> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.ntop.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Custom Unit Cell

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Implicit Body, Bounding Box" href="#implicit-body-bounding-box" />

  <Card title="Graph, Bounding Box" href="#graph-bounding-box" />
</CardGroup>

***

## About this Block

**What it does:** The Custom Unit Cell block constructs a Custom Implicit Unit Cell from an Implicit Body. Any Implicit Body can be used in conjunction with a Unit Cell Domain Bounding Box. The Bounding Box defines the domain of the custom Unit cell. This is a Non-Parametric Unit Cell because it requires no additional parameters to define it, such as thickness.

**Common uses:**

* Used with a Cell Map to create a **Periodic Lattice**.

**Tips:**

* You cannot define additional parameters, such as thickness.
* For Custom Unit Cells, it is ideal to have it be of equal size in X, Y, and Z directions to be easily scalable.
* If you want to create a face-based Unit Cell you can import a thin CAD surface. When you convert it to an implicit, you will need to use the **Thicken Body** block to give it some thickness. Adding the thickness allows you to insert it into the Body input of the **Custom Unit Cell**.

![Custom Unit Cell](https://storage.googleapis.com/files-learn/static/ExtendedBlockDocs/custom_lattice.png)

Beta overload:

## About this Block

**What it does:** The Beta overload of the **Custom Unit Cell** block constructs a 1-Paramater Unit Cell from a Graph. The Graph can consist of beams, faces, or a mix of both.

**Common uses:**

* Generate lattice structures using the Periodic Lattice block.

**Tips:**

* You can use the **Graph from Line Segments** block as a helper block for generating beam-based lattices.
* Downstream operations such as simulation and filtering require accurate node and beam connectivity. Ensure the input Graph has vertices at all beam-beam intersections. Also, the Graph has beams at all face-face and co-planar beam-face intersections.
* The Domain must be 3D. If you’re making a 2D unit cell, provide a 3D bounding box.
* You can import a sketch from CAD, drag out the curves, construct line segments from the curves and use Graph from Line Segments block.
* If the Graph extends outside the Domain, Graph won’t be trimmed. To fix, you must either scale the Graph down or increase the domain volume.

Download Example: [Custom Implicit Unit Cell](https://storage.googleapis.com/files-learn/static/ExtendedBlockDocs/Graph_from_Line_Segments.ntop)
![Custom Implicit Unit Cell](https://storage.googleapis.com/files-learn/static/ExtendedBlockDocs/Custom_Implicit_Unit_Cell.png)

***

<h2 id="implicit-body-bounding-box">
  Implicit Body, Bounding Box
</h2>

Constructs a Non-parametric Unit Cell from an Implicit Body.

### Inputs

| Name   | Type                                                                 | Description                                                |
| ------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| Body   | [Implicit Body](../../../../block-documentation/types/implicit-body) | Implicit body to convert to an implicit unit cell.         |
| Domain | [Bounding Box](../../../../block-documentation/types/bounding-box)   | Bounding box to define the domain of the custom Unit Cell. |

### Outputs

| Type                                                                                       |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| [Non-Parametric Unit Cell](../../../../block-documentation/types/non-parametric-unit-cell) |

***

<h2 id="graph-bounding-box">
  Graph, Bounding Box
</h2>

Constructs a 1 Parameter Unit Cell from a Graph.
Parameter 1: Thickness

### Inputs

| Name   | Type                                                               | Description                                                |
| ------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| Graph  | [Graph](../../../../block-documentation/types/graph)               | Graph from which to construct the custom Unit Cell.        |
| Domain | [Bounding Box](../../../../block-documentation/types/bounding-box) | Bounding Box to define the domain of the custom Unit Cell. |

### Outputs

| Type                                                                                 |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| [1 Parameter Unit Cell](../../../../block-documentation/types/1-parameter-unit-cell) |