I work in the medical device industry where we design and develop implants for spinal fusion applications. This often involves developing asymmetric buttress type threads for screws that are fixated in the bone. It would be nice to be able to create a datum curve through a cross section and then be able to offset that whole curve in one operation both in the positive and negative direction in order to quickly create a profile overlay to measure threads to ensure they are within in specification. Thread overlays are very quick and easy to use in order to check the form on the thread rather than trying to measure discreet dimensions and interpreting tangent transitions say from a radius to a back angled surface of the thread. At one point there was a function to create a datum curve through the intersection of a cross section but there was not much that could be done with it. I know there may be issues with some curves created at splines and offsetting may be challenging for the math? But if this could be done it would a great functionality for this industry. Or at least for out company.
