Curve Driven Patterns and the Curve Driven Pattern PropertyManager

The Curve Driven Pattern tool allows you to create patterns along a planar or 3D curve.

To define the pattern, you can use any sketch segment, or the edge of a face (solid or surface), that lies along the plane. You can base your pattern on an open curve, or on a closed curve, such as a circle.

Like other pattern types, such as linear or circular, you can skip pattern instances, and pattern in one or two directions.

To create a curve driven pattern:

  1. Create a part that includes a feature you want to pattern along a curve.
  2. Click Curve Driven Pattern (Features toolbar) or Insert > Pattern/Mirror > Curve Driven Pattern.
  3. In the PropertyManager, set the options.
  4. Click .

Curve Driven Pattern PropertyManager

The Curve Drive Pattern PropertyManager appears when you create a new curve driven pattern feature, or when you edit an existing curve driven pattern feature.

To open this PropertyManager:

Click Curve Driven Pattern (Features toolbar) or Insert > Pattern/Mirror > Curve Driven Pattern.

Some fields that accept numeric input allow you to create an equation by entering = (equal sign) and selecting global variables, functions, and file properties from a list. See Direct Input of Equations in PropertyManagers.

Direction 1

  Pattern Direction Select a curve, edge, sketch entity, or select a sketch from the FeatureManager, to use as the path for the pattern. If necessary, click Reverse Direction to change the direction of the pattern. The example below uses the upper edge of the model as the Pattern Direction for Direction 1.

Number of Instances Set a value for the number of instances of the seed feature in the pattern.
  Equal spacing Sets equal spacing between each pattern instance. The separation between instances depends on the curve selected for Pattern Direction and on the Curve method.
Equal spacing check box cleared Equal spacing check box selected
Spacing (Available if you do not select Equal spacing) Set a value for the distance between pattern instances along the curve. The distance between the curve and the Features to Pattern is measured normal to the curve.
  Curve method Defines the direction of the pattern by transforming how you use the curve selected for Pattern Direction. Select one of the following:

Transform curve

The delta X and delta Y distances from the origin of the selected curve to the seed feature are maintained for each instance.

Offset curve

The normal distance from the origin of the selected curve to the seed feature is maintained for each instance.
  Alignment method Select one of the following:

Tangent to curve

Aligns each instance tangent to the curve selected for Pattern Direction.

Align to seed

Aligns each instance to match the original alignment of the seed feature.

Example of Curve method and Alignment method selections:

Curve: Transform curve

Alignment: Align to seed

Curve: Offset curve

Alignment: Align to seed

Curve: Transform curve

Alignment: Tangent to curve

Curve: Offset curve

Alignment: Tangent to curve
  Face normal (For 3D curves only) Select the face on which the 3D curve lies to create the curve driven pattern.

Direction 2

Select to create the pattern in a second direction.
If you select the Direction 2 check box without selecting a sketch element or edge for Pattern Direction in Direction 2, an implicit pattern is created, based on what you selected for Pattern Direction for Direction 1.
  Pattern Direction Select a curve, edge, sketch entity, or select a sketch from the FeatureManager, to use as the path for the second direction of the pattern. If necessary, click Reverse Direction to change the direction of the pattern. The example below uses the side edge of the model as the Pattern Direction for Direction 2.

Number of Instances Set a value for the number of instances of the seed feature in the pattern.
  Equal spacing Sets equal spacing between each pattern instance. The separation between instances depends on the curve selected for Pattern Direction and on the Curve method in Direction 1.
Spacing (Available if you do not select Equal spacing) Set a value for the distance between pattern instances.
  Pattern seed only Replicates only the seed pattern, which creates a curve pattern under Direction 2, without replicating the curve pattern created under Direction 1.
Pattern seed only Pattern all instances

Features to Pattern

Features to Pattern Creates the pattern using the feature you select as the seed feature.
If the feature to pattern includes fillets or other additions, use the flyout FeatureManager design tree to select these features.

Faces to Pattern

Faces to Pattern Creates the pattern using the faces that make up the feature. Select all the faces of the feature in the graphics area. This is useful with models that import only the faces that make up the feature, and not the feature itself.
When using Faces to Pattern, the pattern must remain within the same face or boundary. It cannot cross boundaries. For example, a cut across the entire face or different levels (such as a raised edge) would create a boundary and separate faces, preventing the pattern from propagating.

Bodies to Pattern

Solid/Surface Bodies to Pattern Creates the pattern using the bodies you select in a multibody part.
Multibody part with Solid/Surface Bodies to Pattern Curve driven pattern applied

Instances to Skip

Instances to Skip Skips the pattern instances that you select in the graphics area when you are creating the pattern. The pointer changes to when you hover over each pattern instance. Click to select a pattern instance. The coordinates of the pattern instance appear. To restore a pattern instance, click the instance again.
You cannot skip instances when you pattern bodies.

Feature Scope

Apply features to one or more multibody parts by selecting Geometry pattern under Options, and using Feature Scope to choose which bodies should include the feature.
Create the model to which you want to add the features for multibody parts before adding those features.
  All bodies Applies the feature to all bodies every time the feature regenerates. If you add new bodies to the model that are intersected by the feature, these new bodies are also regenerated to include the feature.
  Selected bodies Applies the feature to the bodies you select. If you add new bodies to the model that are intersected by the feature, you need to use Edit Feature to edit the pattern feature, select those bodies, and to add them to the list of selected bodies. If you do not add the new bodies to the list of selected bodies, they remain intact.
  Auto-select (Available if you click Selected bodies) When you first create a model with multibody parts, the feature automatically processes all the relevant intersecting parts. Auto-select is faster than All bodies because it processes only the bodies on the initial list and does not regenerate the entire model. If you click Selected bodies and clear Auto-select, you must select the bodies in the graphics area you want to include.
Bodies to Affect (Available if you clear Auto-select) Select the bodies to affect in the graphics area.

Options

Vary sketch Allows the pattern to change as it repeats.
Geometry pattern Creates the pattern using only the geometry (faces and edges) of the features, rather than patterning and solving each instance of the feature. Geometry pattern speeds up the creation and rebuilding of the pattern. You cannot create geometry patterns of features that have faces merged with the rest of the part.
Propagate Visual Properties Propagates SOLIDWORKS colors, textures, and cosmetic thread data to all pattern instances.