Slicing a model in Grasshopper?

Is it possible to slice through a model in Grasshopper. I know of the wirecut tool in Rhino. This is a great tool but only works on a single polysurface at a time.

Also there is the section tools for Rhino which are great for producing 2d and 3d drawings but there is no "Bake" type feature that allows exporting the cut geometry. When you try to export you just get the whole model.

Is there any way of slicing through a group or a selection of objects in grasshopper or a plugin which is akin to the wirecut?

If anyone has used the slice tool in 3ds Max, this is exactly the type of thing I'm looking for.

Thanks,

Matt.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Chris Tietjen on May 4, 2011 at 5:25pm

This illustrates a method that might work for you. The geometry here is a box within a box and a sphere partially within a box. You could create multiple sections by using a series component input or a list input in place of the slider shown. I'm not familiar with 3ds Max.

Chris

Permalink Reply by Matt Harrisson on May 4, 2011 at 5:43pm

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the reply. However I'm not looking to generate 2d section curves. I wish to cut a model and retain one portion. Like cutting an orange with a knife and throwing half away.

The first two images are generated using the SectionTools plugin for Rhino. This seems to create the effect by hiding the geometry that is outside the slice so it is not much use for outside Rhino.

The final image shows how it works in MAX. You define a plane, the slice plane, then rotate and move it to your desired position and it removes all geometry above that plane. You can still edit the geomtry before you applied the slice or you can expand it to a poly model when you're happy. This is what I want to do inside grasshopper.

Permalink Reply by Chris Tietjen on May 4, 2011 at 7:57pm

I haven't tested this on a complex form but I think this is more in line with what you're looking for.

Chris

Attachments:

SectionBrep.ghx, 210 KB

Permalink Reply by Dalia Hafiz on July 9, 2013 at 12:17am

hi, I know this is a pretty old discussion but I tried the file by Chris and when I try to bake the final geometry (difference) I get the same orignal geometry, I also dont understand the other hidden box and move command you used on it, Thanks!!

Permalink Reply by Yasser Hassan on February 13, 2014 at 12:00am