<< Click to Display Table of Contents >> Navigation: MechDesigner Reference & User Interface > Dialogs > Dialog: Function-Block: Pattern |
See Add Pattern FB
Use a Pattern FB to make Copies of Profile/Extrusions (MD-Solids) and/or CAD-Solids at different phases of the machine-cycle - see Solids,
•The Pattern FB anticipates the motion of each Copy and puts each Copy at a position that corresponds to its phase of the machine-cycle.
•The Pattern FB can show or hide a Copy for a machine-cycle.
•The Pattern FB can use a timing-chart to show or hide Copies as they pass through different phases of the machine-cycle.
Use Visibility toolbar > Show Solids in Mechanisms to see the Copies that we generate for you with the Pattern FB.
Open the Pattern FB dialog:
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The Pattern FB dialog is now open.
![]() Pattern FB dialog |
There are two tabs in the Pattern FB dialog: Pattern ElementsPhase Visibilities |
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![]() Pattern-Elements |
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Pattern-Elements
Motion to Linearize
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Add SOLIDS to the Pattern-Elements box
Solid elements are now in the Pattern Elements box as Extrusions and/or CAD-Lines. To add a Motion FB to the Motion to Linearize box
A Motion FB is now in the Motions to Linearize box To remove a Solid
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Phases are the number of copies of the Pattern-Elements and the machine-angles to show or hide them.
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# Copies: from 1 to 100 : The number of copies of the Pattern-Elements in the Pattern. The format of the Phases separator is slightly different for the Space Pattern and the Phase Pattern. IF Space Pattern Start Angle, Final Angle: •The Copies show at equal intervals from the Start Angle to the Final Angle. IF Phase Pattern Final Angle = ?- default =360. The concept of a Motion-Period is important. If Final Angle is 360, then the Motion-Period is equal to 1 Machine-Cycle If Final Angle is, for example, 20º, the Motion-Period is 20º. •The # Copies show at regular intervals within one Motion-Period, from MMA=0 to Final Angle. •The Phase Pattern repeats one time for each Motion-Period or 36 ∕ 20 = 18 times in 1 Machine-Cycle. •You can show or hide each Pattern Element within each Motion-Period - see Phase Visibility separator. |
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Hide Source Pattern Element: Source Pattern Elements are the Solids (CAD-Solids and/or MD-Solids) that you select in the model as Pattern-Elements, and show in the Pattern Elements separator of the Pattern-Elements tab. Nearly always, enable Hide source Pattern-Element. This is because the Copy #1 and the source Pattern-Element are at the same position 1.Click a Pattern-Element in the Pattern Elements separator and Pattern-Elements tab. It should show in the Phase-Visibilities separator (to see you have selected it). 2.Click the Hide Source Pattern Element check-box. Copies Box |
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•To hide a Copy for the total Motion-Period, click a •To show a Copy for the total Motion-Period, click a |
![]() Phase-Visibilities > Pattern-Visvibility |
Note: Pattern Visibility Use Pattern Visibility to show or hide a Pattern-Element for different periods within the Motion-Period. |
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To edit the Visibility of a Pattern-Element:
The Pattern Visibility interface is now open. You can now edit the Visibility of the element that is in the Pattern-Element to Edit |
Refer to the image below:
As an example: In the image below, there is one Visible-Period of the Pattern-Element “Extrusion”, from 0º to 360º. |
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There are two(2) Nodes that control the timing of each Visible-Period.
To edit a Visible-Period for the Pattern-Element you must edit the timing of the Start-Node and/or End-Node. STEP 1.(Example) Edit the Start-Node and End-Node to define a Visible-Period.
The image below shows the new timing of the Visible-Period for the Pattern-Element (Extrusion). It starts at 50 and end at 150 in the Machine-Cycle. |
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STEP 2.(Example continued...) Add a new Visible-Period
There is now a new Visible-Period in the Phase-Visibility Chart - see image below. STEP 3.(Example continued...) Edit the Start-Node and End-Node to define the timing of the new Visible-Period.
The image below shows the two Visible-Periods in the Phase-Visibility Chart for the Pattern-Element (Extrusion) Visible Period Visible-Period |
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STEP 4.(Example continued...) Delete a Visible-Period
The image below shows one Visible-Period in the the Phase-Visibility Chart for the Pattern-Element (Extrusion) You can now Click |
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Pattern Visibilities - example
Imagine a chain wrapped around a circular, 12-hour, analog, clock. There are 12 hours and 12 chain-links in the chain.
The chain moves continuously around the circular clock.
To add the 12 copies of the Pattern-Element (see Pattern-Elements tab chain-links is the Source Pattern-Element (Solid).
•Edit Phase Visibilities tab > PHASES separator > # Copies to edit the number of chain-links on the chain - in this example, 12 copies to give 12 chain-links.
You will see in the box below the angle of the 12 Copies, when the MMA=0.
•Click a copy in the table.
The changes to a
for each copy you click.
A next to the copy means you can see the copy move around the clock - however, see also Pattern Visibilities
A next to the copy means you can not see the copy, as it moves all the way around the clock.
•Nearly always, enable Hide Source Pattern-Element.
•Use Pattern Visibility to hide each chain-link, one link after the next link, as it moves between hours, for example, between 6 and 9 o'clock.