![Frame_01.jpg](../../Frame_01.jpg)
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Pattern
Feature |
![Frame_03.jpg](../../Frame_03.jpg)
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Creating patterns of features is a common task in design. There
are two different types of patterns, each providing a unique value.
TriBall Pattern
- The existing TriBall pattern is a quick method to create
a parametric pattern using the positioning power of the TriBall.
This pattern only controls the number, distance, and location
and is using the feature linking capability. It supports linear,
circular, and bilinear patterns, however it is only a single
feature pattern (no support for pattern of pattern). Note:
Only available in Innovative Part Design. For more information,
visit the Creating
Patterns with the TriBall topic.
Pattern Feature Command
- The pattern feature command provides performance improvements,
direction reference relations, pattern of pattern, supports
blend/chamfer/draft in the pattern result, and supports the
feature extrude to operations (For Example - Extrude to Surface
can be maintained in the patterned features). The pattern
feature is an feature that allows the user to refer to an
edge/vector to define the direction, axis, or path in Linear,
Bilinear, circular, edge, and sketch path patterns. The reference
is maintained when the geometry is modified in which the pattern
will update to reflect the change in the reference modification.
The pattern is based on a new algorithm that provides fast
updates when the geometry is modified and benefits users with
many feature patterns.
When a Pattern Feature is generated, parameters are automatically
added to the parameter table to parametrically control the pattern
results.
The pattern feature result is a true parent-child relationship.
This means that changes to the original parent feature will modify
the results of the pattern. You are not able to edit the feature
definition of the pattern result features directly. When you select
on the pattern result feature, it will highlight the entire feature
in yellow denoting the pattern.
To edit patterns, right-click on the pattern feature in the
scene or scene browser and select Edit Definition.
![PatternFeature.gif](../../Images_to_be_localized_Dialogs_and_Toolbars/PatternFeature.gif)
Pattern Feature Command Bar
To Create a Linear Pattern
Select a part in the
scene to apply the pattern (or skip to step #2).
Select the Pattern Feature
command from the Feature Fluent Ribbon Bar. If a part is not
selected, you will be requested to select a part to apply
the command to.
Select Linear Pattern.
Select a linear part
edge or axis to define the direction of the pattern (Note:
The pattern direction is defined by this edge selection. When
the edge changes direction, the pattern will update to reflect
the new direction). Select Reverse Direction to reverse the
direction if needed.
Select the features
to pattern. Note: Right-click in the list box to clear or
delete selections.
Enter the offset distance
for the pattern spacing.
Enter the Count to define
the number of patterned shapes.
Select Ok to finish
the command.
Alternatively, select
Skip Nodes to skip different instances of the pattern. This
will allow you to select the various instances by selecting
a Green dot indicating the instance to no display.
Note: The Advance Option to restrict to non-floating features
is used for the fast generation performance of the pattern. A
floating feature is considered a feature that is not affecting
or acting on the main solid body. Un-check this option to allow
for these types of patterns to generate but at the expense of
performance.
To Create a Bilinear Pattern
Select a part in the
scene to apply the pattern (or skip to step #2).
Select the Pattern Feature
command from the Feature Fluent Ribbon Bar. If a part is not
selected, you will be requested to select a part to apply
the command to.
Select Bilinear Pattern.
Select a linear part
edge or axis to define the first direction of the pattern.
Select Reverse Direction to reverse the direction if needed.
Select a linear part
edge or axis to define the second direction of the pattern.
Select Reverse Direction to reverse the direction if needed.
Select the features
to pattern. Note: Right-click in the list box to clear or
delete selections.
Enter the offset distance
for the pattern spacing.
Enter the Count to define
the number of patterned shapes.
Select Ok to finish
the command.
Select Pattern Seed
only to not include the original feature in the pattern. This
is useful when creating a mid-plane pattern for example when
the pattern is on both sides of the original feature.
Alternatively, select
Skip Nodes to skip different instances of the pattern. This
will allow you to select the various instances by selecting
a Green dot indicating the instance to no display.
Note: The Advance Option to restrict to non-floating features
is used for the fast generation performance of the pattern. A
floating feature is considered a feature that is not affecting
or acting on the main solid body. Un-check this option to allow
for these types of patterns to generate but at the expense of
performance.
