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Create or view cross sections
 
 
 

Creates visual cross section lines on the selected surfaces and meshes, using one of five different methods, with the Windows > Editors > Cross Section Editor tool.

The editor lets you define groups of cross sections with specific characteristics, apply them to any geometry at any time, and even save them with your model.

You can also convert the visual cross-sections to section data geometry (using Tools > Promote in the Cross Section Editor).

Note

To obtain NURBS curves, you must use the Curve Edit > Fit Curve tool on the section data.

The different types of cross-sections

Axis Increment

Cross sections are created in the X,Y or Z planes with a regular step size starting from the origin. For example, with a step size of 2.5 cm, the cross section specs are created at -2.5, 0.0, 2.5, 5.0... and so on.

When the Auto Range option is turned on (default), the cross sections are shown over the entire surface. Otherwise, you must explicitly set the range over which the cross sections should be displayed.

Axis Discrete

Cross-sections are individually created in a plane perpendicular to the X, Y or Z axis at a specific location. That X, Y or Z location is specified through the control window or by clicking the mouse in the view.

Picked Reference

Cross sections are created at the intersection between the geometry and selected section data or construction planes.

Note

Section data can be created from degree 1 NURBS by using the crvToSection plug-in.

Planar

Cross-sections are created at the intersection between the geometry and a (temporary) construction plane generated on the fly. You can also select an existing construction plane.

(True) Radial

Cross-sections are created based on a driving curve you specify, and the Number of planes option. Points, equally spaced by arc length, are placed on the curve to correspond to the number of sections. A plane is then defined perpendicular to the curve’s tangent at each of these points. The cross-sections are created where the planes intersect the geometry.

The driving curve can be a free curve, a curve-on-surface, or a surface edge or isoparm.

Tip

You can control the accuracy of visual cross sections by setting the Tessellator option in the diagnostic Shading section of the Control Panel. The Accurate setting will produce more accurate cross sections.

Cross section display

Visual cross-sections on surfaces have a different active and inactive color than visual cross-sections on meshes.

Visual cross-sections on objects that belong to a Pickable layer with an assigned color inherit that color, whether the objects are surfaces or meshes.

Visual cross-sections are also visible on Reference and Inactive layers, and their color matches the color defined for those states.

Wireframe anti-aliasing applies to visual cross sections. Turn anti-aliasing on and off through WindowDisplay > Anti-Alias > Wireframe Anti-Alias.)

When you toggle on a construction plane (Construction > Toggle Construction Plane), Axis Increment (X, Y, Z) sections are re-drawn to match the new coordinate system. Other section types (discrete, planar, radial) maintain their original location.

To create Axis Increment (X, Y, Z) cross sections

  1. Choose Windows > Editors > Cross Section Editor.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • Select the surfaces and meshes to which you want to apply the cross-sections. (Make sure that the Global checkbox is unchecked.)
    • To apply the cross sections to ALL surfaces and meshes, check the Global checkbox.
    Note

    If Global is turned off and nothing is selected, you can still create cross section groups and apply them later. See To apply cross section groups.

  3. In the editor, choose Axis Increment from the New menu.

    Selected surfaces/meshes turn purple. The control window opens.

    Cross sections appear on the geometry.

    A new section group called Axis Group appears in the editor.

  4. In the control window:
    • Click in the Name text field, and type in a new name. Hit (Windows) or (Mac).

      The new name for the cross section group is displayed in the Cross Section Editor.

    • Check on Store as default if you want the cross section group to become a new default (like the preset X, Y, and Z groups). It can then be applied to objects in other stages.

      The default group remains in the Cross Section Editor even after you exit and re-launch Alias. To delete it, you must select it and choose Delete > Selected in the editor’s menu.

    • Change other option settings if desired (for example, the Step).

      The cross sections update.

    See Windows > Editors > Cross Section Editor for option details.

To create Axis Discrete cross sections

  1. Choose Windows > Editors > Cross Section Editor.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • Select the surfaces and meshes to which you want to apply the cross-sections. (Make sure that the Global checkbox is unchecked.)
    • To apply the cross sections to ALL surfaces and meshes, check the Global checkbox.
    Note

    If Global is turned off and nothing is selected, you can still create cross section groups and apply them later. See To apply cross section groups.

  3. In the editor, choose Axis Discrete > Axis Discrete X (Y or Z) from the New menu to create sections perpendicular to the X, Y or Z axis respectively.

