Creating Rough Offset Surfaces

You can create a rough offset surface, that is a constant offset surface which approximates the initial surface to keep only its main characteristics.

Before you begin:

  • You must have access to the Generative Shape Optimizer product.

  • Create a 3D shape containing a surface.

Related Topics
Creating Offset Surfaces

  1. Click Rough Offset .

    The Rough Offset Surface Definition dialog box appears.

  2. Select the Surface to be offset.

    An arrow indicates the proposed direction for the offset. Click it to reverse the direction.

  3. Specify the Offset value.

  4. Set the approximation tolerance by specifying the Deviation value.

    The default and minimum value is 1mm.

  5. Click Preview to preview the offset surface.

    The offset surface is displayed normal to the reference surface.

    A progress bar is displayed to allow the control of the computation.



  6. Click OK to create the surface.

    The surface (identified as Offset.xxx) is added to the specification tree.

    Resulting surface with an offset of 20mm (the initial surface is hidden)

    Resulting surface with an offset of -20mm

    Note: The boundaries of the rough offset surface are not computed. Only a global boundary that contains one sub-element is created.


    • You can display the offset surface on the other side of the reference surface by clicking either the arrow or Reverse Direction.

    • You can generate two offset surfaces, one on each side of the reference surface, by checking Both sides.

    Warning: In case an error message is issued asking you to modify the inputs, we advise you to change the deviation, either by increasing or decreasing it.
    Important:
    • The Rough Offset command is applicable to surfaces with only one boundary (preferably convex).
    • It is not applicable to:
      • closed surfaces encompassing a volume, for instances spheres
      • surfaces with one or more holes
      • surfaces with more than one boundary, for instance cylinders
      • non-manifold surfaces and surfaces with topological defects