Pattern
Repeat a cut, a hole or whole parts in a row, around a circle or along a curve, for dowel holes, slats, vents, spokes and chain links.
- Pattern PPart Studio toolbar
| SchoolCAD | Onshape | Fusion | SOLIDWORKS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pattern | Linear pattern Circular pattern Curve pattern | Rectangular Pattern Circular Pattern Pattern on Path | Linear Pattern Circular Pattern Curve Driven Pattern |
Pattern repeats something you have already made, so you do not have to model every copy. The copies can go in a row (a linear pattern), around a circle (a circular pattern), or along a curve you sketch (Onshape: Curve pattern).
There are two kinds:
- A Feature pattern repeats one feature: an extrude, a cut, a hole or a revolve. Use it for a row of shelf-pin holes, the vents in a speaker box, or holes around a knob.
- A Part pattern copies whole parts, such as the slats of a bench seat or the legs of a round stool.
How to use it#
- Make the first one: the hole, the cut or the part.
- Click Pattern, or press P.
- Choose Feature pattern and pick the Feature. Or choose Part pattern and tick the parts, or click them in the view.
- Choose Linear, Circular or Along a curve.
- Type how many Instances you want, then the Distance or the Angle. For Along a curve, choose the Path sketch.
- Check the preview, then click ✓.
Pattern starts with what you selected. Parts you selected make a part pattern. A feature you clicked in the feature tree makes a feature pattern. With nothing selected, it repeats your newest extrude, cut, hole or revolve.
Options#
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| Feature pattern | Repeats a feature. Choose it in the Feature list. Cuts and holes say (cut). |
| Part pattern | Copies whole parts. Tick them under Parts to repeat, or click them in the view. |
| Linear | The copies go in a straight row. |
| Circular | The copies go around an axis, like the spokes of a wheel. |
| Instances | How many in total, counting the first one: 4 makes the first one and 3 copies. From 2 to 100. |
| Direction | Linear only: which way the row goes. X is across, Y is back and Z is up. −X, −Y and −Z go the other way. |
| Distance | Linear only: how far it is from one copy to the next, in mm. |
| Around axis | Circular only: X, Y or Z. The axis goes through the origin (the point 0, 0, 0). |
| Angle | Circular only: how far round the copies go. 360 is a full circle. |
| Along a curve | The copies follow a path you sketch: joined lines, arcs or a spline, or a circle for a closed loop. |
| Path | Along a curve only: the sketch with the path. Start the path at the thing you are repeating: the first copy is the original, and the others follow the path from there. |
| Spread out / Set distance | Along a curve only: spread the copies evenly over the whole path, or put them a set Distance apart along it (copies that would go past the end are left out). |
| Keep orientation | Along a curve only: off, each copy turns with the path, like beads on a string; on, every copy faces the same way as the first. |
Tips#
- With an Angle of 360, the copies are spread evenly all the way round. With a smaller angle, the last copy lands on that angle: 3 instances over 90° sit at 0°, 45° and 90°.
- For a circular pattern, model the round part centred on the origin, so the copies go around its middle.
- You can type a sum or a parameter for the distance, such as
450/5. - Click the pattern in the feature tree to see its number and spacing on the model. Click one to change it.
- Change the first one, and every copy changes too.
- Copies from a part pattern are named like the first part, with a number: Slat 2, Slat 3.
- To repeat shapes inside a sketch, use the sketch Pattern.
- Along a curve suits a row of lights round a curved shelf, fence pickets along a curved path, or the links of a chain. On a circle, the copies go all the way round without two landing on the start.
If it does not work#
- Make an extrude, cut, revolve or hole first. A feature pattern needs one of these before it. Or choose Part pattern.
- The feature to repeat must come before the pattern. Drag the pattern below that feature in the feature tree.
- Some copies are missing. A copy of a cut only cuts where it meets a part. Check the Direction and the Distance.
- The copies go the wrong way. Choose the other direction, such as −X instead of X.