SceneKit - adding SCNNode on another SCNNode

Question

I'm trying to put sphere on top of the box, but the position is strange: Ball is half hidden inside box. I tried to change box and sphere pivot, but it didn't help. Here's the code:

    let cubeGeometry = SCNBox(width: 10, height: 10, length: 10, 
    chamferRadius: 0)
    let cubeNode = SCNNode(geometry: cubeGeometry)
    //cubeNode.pivot = SCNMatrix4MakeTranslation(0, 1, 0)
    scene.rootNode.addChildNode(cubeNode)

    let ballGeometry = SCNSphere(radius: 1)
    let ballNode = SCNNode(geometry: ballGeometry)
    ballNode.pivot = SCNMatrix4MakeTranslation(0.5, 0, 0.5)
    ballNode.position = SCNVector3Make(0, 5, 0)
    cubeNode.addChildNode(ballNode)`

and the result:

what I'm doing wrong? How to put the ball right on the top side of the box?

UPDATE: If I add Cube instead of ball, it looks good as I want

3d-indiana-jones 3d-indiana-jones · Accepted Answer · 2017-10-17T05:20:16

You need to translate on the Y-axis by cube-height/2 + sphere-radius. Thus you should have:

ballNode.position = SCNVector3Make(0, 6, 0)

Here is the screenshot:

The relevant complete code:

override func viewDidLoad() {
    super.viewDidLoad()

    // create a new scene
    let scene = SCNScene()

    let cubeGeometry = SCNBox(width: 10, height: 10, length: 10,
                              chamferRadius: 0)
    cubeGeometry.firstMaterial?.diffuse.contents = UIColor.yellow
    let cubeNode = SCNNode(geometry: cubeGeometry)
    scene.rootNode.addChildNode(cubeNode)

    let ballGeometry = SCNSphere(radius: 1)
    ballGeometry.firstMaterial?.diffuse.contents = UIColor.green
    let ballNode = SCNNode(geometry: ballGeometry)
    ballNode.position = SCNVector3Make(0, 6, 0)
    cubeNode.addChildNode(ballNode)

    // retrieve the SCNView
    let scnView = self.view as! SCNView

    // set the scene to the view
    scnView.scene = scene

    // allows the user to manipulate the camera
    scnView.allowsCameraControl = true

    // show statistics such as fps and timing information
    scnView.showsStatistics = true

    // configure the view
    scnView.backgroundColor = UIColor.gray
}

Update : Why radius and not radius / 2

See this screenshot from the Scene Editor in Xcode. The original position of cube is (0, 0, 0) and so is that of the ball; hence the ball needs to be moved by r and not r / 2; with r / 2 the lower section of the ball with height r/2 will be still inside the cube. You can just add a cube and sphere as in the scene below in the editor and that should help clarify.

SceneKit - adding SCNNode on another SCNNode

2 Answers