SolidWorks 2011 Parts Bible - Matt Lombard [139]
Cross-Reference
Bodies modeling are discussed in more detail in Chapter 19. Surface modeling is covered in Chapter 20.
Patterning Faces
Most of the pattern types have an option for Pattern Faces. This option has a few restrictions, the main limitation being that all instances of the pattern must be created within the boundaries of the same face as the original. Figure 9.10 shows an example of the Pattern Faces option working with a Circular Pattern feature.
To get around the same face limitation, you can knit faces together and pattern the resulting surface body, as shown in Figure 9.11.
Cross-Reference
Working with surface bodies is covered in Chapter 20.
FIGURE 9.10
A circular pattern using the Pattern Faces option
Patterning faces is another way of patterning geometry within SolidWorks without patterning the feature intelligence that was built into the original. It is also a way to make patterns on imported parts from existing geometry. Chapter 23 addresses this topic briefly in the discussion on imported geometry and direct edit techniques.
Patterning faces is not a widely used technique; however, it should be somewhere in your toolbox of tricks. Although it may be lurking near the bottom of the pile, it is still useful in special circumstances.
FIGURE 9.11
Patterning a surface body
Patterning Fillets
You may hear people argue that you cannot pattern fillets. This is only partially true. It is true that fillets as individual features cannot be patterned. For example, if you have a symmetrical box and a fillet on one edge and want to pattern only the fillet to other edges, this does not work. However, when fillets are patterned with their parent geometry, they are a perfectly acceptable candidate for patterning. This is also true for the more complex fillet types, such as variable radius and full radius fillets. You may need to use the Geometry Pattern option, and you may need to select all the fillets affecting a feature, but it certainly does work.
Understanding Pattern Types
Up to now, I have discussed patterns in general; differentiated sketch patterns from feature patterns, face patterns, and body patterns; and looked at some other factors that affect patterning and mirroring. I will now discuss each individual type of pattern to give you an idea of what options are available.
Using the Linear Pattern
The Linear Pattern feature has several available options:
• Single direction or two directions. Directions can be established by edge, sketch entity, axis, or linear dimension. If two directions are used, the directions do not need to be perpendicular to one another.
• Spacing. The spacing represents the center-to-center distance between pattern instances, and can be driven by an equation.
• Number of Instances. This number represents the total number of features in a pattern, which includes the original seed feature. It can also be driven by an equation. Equations are covered in detail in Chapter 9.
• Direction 2. The second direction works just like the first, with the one exception of the Pattern Seed Only option. Figure 9.12 shows the difference between a default two-direction pattern and one using the Pattern Seed Only option.
Figure 9.12
Using the default two-direction pattern and the Pattern Seed Only option
• Instances to Skip. This option enables you to select instances that you would like to leave out of the final pattern. The pink dots are the instances that remain, and the red dots are the ones that have been removed. Figure 9.13 shows the interface for skipping instances. You may have difficulty distinguishing the red and pink colors on the screen.
Figure 9.13
Using the Instances to Skip option
• Propagate visual properties. This option patterns the color, texture, or cosmetic thread display, along with the feature to which it is attached.
• Vary Sketch. This option in patterns is often overlooked and not widely used or understood. While it may have a niche application, it is a