create turn profile.

[Thoob]

When doing this from a solid, what is the difference between slice and spin? I have solid models that I want to turn but I don't see a difference between the 2. Am I blind?

[Jeremy Herron@DBS Solutions™]

Imagine the slice method as if you went to the back plane C0.0, and xform projected a line onto the solid. Now lets say you have a hole or some milled feature at C0.0, in this case the curves created would follow the milled feature. Spin actually tessellates or spins the solid to find the outer most profile that can be turned. You may have to play with the tolerance to get lines and arcs vs. splines. I usually do a quick check of the geometry created to make sure.

 

HTH.

[Chris Bloedorn]

Here is Mastercam's explanation....

 

 

Slice should be the way to go unless its not perfectly round...

[Rob Peirolo CNC Software]

No, you are not blind, you are just using 2 functions that are giving the same result.

Slice splits the part (think knife) parallel to the Gview through its center.

Spin rotates the part and plots the edge curve of the part as it passes through the plane of the Gview.

If the part is "rotationally symetrical" (a developer's term) then you see no difference between Spin and Slice, which is probably what you are seeing now.

If the Part has a boss sticking out or is (again in "programmerese") "rotationally asymmetrical" then you would see what the profile would look like when spun about a center line.

[Thoob]

Ok, thank you much for that.

[uncle_dolan]

Yeah, I will usually use slice, unless there is a hex or something that needs to be milled, then i will use spin to get the maximum diameter of the hex

[NOTW Programmer]

I use slice when the geometry is symmetrical about the Z axis, and Slice when I have an eccentric feature in the part; such as a Keyway.