How to Make Parallel Copies in BricsCAD

Quick answer: OFFSET creates a parallel copy of a linear entity at a specified distance, or through a chosen point, working on arcs, circles, ellipses, elliptical arcs, lines, 2D polylines, rays, and infinite lines.

What OFFSET Can Work On

Beyond the standard linear entity types, OFFSET‘s acceptance depends on which SELECTIONMODES options are set, the same options covered on this hub’s entity selection and direct modeling pages: with Select Edges set, it accepts an edge of a 3D solid; with Select Faces set, it accepts the outline of a 3D solid face; with Select Detected Boundaries set, it accepts enclosed boundaries.

OFFSETGAPTYPE controls how potential gaps between segments are treated when offsetting a closed polyline.

Making a Parallel Copy at a Specified Distance

1. Launch OFFSET.
2. Either press Enter to accept the current distance, type a new distance at the Command line, or define one by specifying two points.
3. Select a linear entity; a preview of the parallel copy displays based on your cursor’s current position relative to it.
4. Click a point; the parallel copy is created. If OFFSETERASE is on, the original entity is deleted.
5. Either select another entity, or press Enter to stop.

Making a Parallel Copy Through a Point

1. Launch OFFSET.
2. Either press Enter to accept the default Through point option (whichever was last used), or choose Through point explicitly.
3. Select a linear entity; the parallel copy displays dynamically.
4. Click a point to create the parallel copy. If OFFSETERASE is on, the original entity is deleted.
5. Either select another entity, or press Enter to stop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can OFFSET work on a 3D solid’s edge or face? Yes, but only if the relevant SELECTIONMODES option, Select Edges or Select Faces, is set.

Does OFFSET automatically delete the original entity after creating a copy? Only if OFFSETERASE is turned on; otherwise, the original stays in place alongside the new parallel copy.

What’s the difference between offsetting at a specified distance and offsetting through a point? Distance-based offsetting creates the copy at a fixed distance you set. Through-point offsetting instead creates it passing directly through a point you click.

Does OFFSET handle gaps in a closed polyline’s segments automatically? It follows whatever OFFSETGAPTYPE is set to, which controls how those gaps get treated during the offset.