Divide By Object : Options and Results

Access: Open this function from one of the following locations:

  • Click the button in the toolbar.

  • Select Solid > Objects > Divide By Object from the menu bar.

Divide objects by geometry.

This function divides (trims) one or more open or closed objects (also faces) by using face(s), a plane, object(s), curve, edge or axis as the dividing entity.

Notes:

  • If you want to divide a solid or face using a contour as the cutting tool, use the function Divide by Contour.

  • To divide faces of open or closed objects, use the Faces > Split function.

  • To divide contours, use the Curves > Split function.

  • If the resulting object(s) contain more than one lump, the object will be separated into a number of lumps.

Required Step 1

Pick the object(s) to be divided; one or more open or closed objects (including individual faces).

The part before selection:

The objects to be divided are selected (in this case, open objects):

Required Step 2

Pick the dividing geometry; a plane, face(s), open / closed object(s), curve(s), edge(s), axis(axes) or points.

Notes:

  • If a closed mesh object was selected in Step 1, then following entities can be picked:

    • Datum plane

    • Closed mesh object

    • Closed solid object.

  • If an open mesh object was selected in Step 1, then following entities can be picked:

    • Datum plane

Note that the objects to be divided (those selected in Step 1) are displayed in transparent mode to enable you to more easily pick the dividing geometry. When you exit the function, each transparent object returns to its previous render mode state, as it was prior to invoking the function.

The following parameters are displayed:

Notes:

  • Use the Selection Filter to select curves, edges, axes or points as the dividing geometry.

  • When selecting a single curve, edge or axis (as the dividing geometry), any geometry which defines a plane can be used as input; a 2D line with an angle, two points and a direction angle, 3 points or 2D curve. See Divide Objects by Curve, Edge, Axis.

  • To reduce the file size when dividing a small object by a large object, instead of using the whole (large) dividing object, the system prompts you to perform the divide operation using only those faces of the dividing object that intersect with the objects to be divided. This prompt is displayed if the following conditions are met:

    1. If the dividing object (Step 2) is not in the same file as the objects to be divided (Step 1); for example, the dividing object may be in another file of an assembly.

    2. If the dividing object has more faces than the objects to be divided.

As Boolean

This is a toggle option, As Boolean / As Trim, that enables you to select the method of performing the Divide operation.

This option is only displayed if the entity to be divided is an open object.
Examples:Examples:

Divide: As Boolean

Divide: As Trim

 

Invert Active Object

Flip Mesh Normal

This parameter is available only for open objects and deals with issues of object direction.
See Invert Active Object.

The parameter Invert Active Object is displayed for the Cut (Solid) function.
The parameter Flip Mesh Normal is displayed for the Cut/Divide (Mesh) function.

Don't Separate Objects

Don't Separate Shells

This is a toggle option, Don't Separate Objects (Shells) / Separate Objects (Shells), that enables you to decide whether objects remaining after a divide operation are to be regarded as a single object or as separate objects.

The parameter Don't Separate Objects / Separate Objects is displayed for the Cut (Solid) function.
The parameter Don't Separate Shells / Separate Shells is displayed for the Cut/Divide (Mesh) function.

Don't Separate Objects (Shells)

The objects (shells) remaining after a divide operation are to be regarded as a single object. When one of the objects (shells) is picked, both are selected.

Separate Objects (Shells)

The objects (shells) remaining after a divide operation are to be regarded as separate objects. When one of the objects (shells) is picked, only the picked object is selected. The entities are now separate objects.

Examples:Examples:

Result of a Divide by Object operation:

Don't Separate Objects
When one of the objects is picked, both are selected.

Separate Objects
When one of the objects is picked, only the picked object is selected.

 

Keep Cutting Object

Keep Cutting Faces

This is a toggle option, Keep Cutting Object (Faces) / Remove Cutting Object (Faces), that enables you to decide whether or not the cutting object is removed after a divide operation.

