Polygons > Offset modifies a polygon object to be a given amount larger (or smaller) in every direction.
The object must be manifold.
One use for Polygons > Offset relates to injection molding. To manufacture an object that is hollow (less expensive), you might make a mold from the outer shell, use Offset to make a mold that is slightly smaller, put the smaller mold inside the larger one, and inject plastic to form a hollow part.
The controls are:
• Distance - specifies the distance to move the original surface.
• Uniform radio button - generates new vertex positions by moving existing vertices in their normal direction.
Preserve Mesh checkbox - reduces the size of interior triangles, thus preserving the original mesh on the interior surface. Otherwise, triangles on the interior are reduced in number.
Smooth radio button - optimizes the triangulation of the new surface to minimize distortion.
OK button - replaces the original object in the Model Manager with the offset object.
Cancel button - terminates the dialog without saving an offset object.
Apply button - executes the offset process and leaves the dialog open for modification of the parameters.
Before using Polygons > Offset, it is useful to detect and repair self-intersecting triangles. See Polygons > Sharpening Wizard or Analysis > Test Intersections.