About the Offset Curve User Interface
The
Offset tab consists of commands, tabs, and shortcut menus. Select a curve and click
Model >
Offset to open the
Offset tab.
Commands
• Offset types that you can apply to the selected curves.
◦ ![](../../../part_modeling/part_modeling/images/offset_curve_along_surface.png)
—Offsets the curve along the reference surface.
◦ ![](../../../part_modeling/part_modeling/images/offset_curve_normal_to_surface.png)
—Offsets the curve normal to the reference surface.
◦ ![](../../../part_modeling/part_modeling/images/offset_curve_fan.png)
—Offsets the given number of curves evenly between two reference curves on the reference surface.
| The option for the fan type curve is available only if you set the enable_offset_fan_curve configuration option to yes. By default, enable_offset_fan_curve is set to no. |
▪ ![](../../../part_modeling/part_modeling/images/new_curve_red.png)
collector—Displays the second reference curve when
![](../../../part_modeling/part_modeling/images/offset_curve_fan.png)
Fan Curve is selected.
▪ ![](../../../part_modeling/part_modeling/images/new_plane_red.png)
—Displays the measurement plane when
![](../../../part_modeling/part_modeling/images/offset_curve_fan.png)
Fan Curve is selected.
▪ ![](../../../part_modeling/part_modeling/images/sel_number.png)
box—Sets the number of curves for
![](../../../part_modeling/part_modeling/images/offset_curve_fan.png)
Fan Curves.
• ![](../../../part_modeling/part_modeling/images/ff_surftool.png)
collector—Indicates that a valid reference was selected.
• ![](../../../part_modeling/part_modeling/images/value.png)
box—Sets the offset value or graph scale values.
• ![](../../../part_modeling/part_modeling/images/dash_flip_16.png)
—Flips the direction of the offset for
![](../../../part_modeling/part_modeling/images/offset_curve_along_surface.png)
Along Surface, or flips the start point of the graph for
![](../../../part_modeling/part_modeling/images/offset_curve_normal_to_surface.png)
Normal to Surface.
Tabs
• References
◦ Offset curve collector—Displays the curve or curve chain to offset.
▪ Details—Opens the
Chain dialog box when
![](../../../part_modeling/part_modeling/images/offset_curve_along_surface.png)
Along Surface or
![](../../../part_modeling/part_modeling/images/offset_curve_fan.png)
Fan Curve is selected.
◦ Reference quilt collector—Displays the reference quilt, plane, or surface.
◦ First reference curve collector—Displays the first reference curve when
![](../../../part_modeling/part_modeling/images/offset_curve_fan.png)
Fan Curve is selected.
◦ Second reference curve collector—Displays the second reference curve when
![](../../../part_modeling/part_modeling/images/offset_curve_fan.png)
Fan Curve is selected.
◦ Measurement plane collector—Displays the measurement plane when
![](../../../part_modeling/part_modeling/images/offset_curve_fan.png)
Fan Curve is selected.
• Measurements
This tab is available when
![](../../../part_modeling/part_modeling/images/offset_curve_along_surface.png)
Along Surface is selected.
◦ Point—Lists the points used in the offset. Right-click and choose Add or Delete to add or delete a point.
◦ Distance—Specifies the offset distance. You can either drag the handle in the graphics window or click the Distance cell to enter a new value.
◦ Reference—Activates the reference collector for this point.
◦ Location—Specifies the length ratio of the point.
◦ ![](../../../part_modeling/part_modeling/images/measure_normal_to_curve.png)
—Measures the offset distance in the direction normal to the curve.
◦ ![](../../../part_modeling/part_modeling/images/measure_parallel_to_plane.png)
—Measures the offset distance in the direction parallel to the selected datum plane.
▪ Datum plane collector—Displays the reference datum plane.
• Options
This tab is available when
![](../../../part_modeling/part_modeling/images/offset_curve_normal_to_surface.png)
Normal to Surface is selected.
◦ Graph—Displays the graph used as the offset reference.
▪ Flip—Reverses the offset direction.
◦ Scale—Sets an offset value.
• Properties
◦ Name box—Sets a name for a feature.
◦ ![](../../../part_modeling/part_modeling/images/dash_info.png)
—Displays detailed component information in a browser.
Shortcut Menus
Right-click the graphics window to access shortcut menu commands.
• Offset Curve—Activates the Offset curve collector to select the curve to offset.
• Reference Quilt—Activates the Reference quilt collector to select a reference quilt, plane, or surface.
• Measurement Point—Edits the distances and locations of reference points.
• Graph—Activates the
Graph collector for
![](../../../part_modeling/part_modeling/images/offset_curve_normal_to_surface.png)
Normal to Surface offset curves.
• Second Offset Curve—Activates the curve collector to select a second curve when
![](../../../part_modeling/part_modeling/images/offset_curve_fan.png)
Fan Curve is selected.
• Measurement Plane—Activates the surface collector to select a reference plane when
![](../../../part_modeling/part_modeling/images/offset_curve_fan.png)
Fan Curve is selected.
• Clear—Clears the active collector.
• Flip—Flips the direction of the offset when there is more than one valid direction possible.