Can't offset from an offset?

[fritter63]

I've noticed this in a couple drawings, not sure if it started with the latest update.

I'm unable to create an "offset" from a curve that itself was created as an offset. 

Video below. Sure, I can offset from the original one, but I'd like to keep things relative the width of the feature.

Can't offset an offset

[donsmac]

Select the "offset' constraint and delete it. Now you can do the offset. 

[Anonymous]

Hi, just checking if I understand this.

If I want to do a whole chain of offsets, each one following on from the previous one, I have to delete the offset constraint each time?

In other words, each offset curve requires the following:-

     ckick on the offset constraint

     right click

     click delete

     click sketch

     click offset

     click the curve to offset

     drag the curve to the correct side

     enter the offset distance

     hit enter

repeat as required.

Does no-one think this is a bit longwinded?

Brett

[donsmac]

Hi Bret,

   I just discovered that when using the 'offset', if you type in an amount for an offset, that value stays with the dialogue box the next time you use it. 

So instead of deleting the constraint and offseting the line you could simply offset the original line again and again by typing '+4', for example or whatever amount you want. That resulting value will show in the dialogue the next time you use offset.

 Using the 'offset' arrow is different. It doesn't affect the value that appears in the dialogue the next time you use it. The dialogue keeps the last number typed into it.

Doing the offsets this way allows you to edit the original curve and have the offsets update. Can't do that if you delete the constraints.

~Don

[HughesTooling]

Here's another option offset from the original curve and use the parameter from the first offset + the offset you want from the first offset curve. So the first offset is d1, to offset 3mm from that curve add d1 to the 3mm. Both offset remain parametric done this way.

Mark

[LMD001]

Hi Brett,

Reply from Autodesk: http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/design-validate-document/offset/td-p/6004105

Yep, that is probably the Parametric "price" to pay. Maybe the Offset Command will develop further in the future.

Offsetting the original curve to the needed multiple offsets is not all too difficult.

For me it is more important that the Offset command is parametric, I prefer not loosing the association and parameter, but that's personal and depends on the model I guess.

Best regards,

Ludo

[HughesTooling]

Just to add to my previous post to get the parameter just hover the mouse pointer over the dimension for a second and it's displayed.

Mark

[LMD001]

Hi Mark,

Tried this yesterday and it works OK, only, you cannot select a dimension, you can only type the dimension name, so you need to know the name. Not too big of a deal but not consistent with other commands where you can select a dimension as input.

Best regards,

Ludo

[HughesTooling]

Hi Ludo

That problem does come up in some other places as well, you can only pick a dimension as an input while adding a dimension. For example when setting up a pattern you can't select a dimension as an input for the distance.

[LMD001]

Hi Mark,

Yes, you are absolutely right, thanks for clarifying that.

- Ludo

[Anonymous]

Ok,

Thanks for the comments and the help.

Brett

[jeff_strater]

Yes, this is a known limitation of offset, and a tradeoff we had to make along the way.  I won't go into the details, but it is complex once you start doing offsets-of-offsets-of-offsets...

We do hope to improve this over time, but it is unfortunately a large project.  So, we made a decision that there was enough value in a fully associative offset, even with this limitation, to justify releasing it.  In the meantime, as @HughesTooling suggests, just keep going back to the original.  The result is the same.

Thanks for the valuable discussion

Jeff Strater (Fusion development)

[gdolbier]

Bump. I am finding I need this as well. Trying to make a stairstep circular pattern, circular pattern within circular pattern. Maintaining distance along the entire length of curve, not perpendicular to each point on the curve. but maintaining length along a tangent that points to the center of the curve, well over a dozen times. I'd be happy to provide example project, and example products that use this feature

[g-andresen]

Hi,

Share the file and name the elements, and their desired assignment.

günther