Lesson 190 Patterns

8/10/2019 Lesson 190 Patterns

1/22

Lesson

190

esson Object ive:In this lesson, we will learn about Patterns.

le:///C|/Documents and Settings/Administrator/Desktop/PROENGINEER WILDFIRE 3.0/pattern.htm

le:///C|/Documents and Settings/Administrator/Desktop/PROENGINEER WILDFIRE 3.0/pattern.htm (1 of 22)1/9/2005 8:53:28 AM


2/22


3/22


the model tree). You can also get to patterns through the Editmenu, or using the following icon in

Feature Toolbar.

You must start by picking on a feature to pattern, otherwise the tool is not active. To demonstrate t

pattern tool, we will start with the Hole_Definitionpart that we saved from lesson16. It will look lik

following.

We created three different holes in this part in lesson 16. The first (Hole 1) was a linear hole. The

second (Hole 2) was a coaxial hole, and the third (Hole 3) was a radial/diameter hole. The followin

figure shows these holes.

We will start by clicking on the Hole 1 feature in our model tree (or the hole that corresponds to Ho

in the previous figure). Once selected, click on the Pattern tool. The dimensions for the hole featu

should appear on the model, as we can see in the next figure.



4/22


The dashboard appears and looks like the following.

By default, most features will assume a dimensional pattern type. This is the common one in 2001

which requires you to pick a dimension that drives the first and second directions. Other pattern ty

exist in Wildfire 2.0, but we will start with the standard Dimensionalpattern.

Therefore, we start by picking on the dimension that drives the first direction of the pattern. We wil

pick on the 1.000dimension. When we do this, a field appears right beneath the selected dimensio

as we can see in the next figure.

We will use this field to specify the increment between holes. Type in 3.25and then hit the


5/22


If we open up the Dimensionspanel, we will see the following.

We can see the dimensions and increment values defined for the first and second directions. We c

also see that we can define the increment by relations. Currently, we have defined a single driving

dimension for direction1, and the spacing is 3.250. If we go to the Optionspanel, we can see the

three different classifications of patterns.

We will leave these alone right now. Click on the green check mark to complete this pattern, and y

will see the following.



6/22


Next, we are going to create a radial pattern using Hole 3. For this pattern, we will use a reference

instead of an actual dimension to drive the pattern. Therefore, start by picking on the hole in the m

tree and then click on the pattern tool. We can see the dimensions show up in the next figure.

We could select on the 60.000dimension to drive the angle, but we will demonstrate a different typpattern, called Axis. In the dashboard, use the first pull-down field to change the option from

Dimensionto Axis, as we can see in the next figure.

Once we select Axis, we must select a datum axis or edge that will act as the pattern reference. W

will turn on our datum axes and select the A_10axis. Once we do this, we can see a different look

the model.



7/22


There are now two arrows, one for the first direction (maroon arrow labeled 1) and one for the sec

direction (yellow arrow labeled 2), as we can see in the figure above. We can also see the defau

increment is currently 90.000degrees, and there are four black dots representing four holes.

In the dashboard, we can see the following.

There is still a section for first direction and second direction. We will change the total number of

instances from 4to 3, and the angle from 90.000to 120.000, as shown below.

This change is also reflected on the model itself.

We will now click on the green check mark to complete this hole pattern. Our model will now look l

the following.



8/22


Save and close this model.

ILL PATTERN

The next pattern type that will discuss is the Fillpattern. This is new in Wildfire, and offers a huge

benefit to users that create very large identical patterns that fill in a grid on a model. For example,

suppose you are creating a non-skid surface with all of the little diamond shape bumps on it. Thiswould be one way of doing that.

The advantage of a fill pattern over an identical dimensional pattern is the fact that you dont have t

stay within a rectangular grid, and the second is that the lead feature doesnt have to have any

dimensions associated with it, nor do you have to even keep the lead pattern.

To demonstrate this pattern type, we will open up the model entitled Boat. It will initially look like th

following.

This is a bath mat, and requires suction cups along the bottom to prevent it from sliding. If we turn

model around, we can see one of these suction cups that we created.



9/22


If we zoom in close on this model, we can also see a sketch feature. This sketch feature defines th

area that is going to be filled. We can either use a sketch feature (as we are in this example), or w

can sketch a shape once we get into the pattern itself.

If we look at the model tree, we can see that we created the suction cup as a revolve feature, and w

used an on-the-fly datum plane, which caused the features to be grouped together.



10/22


With a regular dimensional pattern, this would be necessary to include the offset dimension for theplane to be tied to the feature being patterned. In a fill pattern, however, we dont need the datum

plane at all. We could even ungroup this current group and pattern the revolve feature all by itself.

Instead, we will simply pick on the Revolve 1feature in the model tree and then click on the pattern

tool. When the dashboard appears, switch the pattern type to Fill, as shown in the next figure.

When we do this, the dashboard will change to look like the following.

We must start by defining the fill boundary. If we needed to sketch a boundary, we could right click

the working window and use the Define Internal Sketchoption. Instead, we will pick on the sketch

feature on the model.

NOTE: If you are going to use a pre-defined sketch (as we are in this example), it must come befor

the feature being patterned in the model tree. This is because the model is rolled back to the time j

before the feature was created for the pattern.

When we pick on the sketch feature, we will see the following in the model. Go to a BOTTOM view

the rest of this example.



