General Module Function
shape_cut receives any 3D field into its input port and outputs the same field with an additional data component. Using plume_shell, you can cut structures with either a cylinder or rotated rectangle. The cutting action is z invariant (like a cookie cutter). Depending on the resolution of the input field, rectangles may not have sharp corners. With rectilinear fields (and non-rotated rectangles), the threshold module can replace plume_shell to produce sharp corners (by removing whole cells). plume_volume can be used to output 3D fields for additional filtering or mapping.
Module Input Ports
shape_cut has one input port that should be connected to or after Explode_and_Scale.
Module Output Ports
shape_cut has one output port which outputs a field with an additional "shape_cut" data component which is one at the surface of the cylinder or rectangle, less than 1.0 inside and greater than 1.0 outside.
Module Control Panel
The module's control panel is shown above. Radio buttons in the upper right corner allow selection of Cylindrical or rectangular cutting. (cylindrical is shown for this example).
All parameters have been converted to sliders and there are options for immediate running and immediate mode sliders (change as you move them...not just when you release). If you have a fast computer, you can manipulate the shapes you are cutting in real time. Also, the default values for rectangle width/height and cylinder radius are based on your model (not fixed at 100.0).
The X_Center, Y_Center, Z_Center are set to the centroid of the input model the first time the module is connected to a valid field. After this initial setting, these values can be changed by the user, but will not be updated for new input data.
Both cylinders and rectangles have heights that allow cutting a rectangular or cylindrical "chunk" of a model.
If Cylindrical is chosen, a type-in field for cylinder radius is presented.
If Rectangular is chosen as shown above, type-in fields for rectangle X_Width, Y_Height and Rotation (angle measured counterclockwise in degrees from the x axis) are presented.
The Accept button must be pushed to create output.
All units are in the user's input units.
Related Modules