Object

Source file: object-group.htm

The Object group tools enable you to split objects in two or merge a selection into one.

Split

Split objects in two based on different cutting edges.

Merge

Merge a selection of primitives or objects into a single object.

Split

The Split drop-down provides three tools that allow you to split one object into two separate objects:

Split off a selection of primitives.
Split using a line as the cutting edge.
Split using a polygon as the cutting edge.

Note: Only surfaces can be split using Split by Line or Split by Polygon.

Expand below for details of each tool.

Splitting objects by primitive selection

In the following example, a selection was made from the merge stock pile object to demonstrate the Split tool (Alt+Q).

To split objects by primitive selection:

Select the portion of the object to split off.
On the Edit tab, in the Object group, click Split.

The split tool has created two new objects out of one: merge and points of merge.

The newly created objects merge and points of merge are placed in the cad container and shown together in the same view window.

The points of merge object is hidden using the visibility editor.

The merge object is hidden using the visibility editor.

Splitting surfaces by line

Split by Line allows you to divide a surface using a line as a reference. The line can be either straight or composed of multiple segments. Planes are projected from the line segments and used to cut the surface into two pieces. Various methods are available for defining the projections used for cutting the surface.

Note: This tool cannot update texture coordinates around the cut on UV textured surfaces, giving the appearance of an imprecise cut.

Split surfaces by line as follows:

On the Edit tab, in the Object group, click Split by Line from the Split drop-down.
Select the surface to be cut.
Select the line to be used as the cutting edge.
If the Line and Surface fields do not auto fill, drag the objects to their respective fields, or manually enter their names.

The default projection direction (normal of the plane fitted to the line) will automatically load. Otherwise select another method from the Projection direction choices.

	Two points Define the direction by specifying two points.
	Facet Make the direction perpendicular to a selected facet.
	Axis aligned Define the direction by an axis of the view window.
	Bearing and inclination Define the direction by a bearing and inclination angles.
	Action plane axis Define the direction by an axis of the action plane.

Fill in the remaining fields appropriate to the type of projection selected (if required).
Click OK or Apply to complete the process.


Examples of Two points splitting a surface by line.


Example of Bearing and inclination.


Example of Action plane axis.

Example of Facet normal projection.

Example of blurred effect on UV textured surfaces at the edge of the cut.

Splitting surfaces by polygon

Split by Polygon allows the you to divide a surface using a polygon projection as a reference. Planes are extended from the polygon and used to visualise and cut the surface into two pieces.

Note: This tool cannot update texture coordinates around the cut on UV textured surfaces, giving the appearance of an imprecise cut.

Split surfaces by polygon as follows:

Select the surface to be cut.
Select the polygon to be used as the cutting edge.
On the Edit tab, in the Object group, click Split by Polygon from the Split drop-down.
If the Polygon and Surface fields do not auto fill, drag the objects to their respective fields or manually enter their names.
The default projection direction (normal of the plane fitted to the polygon) will automatically load. Otherwise select another method from the Projection direction choices.

	Two points Define the direction by specifying two points.
	Facet Make the direction perpendicular to a selected facet.
	Axis aligned Define the direction by an axis of the view window.
	Bearing and inclination Define the direction by a bearing and inclination angles.
	Action plane axis Define the direction by an axis of the action plane.

Fill in the remaining fields appropriate to the type of projection selected (if required).
Click OK or Apply to complete the process.

Original surface and polygon to be used for the extraction.

Cutting planes visualising the projection direction, using Bearing and inclination.

Result of split (polygon-shaped surface has been hidden for clarity).

Merge

The Merge tool (Alt+W) enables you to combine multiple objects into a single object.

Note: Any objects, including scans, can be merged into one object.

In the following example a stockpile is made up of multiple scans, however the selection of interest highlights only the relevant scans.

To merge objects:

Select all the required objects.
On the Edit tab, in the Object group, click Merge.

The selected objects are merged into one object named merge and saved in the same container. Subsequently merged objects in the same container are named merge 2, merge 3 and so on.

Note: When objects from different standard containers are merged, the resulting object will be saved in the scrapbook container.

Selected points to be merged.

The merged object in a new view window.