To Create a Circular Pattern
Select a part in the
scene to apply the pattern (or skip to step #2).
Select the Pattern Feature
command from the Feature Fluent Ribbon Bar. If a part is not
selected, you will be requested to select a part to apply
the command to.
Select Circular Pattern.
Select a datum axis
or linear part edge to define the rotation axis of the pattern.
Select Reverse Direction to reverse the direction if needed.
Select the features
to pattern. Note: Right-click in the list box to clear or
delete selections.
Enter the angle for
the pattern spacing for a fixed spacing.
Enter the Count to define
the number of patterned shapes.
Select Ok to finish
the command.
Alternatively, select
Skip Nodes to skip different instances of the pattern. This
will allow you to select the various instances by selecting
a Green dot indicating the instance to no display.
Note: The Advance Option to restrict to non-floating features
is used for the fast generation performance of the pattern. A
floating feature is considered a feature that is not affecting
or acting on the main solid body. Un-check this option to allow
for these types of patterns to generate but at the expense of
performance.
To Create an Edge Pattern
Select a part in the
scene to apply the pattern (or skip to step #2).
Select the Pattern Feature
command from the Feature Fluent Ribbon Bar. If a part is not
selected, you will be requested to select a part to apply
the command to.
Select Edge Pattern.
Select a part edge or
3D Curve (Structured parts only) to define the path of the
pattern. Select Reverse Direction to reverse the direction
if needed.
Select the features
to pattern. Note: Right-click in the list box to clear or
delete selections.
For Fixed Spacing,
For Distance Spaced,
For Evenly Spaced,
Select Ok to finish
the command.
Alternatively:
Select
Skip Nodes to skip different instances of the pattern.
This will allow you to select the various instances by
selecting a Green dot indicating the instance to no display.
Select
Along Edge to place the feature result on the selected
edge and pattern along the edge.
Select
Along Edge Direction to rotate the features normal to
follow the orientation of the edge.
Select
Offset Edge to create a pattern from the current feature
location maintaining the offset distance from the edge
selected for the path.
Select
Smooth Connected to use a smoothly connected edge as the
pattern edge.
Note: The Advance Option to restrict to non-floating features
is used for the fast generation performance of the pattern. A
floating feature is considered a feature that is not affecting
or acting on the main solid body. Un-check this option to allow
for these types of patterns to generate but at the expense of
performance.
To Create an Sketch Pattern
Select a part in the
scene to apply the pattern (or skip to step #2).
Select the Pattern Feature
command from the Feature Fluent Ribbon Bar. If a part is not
selected, you will be requested to select a part to apply
the command to.
Select an existing sketch
that has 2D Points applied to the sketch to be used as the
pattern definition. Select the desired option to use for the
sketch (for innovative parts only):
Copy Existing Profile - Copy the profile
information into the feature information of the pattern.
The original sketch will be left intact to allow edits
that are not related to the pattern. To edit the profile,
right-click on the resulting pattern feature and select
Edit Profile.
Link to Existing Profiles - The pattern
definition will be based on the original sketch. Modifications
to the sketch will update the pattern feature.
Consume Existing Profiles - Consume
the profile information into the feature information of
the pattern (the original sketch will be removed and consumed
into this feature). To edit the profile, right-click on
the resulting pattern feature and select Edit Profile.
Select the features
to pattern. Note: Right-click in the list box to clear or
delete selections.
Options for alignment
to the sketch points:
Refer to Center of Gravity - Use the
center of gravity for the selected feature to determine
its alignment to the points in the sketch.
Refer to Selected Point - Specify
a reference point of the feature to be used as the location
to align to the points in the sketch.
Alternatively, select
Skip Nodes to skip different instances of the pattern. This
will allow you to select the various instances by selecting
a Green dot indicating the instance to no display.
Note: The Advance Option
to restrict to non-floating features is used for the fast generation
performance of the pattern. A floating feature is considered a
feature that is not affecting or acting on the main solid body.
Un-check this option to allow for these types of patterns to generate
but at the expense of performance.
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