    Selected surfaces/meshes turn purple. The control window opens.

  4. Enter a value for Section Location (along the chosen axis) in the control window, or click on the geometry or in space in the view, to specify the X, Y, or Z location of the section.

    The section and a corresponding locator appear in the view.

    A new value is added to the Section Location list.

    A new section group called X Group, Y Group, or Z Group appears in the editor.

  5. Do one of the following:
    • Click on the locator and drag to move the section.
    • Enter additional section locations (the values are added to the list in the control window).
    • Double-click a value in the list to edit it. (If the corresponding locator is attached to a surface, it becomes a space locator after editing.)
    • Select a value in the list and click the Delete button.
  6. In the control window:
    • Click in the Name text field, and type in a new name. Hit (Windows) or (Mac).

      The new name for the cross section group is displayed in the Cross Section Editor.

    • Check on Store as default if you want the cross section group to become a new default (like the preset X, Y, and Z groups). It can then be applied to objects in other stages.

      The default group remains in the Cross Section Editor even after you exit and re-launch Alias. To delete it, you must select it and choose Delete > Selected in the editor’s menu.

To create Picked Reference cross sections

  1. Choose Windows > Editors > Cross Section Editor.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • Select the surfaces and meshes to which you want to apply the cross-sections. (Make sure that the Global checkbox is unchecked.)
    • To apply the cross sections to ALL surfaces and meshes, check the Global checkbox.
    Note

    If Global is turned off and nothing is selected, you can still create cross section groups and apply them later. See To apply cross section groups.

  3. In the editor, choose Picked Reference from the New menu.

    Selected surfaces/meshes turn purple. The control window opens.

  4. Select the construction plane(s) and/or section data you want to use as reference.

    The control window displays how many reference items have been selected.

    The cross-sections appear in the view.

    A new section group called Picked Reference Group appears in the editor.

  5. In the control window:
    • Click in the Name text field, and type in a new name. Hit (Windows) or (Mac).

      The new name for the cross section group is displayed in the Cross Section Editor.

    • Check on Store as default if you want the cross section group to become a new default (like the preset X, Y, and Z groups). It can then be applied to objects in other stages.

      The default group remains in the Cross Section Editor even after you exit and re-launch Alias. To delete it, you must select it and choose Delete > Selected in the editor’s menu.

To create Planar cross sections

  1. Choose Windows > Editors > Cross Section Editor.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • Select the surfaces and meshes to which you want to apply the cross-sections. (Make sure that the Global checkbox is unchecked.)
    • To apply the cross sections to ALL surfaces and meshes, check the Global checkbox.
    Note

    If Global is turned off and nothing is selected, you can still create cross section groups and apply them later. See To apply cross section groups.

  3. In the editor, choose Planar from the New menu.

    Selected surfaces/meshes turn purple. The control window opens.

  4. Choose the creation method for your construction plane by clicking one of the buttons at the bottom of the screen: View | Slice | 3 Pt | Geom | World. These work the same as in the Construction > Plane tool. (See Create or edit a reference plane for more details.)
  5. Click one, two or three points to define the plane, depending on the method you chose above.

    The construction plane appears, as well as the section it cuts through the geometry.

    A new section group called Planar Group appears in the editor.

  6. In the control window:
    • Click in the Name text field, and type in a new name. Hit (Windows) or (Mac).

      The new name for the cross section group is displayed in the Cross Section Editor.

    • Check on Store as default if you want the cross section group to become a new default (like the preset X, Y, and Z groups). It can then be applied to objects in other stages.

      The default group remains in the Cross Section Editor even after you exit and re-launch Alias. To delete it, you must select it and choose Delete > Selected in the editor’s menu.

    • Change the Number of planes and Step size (spacing) if desired.
    • Turn on Mirror planes if you want cross sections to be drawn on both sides of the defining plane. (For example, if Number of planes is set to 3, and Mirror planes is on, the total number of sections will be 5).

    The cross sections update.

    See Windows > Editors > Cross Section Editor for option details.

  7. Use the plane manipulator to change the position or orientation of the plane if needed.

    The cross-sections update.

To create True (Radial) cross sections

  1. Choose Windows > Editors > Cross Section Editor.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • Select the surfaces and meshes to which you want to apply the cross-sections. (Make sure that the Global checkbox is unchecked.)
    • To apply the cross sections to ALL surfaces and meshes, check the Global checkbox.
    Note

    If Global is turned off and nothing is selected, you can still create cross section groups and apply them later. See To apply cross section groups.

