Is there a way to create a pattern of parts along a curving spline?
Thanks!
Is there a way to create a pattern of parts along a curving spline?
Thanks!
Guys,
I'm working in an assembly model. One of the parts in my assembly was created using a spline and sweeping a profile along the spline. Think of this part like an aluminum extrusion, except it isn't straight, it's got a spline controlled profile along it's length.
Next I added another part into this assembly. I now want to pattern that part along my extruded part and I want the pattern to follow the spline shape. I want all of the patterned parts to be aligned to the seed part. I want to use the "Curve Driven Pattern" tool but I cannot get that menu to light up. It will not allow me to select a curve driven pattern.
What circumstances do I need to allow for a curve driven pattern? Is that a tool that only works on a single part, say to drive a "Cut Extrude" feature , or is it purely to be used in a sketch only, or what ?????????
Also, if I could get this pattern thingk to work in my aseembly, I would like to also have these patterned items included in my BOM table. Any hope of that???
Roy,
One method that's worked for me:
Create a Sketch driven pattern on the part, it can be holes or extrusions. The pattern and the seed feature is then suppressed (unless you need/want them in the part). Then in the assembly place the seed for the patterned parts and constrain it to the seed feature of the sketch driven pattern. Finally, create a Feature driven pattern and use the sketch driven pattern to drive the Feature driven pattern.
The parts will show up in the BOM table. You need to be careful though with the sketch driven pattern; don't use a Point to locate the seed feature or it may double up the parts at that location. and call out too many items in the BOM.
Harold, thanks for the tip. Your solution worked exactly as you suggested.
One small problem..........I now have a Cut Extrude feature on the part that I have patterned, that I don't want. When I try to suppress that Cut Extrude feature on my part, the pattern that uses that feature to control where the parts are located on my assembly, blows up. I can't suppress it and keep my pattern intact.
I tried to simply use a sketch feature to drive this curve driven pattern, but it wouldn't accept that. I had to create an actual cut extrude feature, just as you suggested.
I don't know if anyone from Solid Worls monitors this web site, but if anyone is out there listening: this sucks. Why can't you build a simple function int SW that allows us to pattern parts in an assembly along a curve or spline.
Roy
Roy,
I've used that method to locate parts on a sheet metal in rectangular patterns and it's been working fine.
A method to make it work in your situation may be to create a configuration with the cuts unsuppressed and use it to drive the assembly pattern; then have a configuration (default) with the cuts suppressed to be used at the part level and drawing.
Harold,
Sounds like more good advice. I'll give this a try.
Still, a lot of complexity to do something that seems to be fairly straight forward. In my mind SW should already have this feature, rather than these back door approaches to making the thing do what we need.
Roy
Mike Swagger wrote:
Is there a way to create a pattern of parts along a curving spline?
Thanks!
Mike,
do as the others have told you and GO PACK GO....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! .
I'm headed to the land of Cheez end of month, Training camp, EAA and the Ozuakee County Fair, Dar Hey!
oh yeah to see family too.
GO PACK GO!
Mike,
Yes, try Insert>pattern/mirror>curve driven pattern.