Pattern Implicit Geometry

Create a rectangular, circular, conformal, or point-cloud pattern of implicit bodies.

The Pattern operation takes a user-selected body and distributes multiple identical instances according to patterning rules. Three high-level pattern types may be constructed: rectangular, circular, or point cloud.

  1. On the Implicit Modeling ribbon, select the Pattern tool.
  2. The Body button is active. Select an implicit body to pattern.
  3. Pick the pattern type.
    • Rectangular: This tab allows you to pattern along up to three linear or conformal directions.

    • Circular: This tab allows you to pattern around a cylindrical axis.

    • Point Cloud: This tab allows you to pattern a copy of the selected body to each point in the point cloud.

  4. Rectangular
    1. Optional: Use the Conform To option to generalize a rectangular pattern by creating conformal (curved) spaces that operate on the parametrized coordinates, U, V and W. For more information, see Create a Conformal Coordinate Space.


    2. Select One, Two or Three directions to pattern along.
    3. For each direction, click the Select button next to the Vector label and pick an axis or linear edge to use as the direction to pattern along. This is not needed if a conformal object has been selected.
    4. For each direction, use the Spacing value to define the distance between each item in the pattern along that direction. This value can be constant or a variable.
    5. For each direction, use the Count value to define the number of items to pattern along that direction. This value can be constant or a variable.
  5. Circular
    1. Click the Select button next to the Vector label and pick an axis or linear edge to use as the axis to pattern around.
    2. Select the type of circular pattern.
    • Number of Copies: Select this option to specify the angle between each copy and the number of copies.
    • Equal Spacing: Select this option to space the copies equally within a specified angle.
    1. Use the Angle value to define the angle between each copy or the total angle within which the copies will be equally spaced. This value can be constant or a variable.
    2. Use the Count value to define the number of items to pattern around the selected axis. This value can be constant or a variable.
  6. Point Cloud
    1. Use the Point Cloud dropdown list to create or select an existing point cloud.
    2. The first point in the point cloud will act as the anchor position for the subsequent items in the pattern.
    3. Every other point after the first will be used to create an instance of the patterned object at that position. The orientation of the patterned object will remain the same as the original.
  7. Right-click and mouse through the check mark to exit, or double-right-click.