Creating User Patterns

This task shows how to use create user patterns, that is to duplicate an original wireframe or surface-type element at the location of your choice according to a user arrangement.
Locating instances consists in specifying anchor points.

Open the Pattern3.CATPart document.

Click User Pattern .

Select the element you wish to replicate as a pattern.

Note that whenever you are using a feature list, you need to multi-select the features in the order they were created.

The User Pattern Definition dialog box is displayed.


	The `Keep specifications` option is not available for: feature lists patterning patterns.

Select the sketch needed to position the pattern and click Preview.
Here, we selected Sketch.2 in the specification tree: it includes the nine points you need to locate the duplicated pockets.

As you just need seven points, click the two points you do not need to unselect them.

Anchor

By default, the application positions each instance with respect to the center of gravity or the element to be duplicated. To change this position, use the anchor field: click the Anchor field and select a vertex or a point.

Note that contextual commands creating the anchors you need are available from the Anchor field:

Create Point: for more information, see Creating Points
Create Midpoint: creates the midpoint of the line you select
Create Endpoint: creates the endpoint of the line you select
Create Intersection: see Creating Intersections
Create Projection: see Creating Projections

If you create any of these elements, the application then displays the corresponding icon next to the Anchor field. Clicking this icon enables you to edit the element.

Click OK to create the pattern.

The pattern (identified as UserPattern.xxx) is added to the specification tree.

	Patterning User Features (UDFs) is not allowed. You cannot cut nor copy user patterns.

Patterning Volumes

This capability is only available with the Generative Shape Optimizer product.

Open the PatterningVolumes3.CATPart document.

Click User Pattern .
Select the element you wish to replicate as a pattern.

The User Pattern Definition dialog box is displayed.
Select the sketch needed to position the pattern and click Preview.
Click OK to create the pattern.

Creating User Patterns using Multiple Elements

You can create user patterns, that is duplicate multiple original wireframe or surface-type elements at the location of your choice. Locating instances consists in specifying anchor points.

Create a 3D shape containing wireframe or surface elements.

In the 3D area, select all the surface (or volume) elements that you want to replicate.

The selection should contain either all surface or all volume elements. Mixed selections are unsupported.
Click User Pattern in the Replicate toolbar.

The User Pattern Definition dialog box is displayed with the Object box showing the number of elements you selected in step 1.
Optional: Click to edit the patterning elements.
The Object to Pattern dialog box is displayed.
Optional: Select an element in the list and click either Remove or Replace to modify individual pattern elements.
Optional: Click Close to close the dialog box.
Specify the required inputs by referring the steps from 3 through 5 as explained in "Creating User Patterns.
Click OK to create the pattern with multiple elements.