How does the Create Cross Section Vector tool work in VCarve Pro and Aspire, and what can I do with the resulting vector?

Overview

Applies to: VCarve Pro and Aspire 12.5. The tool is in both products, but some of the follow-up uses below (Two Rail Sweep, Turn and Spin) are Aspire only.

The Create Cross Section Vector tool (new in V12) extracts a vector profile from a slice through your 3D model. You click two points on the model in the 3D view, and the software generates the vector of the component's cross section along that line, as if you sliced the model with a bandsaw and traced the profile.

This is a handy reverse-engineering and design tool that bridges the gap between your 3D model and the 2D vector tools.

How to Use It

1. Have a 3D model built in the Component Tree (or imported)
2. Open the Create Cross Section Vector tool from the Modeling tab
3. Click the first point on the 3D model, which sets one end of the cross-section line
4. Click the second point. The software generates the cross-section vector between the two points
5. A dashed pink line shows the cross-section path across the model
6. The resulting vector is added to the 2D view

The vector appears in the 2D view as an open profile representing the height variation of the 3D model along that slice line.

What the Vector Shows

The cross-section vector is a profile curve, an open vector where:

• The horizontal axis represents the distance across the slice
• The vertical axis represents the height of the 3D model at each point along the slice

This is the same type of vector you would draw to define a Two Rail Sweep cross-section or a molding profile.

Practical Applications

1. Extract a Profile for Two Rail Sweep (Aspire)

If you have an imported STL or clipart component and want to use its profile as the cross-section for a Two Rail Sweep on a different project:

1. Place the imported component in your job
2. Run Create Cross Section Vector across its widest point
3. The resulting open vector is ready to use as a Two Rail Sweep cross-section

2. Molding Profile Extraction

Extract the profile of an existing molding component and use it as the profile for a Moulding Toolpath, so the toolpath matches the 3D model geometry. The Moulding Toolpath is in both products.

3. Custom Shape Verification

After building a complex shape from multiple components, extract a cross-section to verify that the height and profile are what you expected at a specific slice.

4. Turn and Spin Profile (Aspire)

Slice a symmetrical 3D component through its center to extract a rotation profile, which can then be used as the input profile for a Turn and Spin operation to reproduce or scale the shape.

5. Clipart Reverse Engineering

Slice through a purchased clipart component to understand its profile structure. This is useful when you want to adapt the design or match a border height to the clipart height.

Tips

• The two points can be placed anywhere across the model; the slice does not have to be horizontal or vertical
• For a profile to use as a sweep cross-section, slice perpendicular to the intended rail direction
• Edit the extracted vector with the node editing tools to clean it up before using it in another modeling tool
• Check the resulting vector in the 2D view and compare it with the 3D model before building on it