Chapter 15: Using Component Patterns and Mirrors
- Once you have created a few feature-driven patterns and have a better understand-
ing of how it is done, right-click the top level of the assembly FeatureManager and
select Collapse Items (near the bottom of the menu). The point is simply to practice
placing a part and patterning it with an existing feature pattern. The assembly might look
like Figure 15.9 when you are done.
FIGURE 15.9
Several Feature-driven patterns
- Create a local pattern (Insert ➪ Component Pattern ➪ Linear Pattern). Select one of
the sketch lines drawn in Step 1 as a pattern direction.
- Highlight the Components to Pattern selection box. Select the first part in the
FeatureManager and then Shift+select the last pattern feature. This patterns everything in
the assembly.
- Make the spacing four inches with three instances.
- Create a second direction using another of the sketch lines with six-inch spacing
and four instances.
- Notice how the preview shows 12 instances of the patterned assembly. Select the
option for Pattern seed only and see how the preview changes to seven instances. Figure
15.10 shows this difference. Click OK to accept the feature.
