newton 1.0 is now released!

Make sure the heartline distrance is accurate, and your speeds are right.

One issue I get with every track I make is that the negative G values shown in Newton are actually about half of the actual Gs I get on the actual track. i finished an entire track, and the spots that showed around -1 ended up having between -1.8 and -2.2 Gs. Would you know how I could fix this problem?

Yes, this is true. The reason is that newton simplifies the actual problem to a point mass traveling along the heartline (not sure how FVD does it, but as it suffers from similar artifacts, I'm assuming the same way). In reality, the coaster is an extended source, not a 1 dimensional point.

The key concept is one of center-of-mass. The COM of a point source is always at the same location as the point, but this is not true for an extended object. As a coaster train reaches the apex of a hill, its COM is usually lower than would be the case if the train were replaced with a point source. Thus, the train is going faster than newton expects, and the negative g's are similarly higher. The opposite is true at valleys (COM of train is higher, thus train is going slower/experiencing less g's than expected), but since the radius of curvature of the track is typically larger in valleys (...since the train is going faster), the issue isn't as noticeable.

As a coaster designer, you'll need to keep this in mind and create your elements accordingly.

Ok, so I love newton, but I need some help with one thing...Making loops. I just can't seem to get them to have the right lateral movement. The track always comes back around on top of itself, and when I mess with lats/bankings it makes some really odd shapes. If someone could tell me how, that would be amazing! AIM = raptorTC, although I have a feeling other people may have this problem also.

Switch to quaternion orientation.

still dont work for me!!!

still dont work for me!!!

You're going to have to be more specific....

Hey, is there a way to make accurate parabola hills?

Yeah just make a hill with 0gs?

Hey, is there a way to make accurate parabola hills?

If the normal/lateral force is zero, the trajectory will always be nearly parabolic. I say "nearly parabolic" only because a non-zero friction will cause the shape to deviate slightly from a true parabola.

^^I mean, I always get the first half right, but I can never shape the rest myself (which I have to, because otherwise it just goes past vertical) to match the first half.

I like it because it is easy to make hills and junk outside of a perfect line. For example, in the NL editor, the grid has horizontal and vertical lines. The views in the editor are the same, making it very difficult to design perfect parabolas and inversions on a line diagonal to the grid's lines.

I think of it as the way RCT's coaster designer should work. A great alternative to formulas and handbuilding!!! 5 stars!

^^Try reducing the timezone with the airtime...

Awesome!!

whenever i try to open newton i get an error report. Any suggestions?

whenever i try to open newton i get an error report. Any suggestions?

What does the error report say? Did you install the .Net Framework?

[GavG]

I have to say well done on a great tool once again. looking forward to any beta testing on V2 there may be....... While some inversions are very possible with V1 it would be good to have seperete time zones to have full control.

Keep up the good work, hopefully there will be some inspired designs in the future made possible with Newton.

extremeG

i really hope that this doesnt consume our FVD builders on this site...

the basic error report. "newton has experienced a problem and needs to close".

It won't consume the FVD builders. Those who use FVD are critics about this program and don't like it, and will therefore continue to use FVD for they claim it is better (and it is in some respects). It will increase the amount of toolers though.

I don't think any of the FVD users are critics of it. It really is just plain and simple, you have more control with the FVD formulas.

If it had seperate controls for the g and banking timing I'm sure more of them would use it.

Sorry to bring up an old topic, but is there a way to create perfect loops? Ive tried quite alot but it never seems to work. Thanks[:D]

Of course there is!
Use HSAK!

Yes, this is true. The reason is that newton simplifies the actual problem to a point mass traveling along the heartline (not sure how FVD does it, but as it suffers from similar artifacts, I'm assuming the same way). In reality, the coaster is an extended source, not a 1 dimensional point.

Yes, FVDs do suffer from similar artifacts, but not to that degree...
Also, the difference between the input Gs and the actual Gs depends very much on the steepnes of the hill, and the lenghth of the transition...

Entropy, any news on an update? I know awhile back you and Dcs were doing some work (or he was feeding you quality feedback) and you mentioned working on being able to combine some of those FVD functions into it.

Entropy, any news on an update? I know awhile back you and Dcs were doing some work (or he was feeding you quality feedback) and you mentioned working on being able to combine some of those FVD functions into it.

The next version is well underway, is being tested by several individuals, but currently feature incomplete. I don't have an ETA--all I can say is it will be released when I'm happy with it. [;)]

Real, I thought you were a religious hand builder, don't go soft on us [:P]