=ADD= =reftype= 14 =number= 99-27 =url= ftp://ftp.risc.uni-linz.ac.at/pub/techreports/1999/99-27.ps.gz =year= 1999 =month= 09 =author= Hillgarter; Erik + Landsmann; G\"unter + Schicho; Josef + Winkler; Franz =title= Generalized Offsets as Envelopes of a One-parameter Set of Spheres =abstract= A generalized offset of a parametrized curve $m(t)$ in ${\R}^n$ is the set of all points having a normal distance $r(t)$ from $m(t).$ Thus the concept covers the classical offsets (for $r(t)=const$) of plane curves as well as pipes and canal surfaces. In this paper we develop methods for generating a rational parametrization of generalized offsets of rational curves $m(t)$ with rational radius variation $r(t),$ in case such a parametrization exists. In addition we try to select those methods, which allow an implementation, that provides solutions in reasonable time. =sponsor= Austrian Science Fund (FWF), Proj.Nr. P11160-TEC (HySax), Proj.Nr. P12662-TEC (Adjoints), and the special research area SFB F013, subprojects 03 and 04. =keywords= canal surface, sum of two squares =end=