Contour slice options offer a number of ways to realize your profile. The effect of each option, depends on the orientation of the bar. When bars are vertical, the selected contour slice option does not make a difference. However, as the bar gets closer to a horizontal position, the difference between the selected contour slice options is more pronounced.
The slice options are available in the tabsheet when a profile is selected. There are five different slice options to choose:
- 3D profile: Insert a profile at a right angle to the direction of the bar. This is similar to a cylinder connecting the two nodes it is attached to. In this case, the profile forms the cross-section. The top (+Y) of the profile is always oriented in the direction of the Z-axis running through the lower node. Thus, the bar may rotate if you move the nodes around these X-Y-coordinates.
- Flat profile: Insert a profile horizontally as slice in the X-Y-plane. These slices are then inserted to connect the nodes of the bar. Bars which are nearly horizontal will get a very flat shape.
- Cosinus projection: Insert horizontal slice-layers between the nodes of the bar. In contrast to the Flat profile, the profile is still inserted as cross section of the bar. Thus, the slice has the same X-Y-cross section as the profile. However, at its ends, the bar is not cut off in a right angle to its direction and is limited only by the Z-values of its nodes. All slice layers in between are inserted entirely.
- Flat profile with rotation: The bar is realized in the same way as with the Flat profile option, but with a rotation towards the Z-axis added, as in the 3D profile option.
- Cosinus projection with rotation: The bar is realized in the same way as the Cosinus projection, but with a rotation towards the Z-axis added, as in the 3D profile option.
Use the Minimum Layer Count for very flat bars to determine the minimum number of slice layers to be used for the bar. Enable the Slice Contour as Hatch option if you only want the outer hatches of closed contours to be realized. During production, these bars are not filled.
