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How and why you should use pattern and mirror commands in SolidWorks software

Level:	Intermediate
ID#:	10220516
Category:	Modeling, Pattern, Best Practice, Tech Tip
Products/Version:	SolidWorks 2005
Last revised:	10/22/05

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There are a number of different pattern and mirror commands within SolidWorks® software. This technical tip describes the differences and points out where they can be used.

What is a pattern? A pattern creates a copy (instance) of a part feature or assembly component. This tech tip will focus on model-based patterns.

Why use patterns and mirrors?

It is quicker and easier than copying the feature or component manually.

It is parametric. The number of instances and other parameters (i.e., distance) can be changed and updated at any time.

Patterns offer better performance, especially geometry pattern, than the same number of standalone features or components.

Linear Pattern
A linear pattern will create a copy of a selected feature or body. The pattern can be created in one (Direction 1) or two (Direction 1 and Direction 2) directions.

Figure 1 – Linear Pattern

Circular Pattern
A circular pattern will create a copy of the selected feature or face around an axis. The axis of rotation needs to be defined prior to creating the pattern. The equal spacing option can be used to space the number of instances equally around the circle (360°).

Figure 2 – Circular Pattern

Mirror
Patterns can also be mirrored. The example shown in figure 3 is a mirror of the table driven and circular patterns. Changes to the original pattern will be reflected in the mirrored geometry.

Figure 3 – Mirror

Driven Patterns
The next three patterns are driven from some external element. These are a table of values (Table Driven Pattern), a sketch (Sketch Driven Pattern), or a curve (Curve Driven Pattern).

A table driven pattern is used to create a pattern based on a set of X and Y coordinates based on a user defined coordinate system. The coordinate system must be defined prior to creating the pattern.

The values may also be read from, and saved to, a data file. SolidWorks can export the table in the .sldptab file. The format of this file is as follows:

50mm 15mm

100mm 15mm

15mm 50mm

15mm 100mm

Figure 4 – Table Driven Pattern

A sketch driven pattern is used to create the pattern based on sketch points. The sketch and seed features define the pattern.

Figure 5 – - Sketch Driven Pattern

A curve driven pattern is used to create a pattern driven along a sketch curve. The spacing can be defined as equal between the instances or by setting distance between the instances.

Figure 6 – - Curve Driven Pattern

Pattern Options
The seed feature for any pattern is the one selected to create the pattern. For example, the hole shown in figure 1 (before) is the seed feature for the linear pattern. There is an option, Pattern seed only, that will only pattern the seed feature.

The geometry pattern option will copy a patterned or mirrored feature. This is a performance enhancement as the new instances are not solved and end conditions are ignored. Wherever possible, use this option for performance reasons. By default, this option is not checked.

Instances to Skip is used to remove certain instances from the pattern. Example 7 shows instances (3,1) and (2,3) were omitted from the pattern.

The instance numbers are denoted by how direction 1 and direction 2 were selected. The pattern instances skipped on the left in figure 7 (shown by the red dot) are the 3rd instance in direction 1, and the 1st instance of direction 2, hence (3,1). The other skipped instance on the right is (2,3).

Figure 7 – - Instances to Skip

The vary sketch option is used to change the size of a feature as it is patterned. The example shown in figure 8 shows how the angled line stays parallel when the feature is created. To activate the vary sketch option, you must select the dimension that defines direction 1. You may not be able to use the geometry pattern option with vary sketch.

Figure 8 – - Linear Pattern with Vary Sketch

Conclusion
Sketch and mirror are features that can help capture design intent and allow for easy modification of parameters. The type of pattern and the options used will be based on the intent for the feature or component.

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