Has the offset direction changed in the last release?

[rob.fusion360]

Hi,

I've been experimenting with offsets on exploded text items for the last month or so.

e.g. I would create a simple text number, say '10', then I would explode the text, then I would offset the lines created.  The offset function would be clever enough to take the O and expand the outside of the O and reduce the inside of the 'O'. I never used a -ve offset as F360 was clever enough to work it all out.

Just tried this again and the offset default direction appears to have changed to be absolute, so I have to put -ve offsets or +ve offsets for all exploded text items. Adding in an extra -ve symbol isn't the end of the world, but I feel the F360 functionality has gone backwards OR (more likely) I have accidently changed a preference that I can't find.

Any suggestions welcomed.

many thanks

Rob

[g-andresen]

Hi,

1. The offset direction has always depended on the direction of the line.

2. You don't need to enter - or + but can change the direction with the "FLIP" option.

3.For extrudable profiles, it is often better to avoid offsets in Sketch mode and use the Thin Extrusion option of the Extrusion tool instead.

[rob.fusion360]

Thanks for taking the time to do this. Appreciate it.

I still think that something has changed (but I don't understand it), because when I create a new 'O' in a new document, explode the text and do an offset with a +ve value, it draws the new offset inside the 'O', so its smaller. if I flip the direction in the offset dialogue box, it changes the +ve value to a -ve value and draws a large 'O'. I can see that it has now put -2mm in the value.

If I go back to a file I created a few days ago, and put a +ve value in the 'O' it keeps the +ve value and draws a larger 'O' outside. The behaviour is the opposite from one doc to another. You can see this in the video below. Need to create a different format as .mov doesn't seem to work, hang on :)]

I am no F360 expert, indeed I would say I'm pretty much a naive (or idiot) user, so if I have misunderstood I apologise.

Rob

[g-andresen]

Hi,

Maybe the Thin Extrude option will save you the trouble with the offset tool?

günther

[rob.fusion360]

Didn't know about that, will investigate.

Thanks

Rob

[g-andresen]

Hi,

Please reply directly to posts and not via "Quick Reply".

günther

[rob.fusion360]

Hi, happy to do that, but whats the difference?

Thanks

Rob

[g-andresen]

Hi,

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@rob.fusion360 wrote:

Hi, happy to do that, but whats the difference?

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This way you can see which post you are referring to.

Quick reply refers to the TO.

günther

[rob.fusion360 · Accepted solution]

<doh> Should have realised that </doh>.

I have now found out why the offset is working differently between two files that look the same but actually aren't. It's been a slow afternoon at work 🙂

The reason is that I inverted the text when I created the text for my glow-in-the-dark dust caps for my telescope eyepieces. There is a good reason for this when 3d printing that I won't bore you with here.

If I left the text as-is, then the offset works one way, if I inverted the text, I think the direction of drawing the arcs is inverted, so the offset works the other way. There is a logic to it. Actually inverting the text makes the offset work the way I think it should work, but thats a different story.

I'm pleased I have got to the bottom of this, thank you for your help and pointing me in the right direction (pun intended).

Rob

[g-andresen]

Hi,

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@rob.fusion360 wrote:

 if I inverted the text, I think the direction of drawing the arcs is inverted, so the offset works the other way. 

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I pointed this out in the screencast in my post 2.

günther