and collisions. Measuring particle distances between multiple particle groups or within one particle group, for example, is only possible with PPassAB.

ON - (Bool) This input data stream determines whether the operator is considered 'on' or 'off.' You can connect other operators to this input channel such as a Bool Helper to activate/deactivate the whole operator.

Time - (Time) This input data stream is used to define the local time for the operator when the user wants to override the default system time.

Type - (Integer) This input data stream takes an integer value that represents the type of interaction between particles that should be evaluated. This refers to the radio buttons within the PPassAB rollout for All, Distance, Particle Size, Particle Shape Collision (1 thru 4 respectively).

Distance - (Distance) This input data stream receives a distance value for collisions between particle groups to be evaluated on.

Outside - (Bool) This input data stream inverts the current collision set. It basically says that all particles that are not colliding are passed from one Group to another.

A Particle - (Particle) This output data stream sends the selected Group A particles out to another node.

A Position - (Position) This output data stream supplies the current Group A particle position to another node.

A Velocity - (Velocity) This output data stream supplies the current velocity of the particle Group A, which can be fed into another operator or condition.

A Life Span - (Life Span) From this output data stream, the life span value of the current Group A particle can be fed into other operators or conditions.

A Age - (Age) This output data stream provides the current particle age for the Group A particle which can then be fed into other operators or conditions.

A Size - (Size) This output data stream determines the size of a particle in Group A that can then be fed into other operators and conditions.

A Spin - (Rotation) This output data stream provides the current particle spin of a particle in Group A can then be fed into other operators or conditions.

A Alignment - (Alignment) This output data stream provides the current alignment of the particle in Group A that can then be fed into another operator or condition.

A Mass - (Mass) This output data stream supplies the mass of a particle in Group A that can then be fed into other operators and conditions.

A Scale - (Scale) This output data stream provides the current scale of the particles in Group A that can then be fed into another operator or condition.

A Group - (Group) This output data stream supplies the current Group of a particle in Group A that can then be fed into other operators and conditions.

A Shape - (Shape)This output data stream determines the current shape of the particle in Group A that can then be fed into another operator or condition.

B Particle - (Particle) This output data stream sends the selected Group B particles out to another node.

B Position - (Position) This output data stream supplies the current Group B particle position to another node.

B Velocity - (Velocity) This output data stream supplies the current velocity of the particle in Group B, which can be fed into another operator or condition.

B Life Span - (Life Span) From this output data stream, the life span value of the current Group B particle can be fed into other operators or conditions.

B Age - (Age) This output data stream provides the current particle age for the Group B particle which can then be fed into other operators or conditions.

B Size - (Size) This output data stream determines the size of a particle in Group B that can then be fed into other operators and conditions.

B Spin - (Rotation) This output data stream provides the current particle spin of a particle in Group B can then be fed into other operators or conditions.

B Alignment - (Alignment) This output data stream provides the current alignment of the particle in Group B that can then be fed into another operator or condition.

B Mass - (Mass) This output data stream supplies the mass of a particle in Group B that can then be fed into other operators and conditions.

B Scale - (Scale) This output data stream provides the current scale of the particles in Group B that can then be fed into another operator or condition.

B Group - (Group) This output data stream supplies the current Group of a particle in Group B that can then be fed into other operators and conditions.

B Shape - (Shape)This output data stream determines the current shape of the particle in Group B that can then be fed into another operator or condition.

GroupA - Select from this drop-down list the first particle group for particle interaction.

GroupB - Select from this drop-down list the second particle group for particle interaction. If you need to have particle interaction within a single particle group (self interaction), the same group as you've selected for GroupA may be selected again here.

All - Check this option to always activate the PPassAB operator with all particle combinations. This can be a useful option when, for example, you want a distance measured between particles with a connected Distance condition.

Distance - Choose this option to get a radial distance check between GroupA and GroupB particles. Only when this distance is reached is the PPassAB operator activated and all connected nodes will then be evaluated. Using this method, a new particle can be born when two particles “collide”.

Only The Nearest - check this option to activate the Node only for the nearest Particle

Only The Furthest - when checked, the furthest particle will be output by this Node

Particle Size - Activate this option when you want to use the particle size as a distance check between particles from GroupA and GroupB. The current particle size will be used to check against other particles for collisions in this case. It is important that the particles actually have a size value assigned or the check will fail, and none of the connected nodes will be evaluated.

Particle Shape Collision - Check this option to use a “brute force” and un-optimized collision check between faces. This is the most accurate method for testing non spherical particle shapes. However, if the particle meshes are fairly complex it is better to use the Shape Collision operator as it is far more optimized for such cases.

Invert - When this check box is active, it acts like a negation factor. The connected nodes to the PPassAB operator in this case will only be activated for particles that do not collide (Distance, Particle Size, Particle Shape Collision).