Is there a 2D offset surface command?

[Konrad]

Hi,

I am currently 3d printing a lot of fixtures on a large nozzle 3d printer. When modelling these fixtures I try to optimize the geometry for the 3d printing process, e.g. selecting a wall thickness as a multiple of the extrusion width. This makes the walls a bit more consistent, especially with large nozzles …
But since the slicer slices the geometry in the xy plane and offsetsrf operates in the normal direction of the surface construction these surfaces is not always so easy. For simple models it’s possible to do by hand, but for complex curved surfaces it gets rather tricky.

Is there a way to 2D offset surfaces in rhino similarly to scale2D?

Thanks!

[John_Brock]

There is no “2D Offset” as you described.

I would copy the truncated cone and cylinder in place.
Then use Scale 2D on the copies (from the Top) to make them bigger, then build capping surfaces and Join them.

Any luck?

[Helvetosaur]

One other possibility with “arbitrary” geometry might be to use Contour to make a series of “topographic” 2D contours of the object, then offset all of those and either Loft through them or use them as construction geometry to make the offset surfaces.