1.Click the Enable check-box to make the Pattern active

2.Click: Space Pattern or Phase Pattern. Experiment!

◉ Space Pattern - Note: I rarely use this option!

1.Take a 'snap-shot' for the path of a Solid  (see Pattern Elements below).

2.Adds a Pattern - which makes copies of the Solid at equal increment along the path.

When you cycle the model:

3.Each copy of the Solid remains fixed as given by the Snap-Shot, and the Pattern moves with the Part

- or -

◉ Phase Pattern

The same as the Space Pattern, however:

1.When you cycle the machine, each copy of the Solid moves along the path it actually takes.

2.Each Solid is at an advanced position around the cycle.

Pattern-Elements are the elements from which we create copies for the Space Pattern or Phase Pattern

You must add the elements you want to copy to the Pattern-Elements box.

To ADD Elements to the Pattern Elements

You must unlock the Padlock to add or remove Pattern elements.

A.Pattern Elements

To add Solids to the Pattern Elements box:

1.Click the Padlock to unlock the Pattern-Elements box.

2.Click Profile / Extrusion Elements

- and/or -

3.Click CAD-Lines onto which a CAD Solid has been imported

B. Motion to Linearize

If the motion of the Solids is linear - they move at constant velocity - then they show at equal increments in the Pattern. There is no need to select a Motion element.

If the motion of the Solids is not linear, then they will be closer together at machine angles when the Solids move slowly, and they will further apart when they move quickly.

Motion FBs can linearize the position of each Pattern element.

To add Motion FB to the Motions to Linearize box:

1.Click a Motion FB in the Assembly-Tree or the graphic-area.

To remove elements

With the Padlock open, ...

1.Click an element in the Pattern Elements or Motion to Linearize box

2.Click the Remove Solid or the Remove Motion FB icon immediately below Pattern Elements separator.

The Padlock icon:

1.Click the Padlock, to lock it again, to make sure you do not add more Solids or Motion FBs as you edit your model.

The format of the Phases separator is slightly different for the Space Pattern and the Phase Pattern

# Copies: from 1 to 100 : The number-of-times the Solid is repeated in the Pattern, and displayed in the graphic-area.

IF Space Pattern:

Start Angle, Final Angle:

•The Copies show at regular intervals from the Start Angle to the Final Angle.

•The Phase Visibility separator does not show.

IF Phase Pattern:

The concept of a Motion-Period and Motion-Cycle become important.

Final Angle:

If the Final Angle is 360, then the Motion-Period is equal to 1 Machine-Cycle

If the Final Angle is for example, 20º, the Motion-Period is 20º.

•The # Copies show at regular intervals within one Motion-Period, from Home Angle (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 copy within each Motion-Period - see Phase Visibility separator.

Hide Source Pattern Element:

source Pattern element are those Solids that are in the Pattern box in the Pattern Elements separator.

•Click the check-box to hide the Source Pattern Elements.

Nearly always, hide the source Solid. The first copy (at 0) is at the same position as the source Solid.

Copies Box

Phase Visibility shows only when you select the Phase Pattern check-box in the Enable and Type.

Show or hide individual Pattern Elements at one or more phases in the Pattern Range.

Think of a chain wrapped around a circular 12-hour clock and the chain moves continuously around the clock. You can hide each chain-link  as they move between 6 and 9 o'clock.

Compare with Copies Visibility: hide a Solid as it moves all the way around the clock

To edit the 'Phase Visibility' of a Solid:

1.Click a Solid in the Pattern Elements box.

The Solid element - 'Extrusion' or 'CAD-Line' must show in the Edit Pattern Element' box

2.Click the Edit Pattern Visibility...button

The Pattern Visibility dialog-box opens.