Recommended test
Check a five-member layout and compare the outside dimensions of Inside and Outside frame closure.
- Draw a 2400 mm CC run and set a centered 48 by 98 mm rectangle with vertical 2400 mm extrusion.
- Enable Even spacing, set Count to 3, enable the half-width offset and leave extra endpoint offsets at zero.
- Check five centers with 588 mm between neighbors, then enable Close frame Inside with both ends.
- Verify 2304 mm uprights and 2400 mm overall height; compare Outside, which gives 2496 mm overall height.
Even spacing and Count are on the right in CC runs & spacing. Close frame is in the left rail; Extrude sets member length.
Even spacing by count
Count means intermediate objects between the two endpoint objects. Count 3 normally produces five members; Count 0 produces just the two endpoint members. Frame caps and mirrored copies are additional objects. Very short runs or coincident targets can reduce the result through target deduplication.
With extra First/Last offsets at zero, the center interval is:
(run length - 2 × half-width inset) / (Count + 1)
The half-width inset is zero when Offset first/last objects by half width is unchecked. It uses actual profile width when checked; saved trusses use their depth instead.
For a 2400 mm run with centered 48 mm wide members and Count 3:
| Half-width offset | Center positions from the run start | Center interval | Overall width |
|---|---|---|---|
| Off | 0, 600, 1200, 1800, 2400 mm | 600 mm | 2448 mm |
| On | 24, 612, 1200, 1788, 2376 mm | 588 mm | 2400 mm |
These bounds assume a center anchor, profile width aligned along the run, and no rotation, move, mirror or trim. Changing those conditions changes how the physical edges relate to the target positions.
Choose a fixed CC module
Turn Even spacing off to use the run’s recorded CC distance or a CC override. Even spacing takes priority while enabled, even if an override value is present.
A fixed module can leave a remainder. With half-width offset off, zero extra offsets and a 3250 mm run at 600 mm CC, the regular centers are 0, 600, 1200, 1800, 2400 and 3000 mm. Force last object adds a center at 3250 mm, making the last bay 250 mm.
Apply endpoint offsets deliberately
First offset moves the first target forward along the run. Last offset moves the last target backward from the end. Both are added to any enabled half-width inset. They adjust endpoint targets; they do not recalculate every intermediate target, including when Even spacing is active. Nonzero extra offsets can therefore break equal end bays.
There is a further distinction in fixed CC mode: when the last endpoint needs adjustment and Force last is off, the final regular tick is moved to the adjusted end target if there is no tick at the exact run endpoint. Force last keeps that regular tick and adds the end target instead.
For the same 3250 mm run at 600 mm CC, half-width offset off, and First/Last offsets both 98 mm:
| Force last | Final center positions |
|---|---|
| Off | 98, 600, 1200, 1800, 2400, 3152 mm |
| On | 98, 600, 1200, 1800, 2400, 3000, 3152 mm |
Targets that coincide are merged, so Force last does not always increase the object count. The card’s tick count is not a complete count of generated solids. Inspect the actual preview, especially with large offsets, caps or mirroring.
Close the frame at the extrusion ends
For spaced shape members, Close frame adds rails spanning between the outer members of the run. Select A, B or both extrusion ends. On a vertical wall these become bottom and top plates; on a differently oriented assembly they close the corresponding ends.
- Inside shortens the repeated bodies to make room for caps within the intended extrusion span.
- Outside keeps the repeated bodies at the intended extrusion length and adds caps beyond that span.
With Rail profile: Automatic, a centered 48 × 98 mm rectangular profile, 2400 mm extrusion, both caps and no extension offsets, each cap is 48 mm thick. Inside produces 2304 mm bodies and a 2400 mm overall height. Outside produces 2400 mm bodies and a 2496 mm overall height. The custom frame exercise uses these values.
Choose Rectangle or Round under Rail profile for independent rail dimensions. Inside uses the selected rail height or diameter when shortening the members. If the rails cannot fit, increase extrusion, reduce their size, disable an end or choose Outside. Automatic restores the default rails.
Extrusion offset extends the start or end of the extrusion. It is separate from First/Last offset in Spacing, which moves placement targets along the measured run. Check both the total frame span and the individual member lengths when combining these controls.
Rectangles and curved paths
For rectangles, the half-width option insets the end members on every side. Fixed CC marks remain measured from each drawn corner; Even spacing distributes members between the inset ends. Each side has its own end members when inset. Turn the option off for shared corner members.
Arc and spline runs space members along curve length and can use continuous closing rails. Closed loops avoid a duplicate end member. The Even spacing row shows calculated CC, or a range when different sides use different intervals. See construction paths, curved frames and sweeps for drawing and orientation requirements. Sweep mode creates one continuous member and does not use Count or Close frame.