Konturprofil

Konturprofil, or contour profile, is a term used in German-speaking technical fields to denote the boundary outline or silhouette of an object as viewed in a plane or along a cross-section. It is typically represented as a sequence of points or as a smooth curve (such as a polyline or spline) that defines the boundary of a two-dimensional shape or the cross-section of a three-dimensional object.

In engineering, design and manufacturing, contour profiles are used to specify geometry for analysis, inspection, and production. In computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM), the contour profile serves as the basis for tool paths that follow the outer boundary for milling, routing or cutting. Contour profiles are also important in architecture, naval and automotive design, where the silhouette or cross-sectional shape influences aerodynamics, aesthetics, and structural performance.

Contour profiles can be obtained from various sources, including 3D models, point clouds, or raster images, through methods such as edge detection, segmentation, or projection. They are typically stored in vector formats (for example DXF or SVG) and may be defined by polylines or parametric curves. Accuracy, smoothness, and the handling of corners, fillets, and tangency are important considerations, especially when the profile feeds into manufacturing tolerances or numerical control processes.

Related concepts include contour lines, boundary representation, and cross-sections. The term Konturprofil is used across disciplines to describe the essential outline that defines the shape and boundaries of objects in two or three dimensions.