SpaceClaim Online Help

Circular patterns

You can create patterns of:

• Protrusions or depressions (including slots)
• Points, planes, origins, or axes
• Sketch curves
• Notes
• Lightweight text 
• Components

Patterns can be made from a mix of object types, such as a pattern of holes (faces) and bolts (imported components). You cannot create a pattern of threads. You can use the Undo button, Ctrl+Z or Redo button, Ctrl+Y when creating a pattern.

To create a one- or two - dimensional circular pattern

1. Click the Circular tool in the Create group on the Design2D or 3D model that contains at least one top-level component. tab.

2. Select a protrusion, depression, body, sketch, points, axes, planes, origins, or 3D curves to be the first member (leader) of the pattern. The Direction tool guide activates.

3. Select a line, edge, axis, sheet metal marker, or a set of points to set the direction of the pattern.

4. (Optional) Modify the Pattern options in the Options panelArea of the user interface that enables you to modify functions specific to tools..

   Pattern Type: One-dimensional or Two-dimensional.

   Change Circular Count, or Angle values for One-dimensional.

   Change CircularCount, Angle, Linear Count, or Linear PitchUnit of length that a helix face shifts per 360º rotation; distance from one point on a thread to the corresponding point on the next thread. values for Two-dimensional.

   NoteAnnotation placed on a design, drawing sheet, or 3D markup. Notes contain text or symbols that you insert and can be connected to geometry by a note leader. that a Circular Count of one, in a two dimensional pattern, will create a single radial pattern.

   As you switch between pattern types, or change pattern values, the pattern preview displays your changes in blue.

5. Select the Define Pattern tool guide.

6. Select the Create Pattern tool guide, or press Enter, to complete the pattern.

   When the pattern is previewed, any members which cannot be created are shown in red. Members that can be created are shown in blue.

   The image below shows the preview for a two-dimensional pattern. For one-dimensional, only the Angular direction is displayed. Clicking the arrows flips their direction 180-degrees.

    

   

   You can create circular patterns on cylindrical faces, both around the face and along the axis.

    

In SpaceClaim, any pattern member can be used to modify the pattern after you create it. If the change cannot be made to all pattern members, the member that cannot change is still part of the pattern.

When you select a member of a pattern, you will see fields for the pattern count and distances relative to the member you have selected. Press Tab to move among the dimension and count fields.

• Icons next to the pattern’s dimensions and counts show which will be changed if you change the value of the highlighted field. The closed lock indicates that a dimension won’t change and the open lock shows you it will change. You can override a lock on a dimension by clicking its icon to toggle it between locked and unlocked.

• DimensionAnnotation on a drawing showing measurement of an edge or face. Use the Dimension tool to add measurements to your design, drawing sheet, or 3D markup. or count line placement, arrows, and value fields show you how the pattern will change if you change the value of a field.

• Your selection determines how changes to the distance and count affect the pattern’s position. If you select one member of the pattern, the change is centered on that member. If you select all pattern members, the change is centered on the entire pattern, with the distance between members locked by default. You can control which direction the pattern will grow based on which member you select and which count or distance you change.

• Changing a pattern count in one direction does not change the distance between pattern members. Instead, the overall distance of the pattern will change. This is indicated by the closed lock icon.

• Circular patterns are anchored at the opposite end by default when you move one end.

Patterns of sketch entities and 3D curves are no longer patterns when they change into another form, such as a surface or solid. For example, if you pattern a C-shaped curve, then it will remain a pattern when you switch from sketch mode to 3D mode. But if you close off the curve to make a box before you switch to 3D mode, then the boxes will become surfaces and will no longer be a pattern.

To create a radial circular pattern

1. Select all radial pattern members.

2. Click the Circular pattern tool.

3. Set the Pattern type to One-dimensional.

4. Enter the Circular count and Angle.

5. Click on the circular axis.

To create a single radial pattern, set the Pattern type to Two-dimensional and enter a Circular Count of 1.

To edit a pattern's properties

1. Select one pattern member to display the pattern count and dimensions.

2. Edit the pattern's properties.

   Press Tab to switch between the fields.

   Click the lock icon to lock or unlock a value.

3. Press Enter.

   The result of editing the count and spacing is relative to the member of the pattern you select.

To quickly increase or decrease the number of pattern members, press Tab until the count field is highlighted, then hold the Alt key while you press the up or down arrow.

 

To move a pattern

1. Click the MoveA tool used to translate or rotate geometry. tool.

2. Select a pattern member to move a linear pattern or the pattern axis to move a circular or arc pattern.

3. MoveA tool used to translate or rotate geometry. the pattern member with the MoveA tool used to translate or rotate geometry. handle.

   If you have a linear pattern in a radial direction and you move an interior member without setting an anchor, then the entire pattern shifts in the selected direction

Use the Up To tool to move a pattern member up to another face or edge. Pattern dimensions (such as Count and Length) display as expected.

To move a radial pattern in a linear direction

1. Click the MoveA tool used to translate or rotate geometry. tool.

2. Right-click a pattern member and click Select > All Pattern Members.

3. Select the Direction tool guide.

4. Click an object to set the direction of the move.

5. Drag the pattern.

To adjust pattern distance or spacing

1. Click Select or MoveA tool used to translate or rotate geometry. in the Edit group on the Design2D or 3D model that contains at least one top-level component. tab.

2. Select a pattern member.

   This member will serve as the anchor, and other pattern members will move relative to this member.

3. Press Tab until the field you want to change is highlighted:

   • Distance: This field is the overall distance of the pattern. The pattern member you select is anchored, and the length will change relative to this member. The arrows indicate the direction of change. You can see this field at the top of the image below.

   • Spacing: This field is the spacing between pattern members. This field has arrows in both directions and is located between two pattern members. The field is highlighted in blue in the image below.

   • Radial patterns: If you select a member of a radial pattern, you can change the angle between pattern members and the distance from the pattern members to the center of the pattern.

4. Type a new distance or angle and press Enter.

   The spacing between all pattern members will change.

To remove a pattern member from the pattern

Right-click the face of the pattern member and select Unpattern Member. Doing this makes the member independent, so changes to the feature won't propagate to the pattern.

To create a pattern group

1. Select a pattern or pattern member in the Design windowArea in the user interface that displays your model or assembly. Also known as Workspace..

2. Click the GroupsSets of objects that appear in the Groups tab. You create a group from any set of selected objects. Information such as Selection, Alt+selection, move anchoring, axis, and ruler dimension is all stored with the group. tab in the Structure panel.

3. Click Create Group.

   A group is created that displays the number of members in the pattern. You can click on this group to select the pattern and change its parameters in the Design windowArea in the user interface that displays your model or assembly. Also known as Workspace..

To assemble components on a pattern

You can assemble a component with a pattern member, then propagate the component to all of the pattern members. The component will be copied and assembled to each pattern member.

1. Assemble a component to some geometry that is a pattern member using the Align, Tangent, or Orient tools.

2. Right-click the AssemblyHierarchy of components and subcomponents showing relationship within a design, as shown in the Structure tree. In manufacturing, a unit fitted together from manufactured parts. See Assembly tool, Component Condition in the Structure Tree and select Update Components on Pattern.

   The components will be propagated to the pattern, as shown below.