diff --git a/src/openmc_cad_adapter/surfaces.py b/src/openmc_cad_adapter/surfaces.py
index 6d7f8ae..a7c6922 100644
--- a/src/openmc_cad_adapter/surfaces.py
+++ b/src/openmc_cad_adapter/surfaces.py
@@ -54,38 +54,38 @@ def to_cubit_surface_inner(self, ent_type, node, extents, inner_world=None, hex=
         cmds = []
 
         n = np.array([self.coefficients[k] for k in ('a', 'b', 'c')])
-        cd = self.coefficients['d']
-        maxv = sys.float_info.min
-        for i, v in enumerate(n):
-            if abs(v) > maxv:
-                maxv = v
-
-        ns = cd * n
-
-        cmds.append( f"create surface rectangle width  { 2*extents[0] } zplane")
-        sur = emit_get_last_id("surface", cmds)
-        surf = emit_get_last_id("body", cmds)
-
-        n = n/np.linalg.norm(n)
-        ns = cd * n
-        zn = np.array([ 0, 0, 1 ])
-        n3 = np.cross(n, zn)
-        dot = np.dot(n, zn)
-        cmds.append(f"# n3 {n3[0]} {n3[1]} {n3[2]}")
-        degs = math.degrees(math.acos(np.dot(n, zn)))
-        y = np.linalg.norm(n3)
-        x = dot
-        angle = - math.degrees(math.atan2( y, x ))
-        if n3[0] != 0 or n3[1] != 0 or n3[2] != 0:
-            cmds.append(f"Rotate body {{ {surf} }} about 0 0 0 direction {n3[0]} {n3[1]} {n3[2]} Angle {angle}")
-        cmds.append(f"body {{ { surf } }} move {ns[0]} {ns[1]} {ns[2]}")
-        cmds.append(f"brick x {extents[0]} y {extents[1]} z {extents[2]}" )
+        distance = self.coefficients['d'] / np.linalg.norm(n)
+
+        # Create cutter block larger than the world and rotate/translate it so
+        # the +z plane of the block is coincident with this general plane
+        max_extent = np.max(extents)
+        cmds.append(f"brick x {2*max_extent} y {2*max_extent} z {2*max_extent}" )
         ids = emit_get_last_id( ent_type, cmds)
-        cmds.append(f"section body {{ {ids} }} with surface {{ {sur} }} {self.lreverse(node)}")
-        cmds.append(f"del surface {{ {sur} }}")
+        cmds.append(f"body {{ { ids } }} move 0.0 0.0 {-max_extent}")
 
-        cmds += self.boundary_condition(ids)
-        return ids, cmds
+        nhat = n / np.linalg.norm(n)
+        rhat = np.array([0.0, 0.0, 1.0])
+        angle = math.degrees(math.acos(np.dot(nhat, rhat)))
+
+        if not math.isclose(angle, 0.0, abs_tol=1e-6):
+            rot_axis = np.cross(rhat, nhat)
+            rot_axis /= np.linalg.norm(rot_axis)
+            axis = f"{rot_axis[0]} {rot_axis[1]} {rot_axis[2]}"
+            cmds.append(f"Rotate body {{ {ids} }} about 0 0 0 direction {axis} Angle {angle}")
+
+        tvec = distance*nhat
+        cmds.append(f"body {{ { ids } }} move {tvec[0]} {tvec[1]} {tvec[2]}")
+
+        cmds.append(f"brick x {extents[0]} y {extents[1]} z {extents[2]}" )
+        wid = emit_get_last_id( ent_type, cmds)
+        # if positive half space we subtract the cutter block from the world
+        if node.side != '-':
