Is there a better method to add uniform thickness to a curve pattern that has been converted into a mesh?

Question

I have the following mesh with no thickness or faces:

I wish to be able to apply a uniform thickness along with clean geometry without creating too many vertices.

The solidify modifier isn't getting me what I desire:

The skin modifier is getting me closer to what I want, but I am unable to control the thickness of the object, generating extra geometry from what I need and creating undesirable faces and edges.

The process here is after the skin modifier is applied, the geometry is flattened on the Z axis, vertices doubles removed, and then extruded.

There has to be a simpler, less computationally expensive and more flexible solution to this that I am unaware of.

Answer 1

Maybe there's a simpler way but you could try with the Wireframe modifier:

• Select your mesh, fill with F.
• Give your object a Wireframe modifier. Enable Boundary, choose the Thickness you want.
• Apply the modifier.
• In Edit mode, select all and flatten with a SZ0.
• Remove doubles with a W.
• Delete the unwanted faces.
• Work the angles.