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Filling up a  cup or glass using fluid dynamics can be time-consuming and sometimes unstable. This tutorial will guide you in creating an initial fill state for any type of container.

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Begin with a new scene. To create the glass geometry, we will use the lathe modifier. Start by creating

a Line

 and drawing the profile curve in an orthographic view. Make sure the starting and end vertices are positioned on the revolving axis.

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the Lathe

 modifier by selecting it from

the Modifier List. This will create the cup geometry.

Add

the STL Check

 from the Modifier List. Enable

the Check

 option and view

the Status

 to ensure the model is watertight and free from errors.

the TurboSmooth

 modifier.

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 with its Length, Width

 and Height Segs

 set to 1.0. Adjust the box size to cover where you want the liquid to be. It should extend beyond the bowl bottom and into the stem for complete coverage.

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select Compound Objects

→ ProBoolean.

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set Operation

 to Intersection. In the Pick Boolean rollout, set the type

to Copy, then click

the Start Picking

 button and select the glass cup geometry.

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the ProBoolean

 modifier and convert it to

an Editable Poly.

and delete

You will be left with this solid geometry which can be used for liquid in the glass. Rename it to "filled geometry".

to Flip Normals

 for the glass. The purpose is to have the Glass geometry normals pointing towards the liquid volume, and the filled geometry normals should point outwards towards the glass. If you need any additional helper geometries for

the process, make sure they are excluded from the simulation from

the Scene Interaction

 rollout.

Adjust the filled geometry by adding

a Push

 modifier with

a Push Value

 of about -0.9 cm. This will add a small amount of space between the meshes so they do not intersect.

enable Display as Box. In the Rendering Control section,

disable Renderable, then

select OK.

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With the filled geometry object selected, right click and

select Phoenix FD Properties.

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Now, create a

Phoenix Liquid Simulator | LiquidSim

 in the scene. Adjust its size and resolution in

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Start

 the simulation. The liquid will fill the glass from the start and then may settle.

the Preview

 rollout,

enable View as Mesh

 and disable Particles.

If the simulation did not fill the glass and only appeared along the edges, check that the geometry normals are correct. You may need to use

a Normal

 modifier to Flip Normals

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Using a boolean for creating the liquid geometry is especially handy when you have a tilted container cup and you want the liquid filled and stabilized at the very beginning. This method can save a lot of time because you don't need to pre-run the simulation.

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