Modeling > Feature Modeling > Pattern and copy features > Pattern Face

Pattern Face

Use the Pattern Face command to create patterns of faces in various pattern layouts and define pattern boundaries, reference points, orientation, and clocking.

You can create a pattern of faces using a variety of pattern layouts.

Linear	Polygon	Along	Reference

Circular	Spiral	General	Helix

You can fill a specified boundary with a pattern of faces.

For a Linear layout, you can specify a Symmetric pattern in one or both directions. You can also specify to Stagger columns or rows.

For Linear and Along layouts, you can create a pattern along selected points by setting Spacing to Points, which lets you control where you place instances.

For a Circular or Polygon layout, you can choose to radiate a pattern.

You can define a Pattern Increment by using expressions to specify pattern parameters.

You can export pattern parameter values to a spreadsheet and make positional edits that are propagated back to your pattern definition.

You can explicitly select individual instance points for deletion or for clocking instances to different locations.

Patterned feature	Selected instances
Delete Multiple instances of the pattern can be deleted at one time.	Clock Each move shown above is a separate clocking operation.

You can control the orientation of a pattern.

Same As Input	Follow Pattern (circular)

The Pattern Face command differs from the Pattern Feature command in the following ways:

You can select a set of faces to copy instead of features.
The result is a single feature instead of instanced copies of features, so feature creation and editing are faster.

Pattern Face is especially useful when working with imported solid models when there are no features in the model to pattern.

The Pattern Face command is a Modeling command that is included in the Sheet Metal application for the convenience of users. Use it for performance reasons in typical patterning operations where the required result is a large number of pattern objects. For example, patterning a large number of holes, cutouts, dimples, or louvers, on a tab face.

However we do not recommend using in all cases as a substitute for the regular patterning commands in Sheet Metal, because it can cause downstream problems with various sheet metal features such as unbend, rebend, flat solid, copy, paste, and mirror. In these cases, while it may work, it can produce different downstream behavior. For example, a series of flanges that are patterned using the Pattern Face command will unbend and rebend together.

Where do I find it?

Application	Modeling, Shape Studio, Pre/Post, and Manufacturing
Command	Pattern Face

Create a grip pattern on a knob sleeve

This example shows how to pattern the faces of protrusions and recesses to create a grip pattern on a cylindrical sleeve for a knob.

Choose Home tab→Base group→Pattern Face .

Select the faces as shown.

In the Pattern Definition group, from the Layout list, select or confirm Circular .

Middle-click to advance.

In the Rotation Axis subgroup, with Specify Vector active, specify an axis of rotation for the circular pattern.

For this example, the Z axis of the OrientXpress tool is selected.

With Specify Point active, specify a rotation point.

For this example, the arc center of the bottom edge is selected to specify a rotation point.

In the Angular Direction subgroup, set the pattern spacing parameters.

For this example they are set as shown:

Spacing = Count and Span
Count = 10
Span Angle =360

Note: Press Enter after specifying a parameter to display the effect of that parameter on the pattern.

Click OK.

In this case, why use Pattern Face instead of Pattern Geometry or Pattern Feature?

**Pattern Feature **can be used in this situation, but all the construction geometry that went into creating the initial features would also be instanced with the pattern, creating a more complex part.

Pattern Geometry is not used because it cannot accommodate the Boolean operation that creates the lower indentations.

Create a rectangular pattern of boss faces

This example shows how to create a linear pattern of the faces of a boss in two directions to create a rectangular pattern of connection bosses.

Choose Home tab→Base group→Pattern Face .

Select the faces to pattern.

In the Pattern Definition group, from the Layout list, select or confirm Linear .

Middle-click to advance.

In the Direction 1 subgroup, with Specify Vector active, specify an axis for the first direction of the pattern.

Set the pattern spacing parameters.

For this example they are set as shown:

Spacing = Count and Pitch
Count = 3
Pitch Distance =20

Press Enter after specifying a parameter to display the effect of that parameter on the pattern.

