You construct rectangular patterns using the following workflow:

1. Select the elements you want to pattern.

2. Start the Rectangular Pattern command.

3. Select a plane onto which you want to place the pattern preview.

4. Define the pattern parameters using command bar and the dynamic input boxes in the graphics window.

You can select features, faces, and face sets, as the parent elements to pattern. You can select the elements in the graphics window or in PathFinder.

The Rectangular Pattern command is only available when you have selected valid elements first.

You can select any planar face, reference plane, or base coordinate system plane for the pattern preview. For example, to place a rectangular pattern of the hole shown, the planar face that the hole pierces is appropriate for the pattern preview.

When you select the planar face, a default preview pattern is displayed, along with various on-screen tools you can use to define and edit the pattern parameters.

These on-screen tools include command bar (A), occurrence count box (B), dynamic edit boxes (C), occurrence handles (D), and the orient vector tool (E).

You can use the on-screen tools to define the following pattern parameters:

• Occurrence count

• Occurrence spacing

• Pattern angle

• Suppressed occurrences

Options are also available for adding new features to an existing pattern, positioning the pattern origin, and so forth.

Two options on command bar are available for defining the occurrence count and spacing of pattern occurrences:

• Fit

• Fixed

These options specify whether you want to define the overall height and width of the pattern, or the spacing between individual pattern occurrences. With both methods, you specify the number of occurrences in the X and Y directions using the occurrence count boxes. You can also define the spacing by dragging occurrence handles, which is described later.

• Fit example

  With the Fit option, you specify the number of occurrences in the X and Y directions, and the overall height and width of the pattern. The x spacing and y spacing values are calculated automatically.

  For example, you can set the Fit option and then specify an X Count of 5, a Y Count of 4, a width of 70, and a height of 35.

  The x and y spacing between each occurrence is calculated automatically.

  

• Fixed example

  With the Fixed option, you specify the number of occurrences in the X and Y directions, and the X and Y spacing. The width and height values are calculated automatically.

  For example, you set the Fixed option and then specify an X Count of 5, a Y Count of 4, an X spacing of 18, and a Y spacing of 12.

  The width and height is calculated automatically.

  

You use the dynamic edit boxes to specify the exact values you want for occurrence count and spacing. For example, when the Fit option is set, you can use the dynamic edit boxes to specify the total number of occurrences in the X and Y directions, and the overall height and width of the pattern.

You can also change the height and width of the pattern by dragging an occurrence handle using the cursor. First, position the cursor over an occurrence handle, then drag the handle to a new location. The values in the height and width boxes dynamically update.

The orient vector tool is similar to the steering wheel, and you can use it to manipulate the angular orientation of the pattern. For example, you can use the torus on the orient vector tool to rotate the pattern dynamically by dragging the cursor.

You can use the knobs on the orient vector tool to reorient the pattern in 90 degree increments.

You can also reposition the origin of the pattern to another keypoint on the model.

You can suppress individual patterns occurrences or you can suppress a group of pattern occurrences. You can suppress occurrences while you are constructing the pattern or you can edit the pattern later to suppress occurrences.

• Suppressing individual occurrences

  You suppress individual occurrences in patterns with the Suppress Occurrence button on command bar. With the pattern feature selected, you can click the Suppress Occurrence button on command bar, then click occurrence symbols to specify which occurrences you want to suppress (A). The symbols change size and color to indicate that the corresponding occurrences are suppressed.

  

  You can also drag the cursor to fence any number of occurrences.

  

  This option is useful for when you need to define gaps in a large pattern, for example, to leave space for another feature.

  You can also display suppressed pattern occurrences with the Suppress Occurrence button. Click the button and then select the suppressed occurrences you want to reappear.

• Suppressing occurrences using a sketch region or plane

  You can also suppress pattern occurrences using a sketch region or planar face. With the pattern selected, you can click the Suppress Regions button, and then select the sketch region that encloses the occurrences you want to suppress. The occurrences inside the region suppress, and a suppression direction arrow appears.

  

  You can click the direction arrow to specify that the occurrences outside the sketch region suppress instead.

  

You edit the parameters for an existing pattern by first selecting the pattern using PathFinder or QuickPick. Selecting the pattern displays the pattern action handle. You can then click the pattern action handle to display the same set of on-screen tools that appear when you create a pattern.

You can add new elements to an existing pattern using the Add to Pattern button on command bar when you are editing an existing pattern. For example, you can add a hole feature to any occurrence on a pattern.

You can then edit the pattern feature, and use the Add to Pattern button on command bar to select the hole feature and add it to the pattern.

You also need to specify the occurrence position onto which you added the hole feature. The feature is then added to all occurrences in the pattern.

Pattern features behave as a set when performing synchronous modifications, such as moving faces using the steering wheel. For example, if you move a face on one of the pattern occurrences, all the corresponding faces in all the other pattern occurrences also move.

You can also delete pattern occurrences. Position the cursor over the pattern occurrence you want to delete. When the ellipsis appears, left-click to display QuickPick. You can then use QuickPick to select the pattern occurrence, and then press the Delete key to delete it.

When you delete a pattern occurrence, the software is actually suppressing the corresponding occurrence symbol on the pattern. Deleting, rather than suppressing, an occurrence can be useful when working with large or complex models, because you do not have to edit the pattern feature to suppress the occurrence. To restore the deleted occurrence, you can use the workflow for displaying suppressed occurrences.

• You can pattern multiple elements in one operation.

• You can suppress individual occurrences in a pattern.

• You can delete individual feature occurrences in a pattern.

• You can add features to an existing pattern.

• Construct a rectangular pattern feature

• Pattern features

• Rectangular Pattern QuickBar