Rationale behind Inset plugin?

Hi all,

I'm currently trying to get my head around the algorithms used in Skeinforge. Can anyone perhaps enlighten me about the rationale behind the Inset plugin?

I can see that it brings the outer perimeter in by the width of the nozzle (half per side) but I can't work out why, and so far my searching has brought about no answer.

Wouldn't this make the dimensions of the object off by the nozzle width? Or is this used to offset some other variable, such as filament expansion?

Any hints would be most appreciated,

Cheers,
Gary

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garyhodgson.com/reprap | reprap.development-tracker.info | thingtracker.net

If you didn't inset by half the filament width the object would be too big by half the filament width in all directions. When milling you have to do the opposite, i.e. outset by half the tool diameter.

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[www.hydraraptor.blogspot.com]

Gah, of course. You don't measure from nozzle tip.

Thanks for taking the time to answer such an obvious question.

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garyhodgson.com/reprap | reprap.development-tracker.info | thingtracker.net