hello Rick, I'm sorry but I didn't mean to cause you any confusion.

I thought you knew the back off DISTANCE.
should be smaller than the clearance.
and if the gap is .5'' both the clearance and back off should be less than .5''
try this,

SE,SBAK:2.0 (THIS UNITS ARE METRIC)
SE,CLEAR:7.0
#OD,PLANE,PTS\X\Y\Z\DIAM

HOPE FULLY THIS HELPS