In the Direction 2 subgroup, select the Use Direction 2 check box .

With Specify Vector active, specify an axis for the second direction of the pattern.

Set the pattern spacing parameters.

For this example they are set as shown:

Spacing = Count and Pitch
Count = 3
Pitch Distance =20

An Alert message displays because the reference point of the center instance is located in hole, or void area, that specific instance could not be patterned.

The Pattern Face operation can be completed now, but there will be an Alert graphic on the respective Part Navigator node.

The instance reference point can also be deleted if it is not needed.

Right-click on the center reference point and select Delete.

Click OK.

	In the Part Navigator, the Pattern Face node graphic is updated .

Create a circular pattern of holes from an existing pattern

This example shows how to create a circular pattern of holes. To do this, we find a pattern of holes by finding clones of an existing hole, and then use that pattern to create a more complex pattern.

Choose Home tab→Base group→Pattern Face .
Select Hole Faces from the Face Rule list on the scene toolbar.
Select the hole face to pattern.
In the Face group, in the Face Finder subgroup, select the Find Clone check box.
In the Face Finder subgroup, in the Found tab, point to an option in the list.

For this example, move the cursor over Pattern.

NX highlights the hole faces that are in a pattern. 6. In the Face Finder subgroup, in the Found tab, select the Pattern check box. 7. In the Pattern Definition group, from the Layout list, select Circular . 8. In the Rotation Axis subgroup, with Specify Vector active, specify an axis for the direction of the pattern. 9. With Specify Point active, specify a rotation point.

For this example, we select the arc center of the upper edge to specify the rotation point. 10. Set parameters for spacing the pattern.

For this example:

Spacing = Count and Pitch 11. Count = 3 12. Pitch Angle =20 13. Click OK.

Pattern Face dialog box

Face
Select Face
Face Finder
Reference Point
Specify Point
Pattern Definition
Layout

Boundary Definition

Not available when Layout is set to Along, General, Reference, or Helix.

Boundary Definition addresses objects that lie in close proximity to or on the surface being patterned, such as holes or repeated detail geometry. Using Boundary Definition with objects whose centroids or instance points are positioned away from the target surface may yield unexpected results.

Boundary

Does not define boundaries. Patterns are not restricted to boundaries.

Lets you select face edges, sheet edges, or region boundary curves to define the pattern boundary.

You can also select faces to be used to define the orientation by following the face normal, much like with the Follow Face orientation option. The faces you select to define the boundary are also reused to define the orientation for Follow Face.

In such a case, NX attempts to space the instances with the pitch distance calculated along the curvature of the boundary face instead of in the Pattern Layout, such as Linear spacing. This allows for the pattern layout, such as Linear, to approximate the surface being followed.

Note that the instance spacing is also dependent on the type of faces being selected, so it will be different when you map curved faces versus planar faces.

Lets you select a set of curves, or create a sketch to define the pattern boundary.

Lets you select curves or create a sketch to define an area that is excluded from patterning.

Patterns created with a boundary definition are highly sensitive to the Reference Point location. If the reference point calculated for a given instance lies outside the boundary, the instance is not created, but the actual geometry created for the instances might overlap the boundary, as seen below.

Simplified Boundary Fill

Available when Layout is set to Linear, Circular, Polygon or Spiral and Boundary is set to Face or Curve.

Displays the Simplified Layout subgroup of options that you can use to fill the specified boundary with instances. The available options depend on the Layout option that you select. You do not need to input as much information to create the instances.

Lets you form a grid for the simplified linear layout pattern, using the Square, Triangle, or Diamond options on the Layout list. The designated layout is repeated until the boundary is filled.


Square		Triangle		Diamond

The Radial Pitch option is unique to circular and polygonal simplified boundary fills. It lets you control the concentric distance of the pattern faces as they radiate out.


Circular		Polygon

Margin Distance

Lets you specify an offset distance from the defined boundaries.

Apply Margin to Internal Boundaries

Available when Layout is set to Linear, Circular, Polygon or Spiral and Boundary is set to Face or Curve.