+            cmds.append(f"subtract body {{ { ids } }} from body {{ { wid } }}")
+        # if negative half space we intersect the cutter block with the world
+        else:
+            cmds.append(f"intersect body {{ { ids } }} {{ { wid } }}")
+
+        return wid, cmds
 
     @classmethod
     def from_openmc_surface_inner(cls, plane):
diff --git a/test/gold/plane.jou b/test/gold/plane.jou
index 5329c23..e188cec 100644
--- a/test/gold/plane.jou
+++ b/test/gold/plane.jou
@@ -5,88 +5,76 @@ graphics pause
 set journal off
 set default autosize off
 #CELL 1
-create surface rectangle width  1000 zplane
-#{ id1 = Id("surface") }
-#{ id2 = Id("body") }
-# n3 0.7071067811865475 -0.7071067811865475 0.0
-Rotate body { id2 } about 0 0 0 direction 0.7071067811865475 -0.7071067811865475 0.0 Angle -90.0
-body { id2 } move -3.5355339059327373 -3.5355339059327373 -0.0
+brick x 1000 y 1000 z 1000
+#{ id1 = Id("body") }
+body { id1 } move 0.0 0.0 -500
+Rotate body { id1 } about 0 0 0 direction -0.7071067811865476 0.7071067811865476 0.0 Angle 90.0
+body { id1 } move -2.4999999999999996 -2.4999999999999996 -0.0
 brick x 500 y 500 z 500
+#{ id2 = Id("body") }
+subtract body { id1 } from body { id2 }
+brick x 1000 y 1000 z 1000
 #{ id3 = Id("body") }
-section body { id3 } with surface { id1 } reverse
-del surface { id1 }
-create surface rectangle width  1000 zplane
-#{ id4 = Id("surface") }
-#{ id5 = Id("body") }
-# n3 0.7071067811865475 -0.7071067811865475 0.0
-Rotate body { id5 } about 0 0 0 direction 0.7071067811865475 -0.7071067811865475 0.0 Angle -90.0
-body { id5 } move 3.5355339059327373 3.5355339059327373 0.0
+body { id3 } move 0.0 0.0 -500
+Rotate body { id3 } about 0 0 0 direction -0.7071067811865476 0.7071067811865476 0.0 Angle 90.0
+body { id3 } move 2.4999999999999996 2.4999999999999996 0.0
 brick x 500 y 500 z 500
+#{ id4 = Id("body") }
+intersect body { id3 } { id4 }
+#{ id5 = Id("body") }
+intersect body { id2 } { id4 }
 #{ id6 = Id("body") }
-section body { id6 } with surface { id4 } 
-del surface { id4 }
-#{ id7 = Id("body") }
-intersect body { id3 } { id6 }
+#{id7 = ( id5 == id6 ) ? id4 : id6}
+brick x 1000 y 1000 z 1000
 #{ id8 = Id("body") }
-#{id9 = ( id7 == id8 ) ? id6 : id8}
-create surface rectangle width  1000 zplane
-#{ id10 = Id("surface") }
-#{ id11 = Id("body") }
-# n3 0.7071067811865475 0.0 0.0
-Rotate body { id11 } about 0 0 0 direction 0.7071067811865475 0.0 0.0 Angle -45.0
-body { id11 } move -0.0 -3.5355339059327373 -3.5355339059327373
+body { id8 } move 0.0 0.0 -500
+Rotate body { id8 } about 0 0 0 direction -1.0 0.0 0.0 Angle 45.00000000000001
+body { id8 } move -0.0 -2.4999999999999996 -2.4999999999999996
 brick x 500 y 500 z 500
-#{ id12 = Id("body") }
-section body { id12 } with surface { id10 } reverse
-del surface { id10 }
+#{ id9 = Id("body") }
+subtract body { id8 } from body { id9 }
+#{ id10 = Id("body") }
+intersect body { id7 } { id9 }
+#{ id11 = Id("body") }