The parameter Keep Cutting Object / Remove Cutting Object is displayed for the Divide (Solid) function.
The parameter Keep Cutting Faces / Remove Cutting Faces is displayed for the Cut/Divide (Mesh) function.

Keep Cutting Object (Faces)

The cutting object (faces) remains after a divide operation.

Remove Cutting Object (Faces)

The cutting object (faces) is removed after a divide operation.

Examples:Examples:

Keep Cutting Object Remove Cutting Object

Notes:

  • It is possible to use more than one cutting object. In this case, if the option Remove Cutting Object is selected, all the cutting objects will be removed.

  • This option is grayed out (and set to Keep Cutting Object) in the following cases:

    • If the cutting entity is external (an assembly external reference).

    • If the cutting entity is a datum plane.

    • If the cutting entity is a planar face.

Extend

This is a toggle option, Extend / Don't Extend, that enables the extension of a dividing planar or non-planar face, to divide the object selected in step 1. This option is only displayed if the dividing object is a face or multiple faces.
Default: Extend.

For planar faces:


Example:Example:

The red faces represent the extra faces created as a result of the divide operation:

The cutting planar face is extended to divide the object selected in step 1:

The cutting planar face is not extended and only divides part of the object:

 

 

Extend divide result:

Don't Extend divide result:


See the examples in Divide One Object by One Face.

For non-planar faces only: If the Extend option is selected, an additional toggle option Natural / Tangent is displayed.
Default: Natural.

Natural

The edge of the divided face is produced as a natural extension of the reference face.

Tangent

The edge of the divided face is produced in the direction tangent to the reference face.

Example:Example:

The red faces represent the extra faces created as a result of the divide operation:

Don't Extend:

Extend > Natural: The edge of the divided face is produced as a natural extension of the reference face.

Extend > Tangent: The edge of the divided face is produced in the direction tangent to the reference face.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't Extend divide result:

Extend > Natural divide result:

Extend > Tangent divide result:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Front view showing the Face Extend > Natural and Tangent divide option results.

 

 


See additional examples in Divide One Object by One Face.

Single curve, edge or axis:
When selecting a single curve, edge or axis (as the dividing geometry), a dividing plane is displayed though the dividing geometry and the Extend option is automatically selected, but not displayed. In these cases, an Angle parameter is displayed allowing you to change the orientation of the dividing plane as required.


Example:Example:


See additional examples in Divide Objects by Curve, Edge, Axis.
 

Transfer Attributes

This is a toggle option, Transfer Attributes / Don't Transfer Attributes, that enables you to decide whether or not to transfer attributes (colors, threads and hole attributes) with the divide operation.

Transfer Attributes

Attributes (colors, threads and hole attributes) from the dividing geometry are transferred to the object that is divided.


Examples:Examples:

Object to be divided:

Dividing geometry (in this case an object):

Result using "Transfer Attributes": The dividing geometry's attributes (colors, threads and hole attributes) are transferred to the divided object.

The following attributes are transferred:

  • Colors.

  • Hole attributes (H6/H7 etc).

  • Threads – ONLY if the cutting geometry has a "Cutting Object" and is external (not in the same part as the object to be cut).

Don't Transfer Attributes

Attributes from the dividing geometry are not transferred to the object that is divided.

Note: The toggle option is not available in the following cases:

  • If the dividing geometry is a plane.

  • If object to be divided is open and the first parameter is set to As Trim.

  • If the dividing geometry (step 2) is a mesh object.

Note: In Edit mode, this toggle option changes to Overwrite Attributes / Don't Change Attributes; see Editing the 'Divide by Object' Feature.

Notes:

  • One object can be used to divide multiple objects, or multiple objects can be used to divide one object.

  • Face(s) can only be used to divide one solid.

For additional explanations of the various methods of dividing by an object, see:

 

Click OK or Apply in the Feature Guide to complete the function.

Divide: As Boolean

Divide: As Trim

When completed, the Divide by Object feature appears in the Feature Tree as follows:

 

Some functionality may be dependent on the product package. Contact your Reseller if you require a license.