Extrude 2 sides option:
consider adding 2 side option to the extrude tool so that a curve can be extruded at different distances from each side of the curve. This eliminates the task of extruding from one side then again extruding from the other then performing a union command. It creates one object in one extrusion.
fusion 360 has a simular option in its extrusion tool. I am sure shapr3d can optimize this to improve the user experience.
Wouldn’t it be even quicker to extrude to the shorter distance first, then select the end face on one side and extrude it further?
You’d still end up with a single body, without needing a Union or setting two separate extrusion distances. I think this is actually much faster — by the time you’ve set up both extrusion distances, you could already be done.
Yes you’re right you are left with one body, but you have 2 features an extrusion and a face offset. I think that an extrusion that creates a body should not need a second feature in the timeline. A lot of cad work requires making revisions and searching and trying to understand past projects that you have not seen for months that require you to understand the timeline as efficiently as possible. Trying to understand a body was created by two features instead of one requires you to open both features and manipulate two features when one body should only have one extrusion. Easier to understand, more efficient, and simplifies the time line.
Again 2 features for one body. If that works for you great but it is not more efficient then one feature for one body.
