Linear Pattern PropertyManager

The Linear Pattern PropertyManager appears when you pattern one or more features along one or two linear paths.

The PropertyManager controls these properties:

Direction 1

• Pattern Direction. Sets the direction for the Direction 1 pattern. Select a linear edge, line, axis, or dimension. If necessary, click Reverse Direction to reverse the pattern direction.

• Spacing . Sets the spacing between pattern instances for Direction 1.

• Number of Instances . Sets the number of pattern instances for Direction 1. This number includes the original features or selections.

Direction 2

Creates a pattern in a second direction.

• Pattern Direction. Sets the direction for the Direction 2 pattern.

• Spacing . Sets the spacing between pattern instances for Direction 2.

• Number of Instances . Sets the number of pattern instances for Direction 2.

• Pattern seed only. Creates a linear pattern in Direction 2 using the seed features only, without replicating the pattern instances of Direction 1.

Features to Pattern

• Features to Pattern . Creates the pattern using the features you select as the seed features.

Faces to Pattern

• Faces to Pattern . Creates the pattern using the faces that make up the seed features. Select all the faces of the seed features in the graphics area. This is useful with models that import only the faces that make up the feature, and not the feature itself.

When using Faces to Pattern, the pattern must remain within the same face or boundary. It cannot cross boundaries . For example, a cut across the entire face or different levels (such as a raised edge) would create a boundary and separate faces, preventing the pattern from propagating.

Bodies to Pattern

• Solid/Surface Bodies to Pattern . Creates the pattern using the bodies you select in a multibody part.

Instances to Skip

• Instances to Skip . Skips the pattern instances that you select in the graphics area when you are creating the pattern. The pointer changes to when you hover over each pattern instance. Click to select a pattern instance. The coordinates of the pattern instance appear in the graphics area and under Instances to Skip . To restore a pattern instance, click the instance marker in the graphics area again.

Feature Scope

Apply features to one or more multibody parts by selecting Geometry pattern under Options, and using Feature Scope to choose which bodies should include the features.

You must create the model to which you want to add the features for multibody parts prior to adding those features.

• All bodies. Applies the features to all bodies every time the features regenerate. If you add new bodies to the model that are intersected by the features, these new bodies are also regenerated to include the features.

• Selected bodies. Applies the features to the bodies you select. If you add new bodies to the model that are intersected by the features, you need to use Edit Feature to edit the pattern features, select those bodies, and add them to the list of selected bodies. If you do not add the new bodies to the list of selected bodies, they remain intact.

• Auto-select. (Available if you click Selected bodies). When you first create a model with multibody parts, the features automatically process all the relevant intersecting parts. Auto-select is faster than All bodies because it processes only the bodies on the initial list and does not regenerate the entire model. If you click Selected bodies and clear Auto-select, you must select the bodies in the graphics area you want to include.

• Bodies to Affect (Available if you clear Auto-select). Select the bodies to affect in the graphics area.

Options

• Vary sketch. Allows the pattern to change as it repeats.

• Geometry pattern. Creates the pattern using only the geometry (faces and edges) of the features, rather than patterning and solving each instance of the features. The Geometry Pattern option speeds up the creation and rebuilding of the pattern. You cannot create geometry patterns of features that have faces merged with the rest of the part.

• Propagate Visual Properties. Propagates SolidWorks colors, textures, and cosmetic thread data to all pattern instances.