This tutorial will guide you through the process of breaking an object into pieces or fragments in 3ds max. This technique is very helpful while you are working with the scenes having collisions and explosions in which your object explodes away and breaks into pieces.

This is one of the most challenging things to do, if you want to do this kind of stuff without using maxscript. Most of the people prefer using maxscript as it’s a better technique and takes very less time. But what to do if you don’t have the knowledge of maxscript? Just follow this easy tutorial to know how to break an object into pieces in 3ds max without using maxscript in very less time.

Breaking an Object in 3ds max without using MaxScript

Step 1

Let’s start by creating a Sphere in viewport then apply Noise modifier to give it an uneven rocky look. In Noise modifier parameters, turn on the Fractal checkbox and adjust the x, y, z strength. Now, it’s pretty much looking like a stone or a rock.

Step 2

Now, we have to make cutter objects to cut or break our objects into pieces. So create some planes with few height and width segments. Add Noise modifier to them to make the surface a bit uneven and align them to the sphere. The reason behind adding the Noise to our Planes is to avoid our object to look like as it is evenly sliced through a blade.

Step 3

Now, select a plane and go to Create Menu > Compound Objects and select Procutter. Under Cutter Picking Parameters rollout, turn on the options Auto Extract Mesh and Explode By Elements. Under Cutter Parameters rollout, turn on the options Stock inside Cutter and Stock outside Cutter.

Step 4

Now, click on Pick Cutter Objects button and press H key on your keyboard to bring up the select by name dialog. Select all the planes at once. Now, click on Pick Stock Objects button and pick the sphere this time. Press delete as we don’t need Planes now. All done, our Object is sliced into pieces.

Now you can use your object with Reactor (If you are using 3ds max 2011 or earlier) or Physx Engine (3ds max 2012) to simulate collisions or explosions.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. If you have any questions or queries regarding this tutorial, feel free to leave a comment or drop me a mail.