Inset Scale
Modify > Inset Scalel
 

Description:

      The Inset Scale (Modify > Inset Scale) tool is used to scale faces such that the edges of the faces selected all move an equal distance from their original position.  If you perform an extrude followed immediately by an inset scale, it will have the efffect of what many other programs would call an Inset command.  Basically, inset scale ensures that each edge of a selected face moves the same distance inward from its original position, rather than simply scaling down the entire face to a smaller size.  This can be a handy tool for doing things like making walls of uniform thickness.
    Once you initialize the tool, drag to adjust the amount of the scale operation.  You can click and drag additional times to further adjust the scale amount.  Right-click or press Enter to exit the tool.


Notes:

- At first glance, the Inset Scale tool might appear to be the same as the Normal Scale tool.  Too see the difference between the two, try creating a sphere, selecting several adjacent faces, performing an extrusion (with the faces set to stay together), and then testing both inset scale and normal scale on the extruded faces.