[Plugin] TIG-Cut_to_plane v1.1 20130107

[TIG]

TIG (c) 2013

TIG-Cut_to_plane.rb

Installation: Place this file in the Plugins folder and restart Sketchup.
Usage: Plugins menu > 'TIG-Cut_to_plane'
or with a suitable selection use the context-menu 'TIG-Cut_to_plane'
Note for Pro >=v.8 only...
Preselect a 'solid' object [group or component_instance].
Activate the tool.
Follow the prompts and pick 3 points to define a plane.
Picking these points CWS cuts to leave the part ABOVE the plane.
Picking these points CCWS cuts to leave the part BELOW the plane.
If you press <Enter> instead of picking point 3 then the plane is defined
'vertically', the direction of the 'line' between the first 2 points will
determine what will be left behind, i.e. the part to the 'LEFT' of the 'line'.
If the points 1 and 2 are vertically aligned then no vertical plane can be
defined, there is a warning message and you need to pick point 3, OR abort,
say by pressing <Spacebar>.
The selected object will then be cut to the defined plane.
The new cut group made from the 'cut' operation retains the original object's
locked/hidden-state, shadow-casting/receiving-behavior, name*, material, layer
and any attribute-dictionaries attached to it.
*If the original was a group the 'cut' group takes its name, if it was a
component-instance the 'cut' group takes its definition name, but if that
instance also had a name then this is appended to the new name inside [].
The 'cutting' is one step undo-able.
Donations: PayPal.com info @ revitrev.org Version:
1.0 20121007 First issue.
1.1 20130107 Now at Point 3 an alternative <Enter> press cuts vertically,
keeping left-side parts. Context-menu if selection suitable.

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Place this file in the Plugins folder and restart Sketchup.
Follow the instructions above...

[jorge2011]

tig excellent, very good tool.
a question.
you can think of a tool that splits into two parts to a group or component solid?

[TIG]

@jorge2011 said:

tig excellent, very good tool.
a question.
you can think of a tool that splits into two parts to a group or component solid?
Another tool could first duplicate the selected object and run the 'subtract' cut twice the second time reversing the direction; thus the selected object would be split into two parts...
I'll think about it...

[jorge2011]

thank you very much.

one question. how the tool works in the code, creates another solid and subtract?

[TIG]

This tool 'Cut_to_plane' now has a sibling - 'Split_to_plane' - available here - http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=433732#p433732
It's very similar in operation BUT it leaves both 'split' parts [A and B] in place, rather than keeping just the one...

[TIG]

@jorge2011 said:

...one question. how the tool works in the code, creates another solid and subtract?
Yes you define the plane, a large new group containing a circular face is made centered on the first point you picked [its size based on that point and its distance from the selected object's bound center], the face's normal vector is set from the cross of the vectors to the other two points you picked. The face is then pushpulled into a large 3d solid and then that group is subtracted from the original selected object. The new group is given the properties of the original. In the 'split' version the selected object is duplicated in place and the pushpull reversed for the second 'cut' on the duplicate - leaving the original selected object appearing to have been split along the selected plane...

[Dan Rathbun]

Nice job!

[erikB]

thanks TIG, very handy!
erikB

[veerlexyz]

Thanks! Almost perfect...
Can you make it work with a combination of groups or/and components instead of ONE solid group?

[smicha]

You are the man, TIG. This is amazing as all of your works. I found a link to the video presentation to your plugins.

It is on p. 20 of CatchUp Edition 15 - SketchUcation 2.0

(issuu.com)

[kingsi]

Many Thanks TIG

[dermotcoll]

Thanks TIG. Looks like a very useful tool for woodworking and machining worksurfaces with a CNC.

[penumbra]

Many thanks TIG. Is there a way to make this work on a non solid group? Or nested groups? zorro does something like what i need but is view dependent, you have to view your group from an orthogonal view if you want a "straight" cut.

[TIG]

No.
This tool works on solids only.
Zorro2 will work by slicing along a Section Plane.
Place one where you want and use that Zorro2 option.
I haven't tried nesting the plane inside the group/instance so that the cur only applies to the active entities - try it and report back...

[penumbra]

@TIG

Yes indeed, Zorro2 will cut through nested entities. There is a bit of clean up needed afterwards as some surfaces may need to be healed depending on how the section cut cuts through the objects.

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Slicing nested groups with zorro2

[shri]

great addition to the plugins list..thanks alot..can't wait playing with it

[rv1974]

Thank you TIG!
I wish this tool could:

1. work with non-solids (I won't miss section faces anyway)
2. I guess the fourth click to manually choose the side to be cut off would be even more user-friendly. No pop-ups, just a hint in status bar.

[penumbra]

@ rv1974

For your #1 above you could use section tool in combination with zorro2.

[rv1974]

@penumbra
Maybe the things got better, but Zorro was kinda minefield- too much crashes,- I stopped using it. And besides, 3 clicks to define the cutting plane is the nicest way to cut.

[bmike]

Wonderful TIG!!!!