SolidWorks 2010 Bible

Part III: Working with Assemblies

FIGURE 15.10

Two direction patterns, one with and one without the Pattern Seed Only option

Summary

Performance and best practice are both issues that require compromise. Patterns can cause a per-

formance reduction because of the nature of the references. However, they can also improve per-

formance because the need for extra mates is reduced and it is easier to simplify the assembly by

suppressing the pattern feature.

Feature-driven patterns are driven by feature patterns and transgress best practice suggestions, but

they also add a parametric link, which updates the component pattern automatically. And they

offer many more options that are driven by the pattern options available to features in a part.