Offsetting operations on non-manifold topological models

This paper describes non-manifold offsetting operations that add or remove a uniform thickness from a given non-manifold topological model. The mathematical definitions and properties of the non-manifold offsetting operations are investigated first, and then an offset algorithm based on the definitions is proposed and implemented using the non-manifold Euler operators proposed in this paper. In this algorithm, the offset elements of minimal size for the vertices, edges and faces of a given non-manifold model are generated first. Then, they are united into a single body using the non-manifold Boolean operations. In order to reduce computation time and numerical errors, the intersections between the offset elements are calculated considering the origins of the topological entities during union. Finally, all topological entities that are within the offset distance are detected and removed in turn. In addition to the original offset algorithm based on mathematical definitions, some variant offset algorithms, called sheet thickening and solid shelling, are proposed and implemented for more practical and efficient solid modeling of thin-walled plastic or sheet metal parts. In virtue of the proposed non-manifold offset operation and its variations, different offsetting operations for wireframes, sheets and solids can be integrated into one and applied to a wide range of applications with a great potential usefulness.