Can I offset a complex shape inward or outward in BricsCAD?
Short Answer
Yes — in BricsCAD, you can offset a complex shape inward or outward using the OFFSET command, which is the standard professional method for creating parallel geometry from closed polylines, splines, arcs, and similar objects. It works best when the shape is clean and continuous. Very tight corners or self-intersecting results can cause failure.
What You Need to Know Before
Warning: Offsetting complex geometry inward often fails when the new boundary would overlap itself, especially on narrow areas, sharp concave corners, or dirty imported polylines. If the source object is not truly closed or contains tiny gaps, the result may be incomplete or invalid.
How to Offset a Complex Shape Inward or Outward in BricsCAD
Command: OFFSET
Shortcut: O
Quick Steps:
- On the Ribbon > Home tab > Modify panel, click Offset, or type O and press Enter.
- Enter the offset distance, then select the complex closed shape you want to offset.
- Click inside the shape for an inward offset or outside for an outward offset; use the Through option if you want to define the new curve by a picked point instead of a fixed distance.
Variables & Settings
Key Setting: Erase source object option in the offset command
Expert Setting: Leave Erase set to No in most professional workflows so the original boundary stays available for checking, trimming, and rollback if the offset produces bad geometry.
Why it Fails
- Cause 1 (Geometry): The shape has sharp concave areas, tiny segments, self-intersections, or spline complexity that makes the inward or outward offset mathematically impossible.
- Cause 2 (layers/Locks): The object is on a locked layer, inside a locked block context, or the target result cannot be created on the current editing context.
- Cause 3 (Command/Logic): The selected object is not a single continuous boundary, or the chosen offset distance is too large for the smallest feature in the shape.
Quick Fix & Best Practice
- Quick Fix: Run PEDIT to join gaps or convert segments into one closed polyline before using OFFSET.
- Manager’s Verdict: Use OFFSET for production drafting when the boundary is clean, closed, and editable. Avoid forcing offsets on messy imported geometry; first simplify or rebuild the profile for predictable results.
FAQ
Can I offset a spline in BricsCAD?
Yes, but complex splines may offset poorly compared with closed polylines.
Can I offset inward on a very irregular polyline?
Yes, if the inward distance does not create self-overlap in narrow areas.
What should I do if OFFSET creates broken results?
Clean the geometry first with PEDIT, close gaps, and remove tiny overlapping segments.
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