Adds the specified margin distance to any internal boundaries. Any pattern face that encroaches into the margin distance area will not be displayed.

Rotation Angle

Lets you specify a rotation angle for the simplified layout based on the defined reference vector.

Pattern Definition layout parameters

Pattern definition parameters vary based on layout.

There are also parameters common to all layouts.

Use the Look up more details links for specific layout options information.

Pattern Increment

Opens the Pattern Increment dialog box where you can define increments to be applied to instances as the pattern count increases.

Instance Points

Select Instance Point

Lets you select points that represent the layout, pattern definition and orientation of the instances that are to be created.

Use the Snap Point options on the scene toolbar to filter point selection

When you right-click an instance point, the following options are available.

Delete removes the selected instance from subsequent pattern face operations. A small red sphere indicates that the pattern instance is deleted.

Deleting instance points and the pattern instances attached to them does not affect the Spacing / Count parameter specification. For example, a 3 x 3 linear layout with its last column of instances deleted is still a 3 x 3 layout, not a 2 x 3 layout.

Undelete adds the selected instance back into the pattern face.

Displays the Clocking dialog box where you can specify instance points to edit, and then define a delta position and orientation for the specified instance points.

Clocking is also available from the Operation Navigator by right-clicking an instance and choosing Clock.

Unclock returns selected clocked instances to their original locations.

The above options are also available using the Part Navigator.

Use Spreadsheet

Not available when Layout is set to Reference.

Lets you edit pattern definition parameters, including any pattern-variance settings, only in a spreadsheet.

After you confirm your values, they are read back to the dialog box and the geometry is updated.

The spreadsheet is not stored with the pattern.

If you want to edit the pattern definition parameters in the dialog box, clear the Use Spreadsheet check box.

Orientation

Not available when Layout is set to Reference.

Determines if the pattern faces in the layout will maintain a constant orientation or follow an orientation derived from some defining geometry.

	Orients the pattern faces in the same orientation as the input face.

	Not available when Layout is set to Linear or Reference. Orients the pattern faces following the orientation of the layout.

	Available when Layout is set to Along. Orients the pattern faces based on the normals or projected normals of the specified path.

	Not available when Layout is set to Along, General, or Reference. Orients the pattern faces based on a specified CSYS.

Follow Face

Not available when Layout is set to Reference.

Maintains an orientation for the pattern faces that is normal to the specified face at the location of the instance.

The specified faces have to be on the same body.

Project Direction

Available when Follow Face is selected.

The locations of the instances on the pattern plane will be projected normal from the pattern plane to the specified face.

The locations of the instances on a pattern face will be projected normal from the pattern face to the specified face.

The locations of the instances will be projected along a specified vector to the specified face.

Pattern Settings

Available when Layout is set to Linear, Circular or Along.

Settings

Copy Chamfer Labels

Lets you copy the chamfer labels on unparameterized angled faces and have them applied in the resulting pattern.

Copy Threads

Lets you copy symbolic threads so that you do not need to recreate additional symbolic threads that look the same as the source body.

The positive or negative disposition of extracted symbolic threads is maintained in subsequent patterning of those threads.

This is useful for copied bodies in CAM and Drafting.

Linear layout options

Pattern Definition – Linear layout

Pattern Settings

Circular layout options

Pattern Definition – Circular layout

Radiate

Pattern Settings

Along layout options

Pattern Definition – Along layout

Pattern Settings

Linear layout options

Pattern Definition – Linear layout

Pattern Settings

Circular layout options

Pattern Definition – Circular layout

Radiate

Pattern Settings

Polygon layout options

Polygon Definition – Polygon layout

Radiate
Create Concentric Members

Spiral layout options

Pattern Definition – Spiral layout
Spiral

Along layout options

Pattern Definition – Along layout

Pattern Settings

Path methods for the Along layout

Path Methods

General layout options

Pattern Definition – General layout
General

Reference layout options

Pattern Definition – Reference layout