cut

The cut module allows you to create a subset of your input which is of the same dimensionality.  This means that volumetric, surface, line and point inputs will have subsetted outputs of the same object type.  This is unlike slice which decreases dimensionality.

General Module Function

The Cut module is used to cut away part of the input field using a cutting plane defined by one of four methods which are discussed below.

The cutting plane essentially cuts the data field into two parts and sends only the part above or below the plane to the output ports (above and below are terms which are defined by the normal vector of the cutting plane). The output of cut is the subset of the model from the side of the cut plane specified.

Module Input Ports

Cut has two input ports.

1. The leftmost port accepts any 1D, 2D or 3D mesh. The mesh can contain nodal data and/or cell data.

2. The right port is the Z-Scale and is required if Explode_and_Scale is upstream, in order to reference the correct z coordinates when options 3 or 4 are selected.

Module Output Ports

Cut has four output ports.

1. The leftmost is the Z-Scale

2. The second (blue/black) output port provides the cut (subsetted) output.

3. The third (blue/black) output port is the original grid (no subsetting performed) with an additional nodal data component which provides the distance to the cutting plane.  This is useful if you plan to use a module like sequential subset to create a transparent output without internal faces.  The name of the data component will be the name of the module.

4. The red output port is a renderable version (for connection to the Viewer) of the second port.

Module Control Panel

The control panel for Cut is shown in the figure above. The above example shows "Cut Easting" as the selected cut type.  For any of the first three cut types, the plane is defined by a single coordinate input (X, Y, or Z).

• The Above check box is used to determine whether the mesh above or below the cutting plane is sent to the output port.

• The Run toggle will either allow or prevent the module from running.

• The Cut Type is how the cutting plane is specified.  It can be one of four methods:

• 1. A vertical plane defined by an X or Easting coordinate

  2. A vertical plane defined by a Y or Northing coordinate

  3. A Horizontal plane defined by a Z coordinate

  4. An arbitrarily positioned Rotatable plane which requires:

     1. A 3D point through which the cutting plane passes.  Please note that the same cutting result can be achieved with an infinite number of 3D points, all of which would be on the same cutting plane.

     2. A Dip direction

     3. A Strike direction

• The Remove Normals Generation toggle is equivalent to setting Normals Generation (in Object.Modes) to None. This changes the rendering of surfaces and the default "On" state is generally preferable when cutting 3D objects.

• Z Scale is required if Explode_and_Scale is upstream, in order to reference the correct z coordinates when options 3 or 4 are selected.

• The Cut Parameters are the coordinates and/or Dip/Strike angles required to specify the position and orientation of the cutting plane.  These include:

• • X coordinate (used with Cut Easting and Rotatable)

  • Y coordinate (used with Cut Northing and Rotatable)

  • Z coordinate (used with Cut Horizontal and Rotatable)

  • Dip angle (used only with Rotatable)

  • Dip Direction (used only with Rotatable)

• Map Nodal Components determines which nodal components will be sent to the output ports. Also, the first map component selected will be the variable used to color the output.

• The Map Cell Components option box selector lets you map cell data (if any) to the output.  The cell data will only be visible if all nodal data components are unselected (under Map Nodal Components).

Module Status: Interruptible

This module's computational processes can be terminated (interrupted) using the "C Tech" icon in the Windows Notification Area (aka System Tray) in the lower right corner of your desktop.  If you hover over the icon, it will tell you the status of the module and expected completion time.   Double-Right-Clicking will terminate the process.  Note that if you do stop any process, the output of the module is corrupted and any downstream module's results are not usable.  You will need to re-run the module.

Related Modules

-> slice