  3. In the editor, choose True (Radial) from the New menu.

    Selected surfaces/meshes turn purple. The control window opens.

  4. Select the driving curve(s). Clicking a selected curve deselects it.
    Note

    If Chain selection is turned on, you can select a group of tangent continuous curves all at once.

    Small planes, equally spaced by arc length, are displayed on the curve(s), corresponding to the number of sections. The planes are perpendicular to the curve’s tangent at each location. The default number of planes is 10.

    Cross sections appear on the geometry, where it intersects the planes.

    A new section group called Radial Group appears in the editor.

    Cross sections are created perpendicular to the driving curve’s tangent, at equally spaced points.

  5. In the control window:
    • Click in the Name text field, and type in a new name. Hit (Windows) or (Mac).

      The new name for the cross section group is displayed in the Cross Section Editor.

    • Check on Store as default if you want the cross section group to become a new default (like the preset X, Y, and Z groups). It can then be applied to objects in other stages.

      The default group remains in the Cross Section Editor even after you exit and re-launch Alias. To delete it, you must select it and choose Delete > Selected in the editor’s menu.

    • Use the Number of planes slider to adjust the number of radial sections. The minimum is 2.

To apply cross section groups

  1. Select the surfaces or meshes to which you want to apply the sections.
  2. Click on a section group in the Cross Section Editor to select it. Hold the key to add to the selection or the key to select all the section groups within a range.

    If Global is turned on (check mark is visible and Apply button is greyed out), the selected section groups are applied to all visible surfaces and meshes. (If you import or create new geometry, or show hidden geometry, the selected section groups are applied to those as well.)

    If Global is turned off (no check mark), selecting a section group only applies it to the selected surfaces and meshes.

  3. Select additional surfaces and meshes if needed.

    If Global is turned off, click the Apply button to apply the selected cross section groups to those.

  4. Double-click the group’s name in the editor to open the control window from where you can change some of the options.

    The cross sections update on the geometry.

    See Windows > Editors > Cross Section Editor for details.

To change the visual cross section settings

  1. In the Cross Section Editor, click on the cross section group you want to modify.

    The control window opens.

  2. In the control window, modify the option settings.

    For the Planar type, you can also modify the construction plane.

To create and change a curvature comb on a visual cross section group

  1. Click the Curvature comb checkbox to the right of the goup’s name in the Cross Section Editor so that a check mark appears.

    The curvature combs appear in green on the model.

  2. Click on the group’s name to open the control window.

    A Curvature scale slider, Curvature samples slider and Lock curvature checkbox appear in the control window.

  3. Adjust the Curvature scale slider to scale the length of the curvature combs.
  4. Adjust the Curvature samples slider to change the number of quills on the combs.
  5. Click the Lock curvature checkbox to prevent any accidental modification of the cross sections curvature combs when using the global Comb Scale or Samples sliders from the Control Panel. (See Control Panel > Curvature).
    Note

    Curvature combs are not available on mesh cross sections.

To hide curvature combs on existing visual cross sections

  1. Pick a surface on which you have created cross sections.
  2. Click the Curvature comb checkbox in the Cross Section Editor so that the check mark disappears.

To snap and measure to visual cross sections

The following objects will automatically snap to the visual sections when you position them by clicking a section:

You can also snap the following objects to visual sections by holding down the and keys and clicking a section:

In addition, the following measurement tools work on visual sections:

Modifying surfaces with visual cross-sections causes those sections to update, in turn causing the measurement locators to update.

Clearing a visual cross-section group, or modifying its definition (through the control window) deletes the associated measurements.

Note

The pick chooser appears when selecting overlapping visual cross-sections to create measurements.

To convert visual cross sections to section data geometry

  1. Select the surfaces on which you want to promote sections.
  2. Choose Tools > Promote❒ in the Cross Section Editor window.
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Select additional surfaces with applied section groups.
    • Select individual sections by clicking on them.
  4. Click the Go button.

    Section data is created for all active (highlighted) visual sections.

    If Sort sections is turned on in the control window (default), X, Y, and Z sections are put in separate color-coded layers.

    If Merge sections is turned on in the control window (default), cross-sections that are position (G0) continuous, and belong to the same intersecting plane, are merged into a single section curve.

    See Promoting visual cross sections to geometry for details.

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