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Component pattern in an assembly 3

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adymech1

Mechanical
Sep 21, 2004
57
I am trying to pattern a sub-assembly in an assembly file. I know there is a feature "Insert->Component Pattern". But that doesn't work for me because the sub-assembly I am trying to pattern (linear) has unequal spacing. That is, the spacing is 14, 10, 10 and 12. So I can't use "Define my own pattern(local)" option. The second option in "Component Pattern" is "Use an exiting feature pattern (derived)". I can't use this option either as I don't have any existing pattern. I just want 5 instances of a beam sub-assembly spaced at 14, 10, 10 and 12. Any suggestions?
 
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LCD would 2. You could pattern your subassy every 2, then supress the ones you don't need to show.

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Or create series of patterns of 2 instances, where each item to pattern was the last to be patternized (I wonder if I'm clear enough). You can specify different distances in each pattern.

Regards
 

If the spacing does not lend itself to MadMango's "lowest common denominator" tip, an alternative is to:-

1) Create a dummy part which has the needed feature pattern in it.
2) Insert the dummy part into the assy.
3) Use the dummy parts feature pattern to pattern the desired component.
4) Set the dummy parts property to "Exclude from BOM", then hide it.

It would be nice if SW had a "Assy Sketch Pattern" feature for situations like this ... but they don't ... so 'till they do, tricks like this & MadMango's work great.

[cheers] from (the City of) Barrie, Ontario.

[ponder] What happens if you get scared half to death twice? [ponder]
 
First of all, Thanks to all the people who replied. Your help is very much appreciated.

I have 2 further questions about the replies I received:

1. What if the LCD is 1, i.e the spacings don't have a LCD? In that case, it will too much of a pain to delete individual instances? Actually, I had to manually delete the instances (after they were created) since the box "Positions to skip" won't let me choose anything? Why could that be happening?

2. If the spacing is variable, I can't even make a dummy component with feature pattern as feature pattern is the same as component pattern - i.e it only takes uniform spacing.

 
1) Don't know ... how were you trying to select the features to skip?

2) Sorry I should have mentioned that to create the variable feature pattern in item 1) you should use a Sketch Pattern

[cheers] from (the City of) Barrie, Ontario.

[bugeyed] I tried sniffing Coke once, but the ice cubes got stuck in my nose [shocked]
 
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