Tool Path Offset (CAM Menu)

The tool path offset is achieved by calculating an equidistant to the given object. An equidistant is a line whose points have the same distance to all points of the reference object. In the simplest case this is a line parallel to another line or a circle concentric with another circle.

After choosing the command, a dialog appears into which the tool diameter can be entered.

How can I access information on this dialog?

This values entered here remain valid until either another command is chosen, or the command is restarted by choosing Change Parameters (+ESC) or the key combination SHIFT+ESC.

The tool diameter must be practical. For example, you cannot draw an equidistant larger than 10 mm within a circle with a radius of 10 mm.

Any object consisting of "normal" elements can be identified as a reference object. These are lines, circles and circle parts, ellipses and elliptical arcs as well as all objects consisting of these elements. The objects are always treated as a whole. Some elements, for example text, dimensions and instances, cannot be used.

An object is identified by clicking on it. If more than one object lies at the point clicked on, then a small dialog appears at the bottom of the screen, with the help of which the correct object can be chosen.

The identified object is referred to as the "Reference Object".

After identifying the reference object a point is entered which determines on which side of the reference object the equidistant should be drawn (see graphic).

NBased in parameters, the corners of the parallel outline will be rounded or not (see graphic).

Equidistants are stored internally in different forms, according to the reference object's type. Lines create lines, circles create circles. All other object types create curves (open outlines) or surfaces (closed outlines).

The object is allocated to the current layer. It also contains a reference to the current pen.

If a line equidistant to a surface containing Bézier curves is created, there may be (extreme) inaccuracies. During the calculation of the equidistant line, the Bézier curve is treated as a polyline with three sections (Start point - Pivot point 1 - Pivot point 2 - End point). If the Bézier curve is relatively short and flat, this simplification usually has no negative effect.

The command Tool Path Offset does not work directly with text. To draw a line equidistant to text, it must first be converted to curves or surfaces using the command Text > Resolve. An equidistant line can then be created (see graphic)

The problem with Bézier curves described above does not arise with TrueType fonts as the Bézier curves in TrueType fonts are relatively short and flat. However, rounded corners should always be used in order to make the result look smoother.