Create a Conformal Coordinate Space

Construct a conformal coordinate space to make body-fitted implicit patterns and lattices.

Use lines, curves, and surfaces to construct a coordinate space that conforms to the defined geometry. This can be used with Implicit Pattern and Lattice tools to make them body-fitted instead of being aligned to conventional coordinate directions (Cartesian, Cylindrical, and Spherical).



  1. Conformal Coordinate Spaces for Pattern Operations
    The general workflow for a conformal pattern is as follows:
    • Construct the geometry from which the conformal coordinate space will be constructed (lines, curves, and BRep surfaces).
    • Construct the implicit body that will be patterned across the conformal coordinate space.
    • Create or select the conformal coordinate space from within the Pattern context.
    • Make any edits to U, V and W parametric coordinate directions, such as reversing their direction or flipping which direction is denoted as U, V or W.
    • Select the Base Point for the pattern for each parametric coordinate direction that is used (U, V and W, as required). The Base Point is a point on each parametric coordinate direction that the original instance of the geometry takes as its starting point for the pattern.
    • Specify pattern Spacing and Count in each direction according to your requirements.

    The following sections give examples of some of the different Conformal Pattern options.

    1. 1D Pattern Along Curve

      Implicit bodies can be patterned along a single curve. Instances of the selected implicit body will follow the curve and can be spaced evenly in terms of parametric coordinates or according to a distance in length units.



    2. 2D Pattern Along Two Curves

      Implicit bodies can be patterned along two curves. Instances of the selected implicit body will follow the surface implied by the two curves and can be spaced evenly in terms of parametric coordinates or according to a distance in length units.



    3. 2D Pattern Across Parametric Surface (BRep)

      When conforming to a surface, you can specify the spacing of the pattern so instances are evenly spaced in parametric U- and V-coordinates or spaced according to some distance in length units. Often, the most intuitive results come from even spacing in U and V.

    4. 3D Pattern Along Three Curves
    5. 3D Pattern Across Surface and Along a Curve
  2. Conformal Coordinate Spaces for Lattice Geometry
    1. Conform to Surface

      Lattices created using Implicit Modeling have the option to conform to a user-selected parametric (BRep) surface.

      Starting from a BRep geometry, select the model you want to lattice and click the Surface Lattice tool on in the Implicit Modeling ribbon.



      Once you have selected the lattice Surface properties, click the Conform to: dropdown list and select Create Conformal.



      This will take you to the Conformpanel where you can select the surface you want to conform to by clicking it in the model. You will have the option to reverse the direction of the U and V coordinate parametrizations and also flip which coordinate directions are used as U and V.



      The end result is a lattice that follows the parametric coordinate directions of the surface, which makes it possible to terminate each unit cell nicely on the boundary of the original body. For clarity, the parametrized coordinate direction W is always perpendicular to the selected surface.