Constraints and Pivots (New for 5.1)

The direction and position of the Pivot strongly affects the movements of the constrained physics objects because the constraint types are either movement-based or rotate-based. When the pivot of a constrained rigid body is adjusted, the constraint applied to it will be auto-adjusted as well to align to the pivot.

To know more about this characteristic of constraints, make sure you're familiar with the Local Axis of your object.

Show Local Pivot

To show the local pivot, you may follow the steps below:

1. Select any one object in the scene.
2. Turn on the Gizmo mode by using the keyboard shortcut, Ctrl + Q.
3. Switch to the Local Move Tool or Local Rotate Tool (toggled by shortcuts W and E).

Move-based Constraints

The move-based or move-related constraints are Slider and Spring. When an object is given one of these two constraints, the direction of its pivot will affect the movement behavior of the constraints. The adjustments cause a physics object to move along a specific direction rather than its default movment pattern.

Constrained Dynamic or Frozen Objects

The table below shows the results before and after the pivot direction adjustments of these objects (connect to either the World or kinematic objects).

Move Limit: Local X
Initial pivot direction	Adjusted pivot direction

Constrained Kinematic or Static Objects

The figure below shows the effects before and after the adjustments of the pivots' directions of these objects (connect to dynamic or frozen objects).

Move Limit: Local X
Initial pivot direction	Adjusted pivot direction

Rotate-based Constraints

The rotate-based or rotate-related constraints are Hinge, Spring, Point to Point and Cone Twist. When an object is given one of these constraints, the position of its pivot will affect the rotating behavior of the constraints. The adjustments makes a physics object rotate around a specific axis.

Constrained Dynamic or Frozen Objects

The table below shows the results before and after the adjustments of the pivots' positions of these objects (connect to either the world or other physics objects).

Rotate Limit: Local Y
Initial pivot position	Adjusted pivot position

Constrained Kinematic or Static Objects

The table below shows the effects before and after the adjustments of the pivots' positions of these objects (connect to other physics objects).

Rotate Limit: Local Y
Initial pivot position	Adjusted pivot position