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Inventor 2010 – Slice Graphics

View Comments July 18, 2009 – 8:28 AM Permalink |  Print This Post |

I was busy with the lauch activites for the Autodesk India User Community for last two weeks and its already more than 1000+ registered members on the site.

Back to our work,

CAD Professor crossed the 100+ post.,

In this article I would like to focus on a command in Inventor 2010 – Slice Graphics

Slice Graphics can be activated in two ways,

• 2D Sketch Panel > Right Click Sketch Area and Select Slice Graphics / F7
• View Tab > Slice Graphics

Why Slice Graphics ?

Assume a case where in you need to sketch at the mid surface of a part file or you need to create a cavity inside a part file.

In simple terms – If a plane you want to sketch on is obscured by geometry, you find it difficult to carry on the necessary modifications.

Let’s understand the concept of slice graphics with an examples

Consider the part as shown below

The cylinders are 100mm height with (OD = 50mm and ID = 25mm)

Part 01

When you see the above geometry, there are two cylinders perpendicular to each other.  However, if we need to start the sketching of second cyinder, the mid plane is obscured by the geometry.

Hence it is essential to make use of slice graphics. See the sketch below

XZ Plane

Now select sketch option using the work plane as shown above and click on slice graphics

Sketch Plane

Select Slice Graphics

Alternatively you can also make use of the function keys – F7

Part Sliced

Now perfor the necessary sketches to get the desired shape and geometry

Slice Graphics Sketching

As you complete the sketch, click on finish sketch or press F7 to exit the slice graphics. Now perform the necessary operations to complete the part file

Sketch ready to extrude

Exturded Model

I hope you might have got a better idea as to how to effectively use slice graphics in case you are not able to sketch when the geometry obscures.

Note: You can perform slice graphics on any work plane that you create

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