Make the sketch in a part file and pattern a workpoint. Can you attach what you have so far? I'm not sure why there would be a pattern of components without a corresponding pattern of features.
You have to pattern a feature first. Such as reference geometry like work points. Then when you go to pattern your components (assemblies or parts) you can use the pattern by feature method. This is the first tab in the pattern component dialogue. You can either select the patterned feature in the 'model space' or change your browser view from assembly to model and then select the patterned feature from the browser.
I can attach a screen shot if you still have trouble?
I was able to make a feature pattern of work points around a sketch line; however in my assembly I can’t select the points to pattern about, even when using the first tab.
I tried selecting the work points from the browser tree, but that did not work. If I double click the part, I can select the work points; however pattern component is no longer available.
A screen shot would be great!
Thanks for all the help already
Even better would be for you to attach your assembly here. If the data is proprietary then simply make up a dummy assembly that exhibits the same behavior you are after.
As it stands now, you have not even provided information on what release of Inventor you are using.
If you want to select the feature pattern in Model space it needs to be things like hole patterns, etc. For reference geometry, change your browser view.
Here is a quick example, I didn't bother to make the chain links match up, but it is quite easy with two patterned features. You can even animate it to a limited extent but looks real.
Just a thought: there are 2 kinds of points. One works for locating holes, etc. on sketches and models and the other one doesn't. You can toggle between them by clicking on the point icon turning it from one to the other. Since I can't get it straight which does what I put both kinds of points on the sketch/model
"Just a thought: there are 2 kinds of points. One works for locating holes, etc. on sketches and models and the other one doesn't. You can toggle between them by clicking on the point icon turning it from one to the other. Since I can't get it straight which does what I put both kinds of points on the sketch/model "
You are confusing 'Work points' and 'centre points'. The toggle is for centre point to a sketch point (node), which can be used for locating holes or other things but is not a feature. Also both centre marks and sketch points can be used for locating holes, the only difference is that they will not be automatically detected. You can also constrain to them in an assembly.
There are two types of work points, standard and grounded, you want to pattern the standard in this case. It should work every time if your work flow is correct.
I'm not new to IV but I am kinda new to the ribbon concept. I didn't much like it at first (vis. Word 2007) but I'm getting used to it since everyone seems to think it is better than the toolbar approach. In AutoCAD I liked my good old customized toolbars (still use them in 2009) but if I get on somebody else's machine, I'm lost. Soooo, the ribbons are OK 'cause nobody knows how to modify them yet
Back to the point thing. I'm still working on it. IV help doesn't and Google doesn't help much either. YouTube is good if I could just find what I need to know. And thank you for trying to make sense out of the mess with points I find myself in.
I don't know what the ribbon has to do with it but I don't like it either. It has been proven to produce slower work-flows and it isn't even fully customizable. I do use it though, like you said, in case I use someone else's computer. I have it reduced to the smallest size though, like I had the panel bar before.
I still have all my toolbars set up in AutoCAD 2010 and the classic UI so I get the menu bars too. I think the ribbon is worse in AutoCAD than it is in Inventor.
I think SolidWorks have one thing right, that you can still roll out or pin a menu bar, and that you can also choose to use toolbars and the ribbon.
What is it you need to know that you cannot find? I will make a video and post it.
