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Patterning components

Question asked by Terry Cantwell on Aug 20, 2013
Latest reply on Aug 23, 2013 by Deepak Gupta

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I'm trying to find a way to pattern a part inside of an assembly along a track, though I don't see any option/way to unless I'm just missing something. Maybe there is a way to cheat it to work or something? What I want to do is be able to drag my shackle and all of them be chained together and slide along the track, though that's just a little extra. Right now I can pattern along a straight line and then when I have a rise/decline or turn in the track I have to start manually setting shackle positions. Any help would be great, thanks.

Deepak Gupta Aug 20, 2013 8:58 AM

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Create a feature inside the part (can be a surface) and then pattern that using curve driven pattern. In assembly use that curve pattern to pattern components in assembly using feature driven pattern.

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Jack Tate Aug 20, 2013 8:50 AM
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I got this to work a few years ago... Have you seen it?

http://www.mikejwilson.com/solidworks/solidworks_files-06.htm
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Deepak Gupta Aug 20, 2013 8:58 AM
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Create a feature inside the part (can be a surface) and then pattern that using curve driven pattern. In assembly use that curve pattern to pattern components in assembly using feature driven pattern.
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- Terry Cantwell @ Deepak Gupta on Aug 20, 2013 9:20 AM
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  That will work, only problem is that my track is broken down in to pieces, wouldn't happen to have an idea for smoothly getting that to run together would you? I may just need to create the track as one big part but this technique does let me get a lot closer!
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  - Ian Worrall @ Terry Cantwell on Aug 20, 2013 9:24 AM
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    To create your path, try a "Fit Spline" to follow your entire track.
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    - Terry Cantwell @ Ian Worrall on Aug 20, 2013 9:30 AM
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      The track is made as an assembly of several parts, so the feature driven pattern mentioned by Deepak sounds like the way to go, but I need my track to either be a single part or figure something out. I might "fit spline" or just convert all of the eges of my track to a 3D sketch and go back to create one solid track piece. (might be the easiest/best way)
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      - Ian Worrall @ Terry Cantwell on Aug 20, 2013 9:36 AM
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        That's what I meant. Use fit spline to create a hidden, ribbon-like feature you can run your hangers along.
        
        EDIT: See Deepak's post below. He makes more sense than me.
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  - Deepak Gupta @ Terry Cantwell on Aug 20, 2013 9:34 AM
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    Create a dummy part in the assembly. Now create a curve in that using convert entities and edges of your track. Then use Fit spline to set that curve into one smooth line. Now create a feature and do curve driven pattern. Finally in assembly feature driven pattern.
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Terry Cantwell Aug 21, 2013 2:09 PM
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I'm still having a bit of trouble, I made my track in to a single piece and have tried to play around with it a few different ways. It's sort of close atm, but was wondering if you had a moment if you could take a look at it and see if there is something I'm overlooking possibly. Hoping to get the shackles to go along the track and turn with the track, attaching the files so you can take a look.
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- test track.SLDASM.zip2.9 MB
- Shackle.SLDPRT.zip977.0 KB
- single track.SLDPRT.zip2.6 MB
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- Terry Cantwell @ Terry Cantwell on Aug 21, 2013 2:14 PM
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  I changed my curve driven pattern on the single track part to "transform curve" and "align to seed" and they follow it now, they just don't physically turn when there is a turn. Is there a way to force them to do so?
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  - Jerry Steiger @ Terry Cantwell on Aug 22, 2013 8:57 PM
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    Terry,
    
    Instead of "align to seed", try the option "tangent to curve". I probably have the words wrong, as I can't get to SolidWorks right now.
    
    Jerry S.
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    - Terry Cantwell @ Jerry Steiger on Aug 23, 2013 8:24 AM
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      I'm pretty sure I've tried every combination of options I can think of in the pattern options. When I choose tangent to curve, I end up with a component pattern that looks like the attached image. Unless the face I'm choosing is causing the issue, it's just jumping crazy as soon as it hits an elevation change/turn.
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      - Deepak Gupta @ Terry Cantwell on Aug 23, 2013 9:16 AM
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        Check attached files. You may want to remove some of them which are interfering.
        
        Also unsuppress the parts and features (have to do this to reduce file size).
        Attachments
        test track.zip521.3 KB
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        Terry Cantwell @ Deepak Gupta on Aug 23, 2013 10:00 AM
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        Deepak Gupta @ Terry Cantwell on Aug 23, 2013 12:07 PM
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        Opening fine for me. Can you try a force rebuild (ctrl + q)
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        Test Track Pic.PNG189.1 KB
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        Terry Cantwell @ Deepak Gupta on Aug 23, 2013 12:29 PM
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        I thought the way you have it set up would have worked, which I've tried in my many attempts. I did a force rebuild and it didn't change a thing. I also tried sending the zip straight over to another machine and doing the same thing there, with the same results. So it isn't just this machine, but I'm wondering if there might be a setting of some sort restricting it from working correctly?
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        Deepak Gupta @ Terry Cantwell on Aug 23, 2013 1:19 PM
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        Ok let me upload the files unsuppressed and then you can try them.
        
        Check these files: Test Track
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        Terry Cantwell @ Deepak Gupta on Aug 23, 2013 1:41 PM
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        That opened correctly (same as your screenshot), now the question is: Why was I not able to get the same results before and why couldn't I unsupress the features and get the same results? The only thing I can think of as far as why I couldn't get it to work, was maybe not choosing the right "face normal", I think I was using a side face and maybe that wasn't allowing my part to turn with the end face? I really appreciate your help on this whole issue.
        
        edit: I went in to the track and changed the curve driven pattern spacing distance from 6" to 7" and it broke the assembly back to my previous screen shots. I didn't touch a thing but that one setting.
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        Deepak Gupta @ Terry Cantwell on Aug 23, 2013 10:42 PM
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        I went in to the track and changed the curve driven pattern spacing distance from 6" to 7" and it broke the assembly back to my previous screen shots. I didn't touch a thing but that one setting.
        Working fine for me
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