11/22


A grid of black circles appears on the model. This is the preview for the pattern. In the dashboard,

have a variety of options to chose from for defining the shape of this pattern. The first field to the ri

of the sketch definition is the shape of the pattern. The default is Square, which gives you the effe

above. There are other shapes, such as Triangle, Diamond, Circle, Spiral, Curve, etc.that give you

different results. Try each one until you find the one you want.

In our example, we are going to stay with the Squareoption. The next field to the right is the spac

between instances. We are going to change this value to 0.750. The next field is the distance from

boundary that we sketched/selected. We will use a value of 0.300for this fill. The last field is used

rotate the entire grid about the lead instance. We will use a value of 57.000degrees to line the succups up with the long angled edge.

The dashboard, when completed will look like the following.

The preview of the pattern will look like the next figure.



12/22


If we wanted to remove one or more of the instances from the resulting pattern, we would click on tblack circle and turn it white. We, however, are going to keep each of these instances.

When we click on the green check mark, each of the instances will regenerate, and then we will be

with our final pattern, as shown in the next figure.

Save and close this model.

ABLE PATTERNS



13/22


The next pattern type that we will look at is the Table Pattern option. We will demonstrate this

functionality with the Plate3model, which looks like the following.

We are going to start by picking on the hole and then select the pattern tool. When the dashboard

appears, change the pattern type from Dimensionto Table, as shown in the next figure.

When we do this, the dashboard will look like the following.

The first thing we must do is select any dimension we want to control in the table. I find it best to p

them in the order you want to see them in the columns of the table. Therefore, we will pick the 0.62

x dimension, followed by the 0.750y dimension, and lastly the 0.750diameter dimension.

Once all three dimensions are selected, we will click on the Editbutton next to the TABLE1 field.

This brings up the table editor, which will look like the following.



14/22


We can see four columns. The first is used to identify the hole by a unique incrementing number.

first hole that we selected represents 1, therefore, we will start with 2 in the second row.

The remaining columns are our three dimensions that we selected, in the order in which we selecte

them.

I always find it easier to sketch out the hole pattern on paper prior to filling out the table to make it

easier to fill out. My sketch for this hole pattern might look like the following.

Using this information, I will fill out the table as follows.



15/22


Once the table is filled out, I will select File, Exitfrom the menu at the top of this window. This sav

and exits the table. Back in the model, we will see the preview of this pattern, which looks like the

following.

At this time, we could create more than one pattern table for this hole. The reason you might do th

would be for different family table instances, or to try out different patterns until you know which one

work for you.

We will click on the green check mark to complete this pattern. Our final model will look like the



16/22


following.

Save this model for the next pattern type.

EFERENCE PATTERNING

A reference pattern is a feature pattern that follows an existing pattern. In order to make this work,

feature you are trying to pattern must be tied to the lead feature of the existing pattern in such a wa

that it could be translated to each of the instances of that pattern.

To demonstrate how this works in Wildfire 2.0, we will continue to work with the Plate3model that w

have open. We are going to add two features that will both be referenced patterned. The first will

an extruded thin protrusion. Start by going to the extrude feature, and be sure to select the solid an

thin material options, as shown below.

Change the wall thickness to 0.125, as we can see in the above figure. Next, use your right mousebutton to Define Internal Sketch. For the sketching plane, use the top surface of the plate, and ac

the RIGHT datum plane facing towards the Right. Inside the sketch, use the Use Edgetool to se

both halves of the lead hole (the one in the lower left corner), as shown in the next figure.



17/22


Once we complete the sketch, be sure to flip the material side to the outside of the hole, and chang

the depth to 0.25. The preview will look like the following.

Click on the green check mark to complete this feature, which looks like the following.

Now, select the extrude feature and then click on the pattern tool. Since this feature is already tied

the lead hole in the hole pattern, the default type listed is Reference, as shown in the next figure.

Click on the green check mark to complete this pattern, and our model will update as shown in the

following figure.



18/22


Notice that the diameter was controlled by the hole pattern, so it got bigger around the center hole

should.

The next feature will be a round at the base of the extrude feature on the lead hole. The radius wil0.05, as shown below.

Once you finish this round, select it in the model tree and click on the pattern tool. This time, the

dashboard will not open. Instead, it will automatically pattern the round to all of the instances.

Rounds and Chamfers do this automatically. The following figure shows the resulting model once t

reference pattern is done.



19/22


ESSON SUMMARY

Patterns are great tools to reduce the amount of repetitive work you might incur otherwise. You ne

to build in the proper dimensioning scheme so you have dimensions available to drive pattern

directions, sizes, etc.

In dimensional patterns, you define the instance spacing and number of instances. In table-driven

patterns, you spell out exactly the location and size based off of references that the lead entity use

a fill pattern, you sketch a boundary that the fill resides within, and then you indicate size, shape an

orientation.

To successfully group or reference pattern, all entities must be tied only to the lead feature being

patterned first (or first in the group). If they reference stationary, non-moving references, the patter

will fail.

XERCISES

Open up the Headsetpart that we have worked with in the past, and pattern the rib and all of its

rounds, as shown below. The spacing for the ribs is 1.25inches.



20/22


HINT: Since we have not learned how to create a group by combining already created features, yo

not be creating one for this exercise. You will, however need to find out which feature drives the 1.

spacing dimension and pattern that first.

Cup_Washer

Create the part below.



21/22




22/22