+#{id12 = ( id10 == id11 ) ? id9 : id11}
+brick x 1000 y 1000 z 1000
 #{ id13 = Id("body") }
-intersect body { id9 } { id12 }
-#{ id14 = Id("body") }
-#{id15 = ( id13 == id14 ) ? id12 : id14}
-create surface rectangle width  1000 zplane
-#{ id16 = Id("surface") }
-#{ id17 = Id("body") }
-# n3 0.7071067811865475 0.0 0.0
-Rotate body { id17 } about 0 0 0 direction 0.7071067811865475 0.0 0.0 Angle -45.0
-body { id17 } move 0.0 3.5355339059327373 3.5355339059327373
+body { id13 } move 0.0 0.0 -500
+Rotate body { id13 } about 0 0 0 direction -1.0 0.0 0.0 Angle 45.00000000000001
+body { id13 } move 0.0 2.4999999999999996 2.4999999999999996
 brick x 500 y 500 z 500
+#{ id14 = Id("body") }
+intersect body { id13 } { id14 }
+#{ id15 = Id("body") }
+intersect body { id12 } { id14 }
+#{ id16 = Id("body") }
+#{id17 = ( id15 == id16 ) ? id14 : id16}
+brick x 1000 y 1000 z 1000
 #{ id18 = Id("body") }
-section body { id18 } with surface { id16 } 
-del surface { id16 }
+body { id18 } move 0.0 0.0 -500
+Rotate body { id18 } about 0 0 0 direction 0.0 1.0 0.0 Angle 45.00000000000001
+body { id18 } move -2.4999999999999996 -0.0 -2.4999999999999996
+brick x 500 y 500 z 500
 #{ id19 = Id("body") }
-intersect body { id15 } { id18 }
+subtract body { id18 } from body { id19 }
 #{ id20 = Id("body") }
-#{id21 = ( id19 == id20 ) ? id18 : id20}
-create surface rectangle width  1000 zplane
-#{ id22 = Id("surface") }
+intersect body { id17 } { id19 }
+#{ id21 = Id("body") }
+#{id22 = ( id20 == id21 ) ? id19 : id21}
+brick x 1000 y 1000 z 1000
 #{ id23 = Id("body") }
-# n3 0.0 -0.7071067811865475 0.0
-Rotate body { id23 } about 0 0 0 direction 0.0 -0.7071067811865475 0.0 Angle -45.0
-body { id23 } move -3.5355339059327373 -0.0 -3.5355339059327373
+body { id23 } move 0.0 0.0 -500
+Rotate body { id23 } about 0 0 0 direction 0.0 1.0 0.0 Angle 45.00000000000001
+body { id23 } move 2.4999999999999996 0.0 2.4999999999999996
 brick x 500 y 500 z 500
 #{ id24 = Id("body") }
-section body { id24 } with surface { id22 } reverse
-del surface { id22 }
+intersect body { id23 } { id24 }
 #{ id25 = Id("body") }
-intersect body { id21 } { id24 }
+intersect body { id22 } { id24 }
 #{ id26 = Id("body") }
 #{id27 = ( id25 == id26 ) ? id24 : id26}
-create surface rectangle width  1000 zplane
-#{ id28 = Id("surface") }
-#{ id29 = Id("body") }
-# n3 0.0 -0.7071067811865475 0.0
-Rotate body { id29 } about 0 0 0 direction 0.0 -0.7071067811865475 0.0 Angle -45.0
-body { id29 } move 3.5355339059327373 0.0 3.5355339059327373
-brick x 500 y 500 z 500
-#{ id30 = Id("body") }
-section body { id30 } with surface { id28 } 
-del surface { id28 }
-#{ id31 = Id("body") }
-intersect body { id27 } { id30 }
-#{ id32 = Id("body") }
-#{id33 = ( id31 == id32 ) ? id30 : id32}
-body { id33 } name "Cell_1"
-group "mat:void" add body { id33 } 
+body { id27 } name "Cell_1"
+group "mat:void" add body { id27 } 
 graphics flush
 set default autosize on
 zoom reset