plyZClip: Function which will clip a plyFile

Description

Function which will find a localized maxima or minima and then clip the plyFile above or below the selected maxima/minima along the Z-axis

Usage

plyZClip(plyFile, invertZ = FALSE, button = "right", displayNew = TRUE)

Arguments

plyFile

an object of classes 'mesh3d' and/or 'shape3d'

invertZ

True/False logical indicating whether to clip the surface above or below the selected point.

button

logical either: 'right' (default), 'middle', or 'left' indicating which button on the mouse to use to interact with the plyFile

displayNew

logical indicating whether or not to display a preview of the newly cropped ply surface.

Details

This function works through finding a local extema in a small highlighted area then using that as the Z-axis level to crop the surface. The function makes a few assumptions. That the occlusal plane is parallel to the X-Y plane, and is normal to the positive Z-axis. Further, it is intended to be used with the occlusal plane oriented toward the operator. The operator should then highlight a small area of the surface in which they believe the extrema of interest (i.e. the Z-level at which the surface should be cropped) will be captured. This function is intended to crop tooth files in such a way as to result in a tooth surface containing only the area of the tooth crown above the lowest point of the occlusal basin. This cropping procedure is consistent with the RFI measure presented by Ungar and M'Kirera (2003).

The logical invertZ allows users to account for surfaces which have been loaded upside-down. That is, the occlusal basin is normal to the negative Z-axis. Set invertZ=True and the dental surface will be properly cropped.