Creating Rectangular Patterns

You can create rectangular patterns, that is duplicate an original wireframe or surface-type element at the location of your choice according to a rectangular arrangement. This means that you will need to define a 2-axis system using two directions.

Before you begin: Create a 3D shape containing wireframe or surface elements.
Related Topics
Patterning Volumes

  1. Click Rectangular Pattern .

  2. Select the element you want to replicate as a pattern.

    The Rectangular Pattern Definition dialog box appears.

    Each tab is dedicated to a direction you will use to define the location of the duplicated element.

  3. Click the Reference element box and select a direction to specify the first direction of creation.



    To define a direction, you may select a line, a planar face or surface edge. You can reverse this direction by clicking the Reverse button.

  4. Set the duplication parameters by choosing the number of instances, the spacing between instances, or the total length of the zone filled with instances.

    Four options are available:

    • Instance(s) & Length: the spacing between instances is automatically computed based on the number of instances and the specified total length. Note that the Spacing box is grayed out.
    • Instance(s) & Spacing: the total length is automatically computed based on the number of instances and the specified spacing value. Note that the Length box is grayed out.
    • Spacing & Length: the number of instances is automatically computed to fit the other two parameters. Note that the Instance(s) box is grayed out.
    • Instance(s) & Unequal Spacing: the spacing between instances is specified by the user: you can double-click the spacing value in the geometry area to edit and modify it. Note that the Length box is grayed out.

    For each of these cases only two boxes are active, allowing you to define the correct value.

    Warning: If you set Instance(s) & Length or Spacing & Length parameters, note that you cannot define the length by using formulas.

  5. Click the Second Direction tab to define the same parameters along the other direction of the rectangle.



    You can delete instances of your choice when creating or editing a pattern. To do so, just select the points materializing instances in the pattern preview. The instance is deleted, but the point remains, as you may want to click it again to add the instance to the pattern definition again.

  6. Click More>> to display further options.

    These options let you position the instances in relation to the first selected element.

  7. Increase the Row in direction 2 to 2.

    You notice that the first selected pattern now is the second instance in the vertical direction, as this was the second selected direction.

    Simplified representation lets you lighten the pattern geometry, when more than 15 instances are generated. What you need to do is just check the option, and click Preview. The system automatically simplifies the geometry:

    Previewed simplified geometry

    Simplified geometry

    You can also specify the instances you do not want to see by double-clicking them. These instances are then represented in dashed lines during the pattern definition and then are no longer visible after validating the pattern creation. The specifications remain unchanged, whatever the number of instances you view. This option is particularly useful for patterns including a large number of instances.

  8. Click OK to create the pattern.

    The pattern (identified as RectPattern.xxx) is added to the specification tree.

    Warning:
    • Patterning User Features (UDFs) is not allowed.
    • You cannot cut nor copy rectangular patterns, except if they belong to the same body.