Offset Surface

The Offset Surface tool creates a new surface body from an existing set of faces. The faces may be solid or surface faces.

1. Click Offset Surface (Surfaces toolbar) or Insert > Surface > Offset.
2. In the PropertyManager:
   1. Select surfaces or faces in the graphics area for Surface or Faces to Offset .

      To select the entire model, click Edit > Select All.

   2. Set a value for Offset Distance.
      You can create an offset surface with a distance of zero.

      Original model	Entire surface to offset

   3. Select Flip Offset Direction to change the direction of the offset.
3. Click OK .

   If the Offset Surface tool identifies faces that it cannot offset, it lists the failing faces in Offset Parameters. The preview updates to show the failing faces in red. When offset surfaces fail, it is usually because the offset distance is greater than the smallest curvature on the face.

   Preview of offset surface with failed faces

   Faces sometimes fail because:

   • Their offset surface includes an area with a radius of curvature that is less than the offset distance.
   • They self-intersect.
   • They interfere with nearby faces.
   • The offset surfaces are not connected, for example, because the offset has broken references or is based on faces from multiple parts.
4. In the PropertyManager, click Remove All Failing Faces.

   The preview updates to show an offset surface with gaps caused by removing the failed faces.

5. Click OK to create the offset surface with gaps.
6. You can continue to adjust the offset surface by:
   1. In Offset Parameters, right-click Clear Selections to return to the model's original state.
   2. Enter a smaller value to reduce the Offset Distance.
   3. Click OK .