I need to machine parts created in solid edge, there has got to be an easier way than the bull I've been doing, usually cheating, redrawing, manipulating the model etc. there has got to be an easy way to generate 2d profiles from solid models

I'm interested to see the talk of useing CT data, that is exactly what I am trying to do. I've had success creating splines (nurbs) from the slices, then lofting them into surfaces to be machined, but that is more work than I want to do on an ongoing basis. The STL aproach appeared promising to me becouse I can cut out all that manual manipulation to get an image, but machining it seems to be another issue. Has anyone done this, or somthing like it before?

thanks for the advice, I'm having some success, could some give me some advice on what I should set the tolerances to as a way to get me going. My STL is in 100k range (no of entities).

I am having difficulty with generating a toolpath form an STL, I think I'm doing it right but I get to the point where it says approximating normal surfaces and my machine just hangs there. What am I doing wrong