### Initial Vectors Area

The Initial Vectors area displays a list of vectors that will be used to start and stop a scan. Some scans do not use any initial vectors. These are UV, Grid, Perimeter, and FreeForm scans. The following table shows the available initial vectors, when they are used, and their descriptions.

Vector Type | Used In Scan Type | Description
InitVec | Linear Open, Linear Closed, Section, Patch, Rotary, and Basic scans | Initial Touch Vector. The values that are displayed in the Initial Touch Vector row indicate the surface vector of the first point in the scanning process.
CutVec | Linear Open, Linear Closed, Patch, Section, and several Basic scans | Cut Plane Vector. A cut plane is used internally for DCC scanning calculations. This cut plane is derived differently for each supported scan type. Linear Open: The Cut Plane vector (CutVec) is the cross product of the Initial Touch vector (InitVec) and the line between the start and end point. If there is no end point, the line between the start point and direction point is used.

Linear Closed: The Cut Plane vector (CutVec) is the cross product of the Initial Touch vector (InitVec) and the line between the start and end point.

Patch Scan: The cut plane vector (CutVec) is derived by crossing the Initial Touch vector (InitVect) and the line between the first and second point. The cut plane vector is then set to the correct direction by using the line between the second and third points. The End Touch vector (EndVec) is the vector used to take the second boundary points and is used to jump to the second row after completing the first row.

Section Scan: The Cut Plane and Initial Touch vectors are used to measure the scan. The Cut Plane vector is the cross product of the Initial Touch vector and the line between the starting and end point. If there is no end point, then the line between start and direction point is used.

EndVec | Linear Open, Patch, Section, Rotary, and Line Basic scan | End Touch Vector. The End Touch vector is the approach vector of the scan at the end of the row. This is used only to stop the scan or to move to the next row (in the case of a Patch scan).
PlaneVec | Linear Open, Linear Closed, Patch, Section, and Rotary | Boundary Plane Vector. The Boundary Plane vector and the End Touch vector are used with the given Boundary Condition to stop the scan. The Boundary Plane Vector has different uses when applied to different Boundary Conditions: Plane When used with a Plane Boundary Condition it represents the normal vector of the Plane.

Sphere

It is not used with the Sphere Boundary Condition.

Cylinder

When used with a Cylinder Boundary Condition it represents the Axis of the Cylinder.

Cone

When used with a Cone Boundary Condition it represents the Axis of the Cone.

DirVec | Rotary, Manual, and Line Basic scan | Initial Direction Vector. It represents the direction in which the scan will begin and is used with the Initial Touch vector to derive the Cut Plane vector.
SurfVec | Linear Open and Linear Closed | Top Surface Vector. This appears when you use the Edge hit type. It is the vector of the initial top surface of the edge and is used to start the scan.
vector1 | Linear Open and Linear Closed | This row is the surface normal vector of the first surface selected for angle hits. It appears when you use the Angle hit type. This corresponds to the Surf 1 Vec values in the Angle Points tab when creating Auto Features. See "Creating an Auto Angle Point" in the "Creating Auto Features" chapter.
vector2 | Linear Open and Linear Closed | This row is the surface normal vector of the second surface selected for angle hits. It appears when you use the Angle hit type. This corresponds to the Surf 2 Vec values in the Angle Points tab when creating Auto Features. See "Creating an Auto Angle Point" in the "Creating Auto Features" chapter.

More:

Graphical Representation of Vectors

Editing Vectors