Patterning surfaces

[T1936]

Hi All,

Simple question (I think). Is it possible to pattern a feature that has a "replaced" face in it?

I have a hex protrusion on a flat surface, the top of the hex is curved using sketches and the replace face tool. I would then like to pattern this hex and corresponding face in a circular pattern.

I am able to pattern the simple hex protrusion, but not the curved face.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance

Tim

 

[fredericmenage]

Hi,

I think it doesn't work if the surface doesn't extend naturally to cover the other hexes.

You can either pattern the faces and use boolean/unite to create add the material inside the patterned surfaces (one by one - the surface will hide each time you do a boolean)

Your other option is to pattern the solid hexes w/o the replace face. Then pattern the curved surface. And repeat the replace face for each occurence of the pattern.

HTH

Fred

 

[beachcomber]

Hi guys,
Try selecting the protrusion, surface AND the replace face as the features to be patterned.

bc

 

[T1936]

Hi,

Thanks for the suggestions. I have tried to select all the processes and pattern them, but once the pattern is complete, only the original surface shows. All the protrusions will pattern, but no surfaces.

I considered manually applying the surface to each pattern, but this would be quite time consuming as there are several occurrences. This is the surface of a lens on a light fixture, and there are a couple hundred little hexes (the geometric shapes, not curses, although I am not so sure now....)

This situation must come up often, I can imagine lots of applications where a surface will need to be patterned.

-Tim

 

[fredericmenage]

Hi,

If all you little blocks are in contact with each other, here is what you should do:
- create one top surface
- pattern that surface
- create the outside contour with an extruded surface
- stitch all those surfaces
- boolean/unite to create the solid

If they don't touch, try buiding the initial solid differently if possible. Otherwise, one by one is the only choice I see...

HTH

Fred

 

[fwc]

Can you post an image of it? I'm sure there is more than one method to solve this.

 

[T1936]

Hi all,

Here is a link to an image of the part I am working on. The texture on the surface is a series of hexagons which each have a curved surface on them.

The curve on the surace is very small, about .5mmR

http://www.port-kelsey.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/lense.jpg

-Tim

 

[donyoung]

Tim,

what about using the completed incl. the curved face
and then do the pattern? see sample of that piece

http://multiterra.mooload.com/file.php?file=files/090506/1147201564/Lenshex.zip

dy

 

[T1936]

Hi,

Which version of SE is the sample file saved as? I am using SE 15.

Seeing a sample of what you are explaining would be a great help, I appreciate the effort!

Thanks,

-Tim

 

[donyoung]

Tim,
oops! that file is V18. But I can upload it as parasolid
in short
- created a cylinder
- top face reshaped to a shallow curved face by rotary cutout
- doing a cutout to form the hex (AF = 2mm, Height approx. 1mm)

File conatains .sat/.stp/.x_t

http://multiterra.mooload.com/file.php?file=files/090506/1147203132/LenshexMix.zip

dy

 

[donyoung]

Tim,

I think in either your or mine approach will work as expected
only by creating a new part, doing on IPC of the finished
hex and then use this for patterning.
I don't know how V15 works with IPC it may be the case that
you have to export the finished part as Parasolid and read
it back so to have one solid only.

dy

 

[T1936]

Hi,

Yes, you are right. As soon as I opened the Parasolid version I found I could pattern it as a single item.

When trying to pattern the original feature, with the cutout, it uses the cutout operation from one entity and projects it onto the pattern occurrence next to it.

By using the Parasolid it sees it as a single item that can be patterned.

Is it possible to "cut and paste" this solid item into an existing part?

Thanks for the help.

-Tim

 

[donyoung]

Tim,

Insert Part Copy (IPC) will work when saved as .par. But it
will be placed at the original coordinates that is 0,0,0

BTW: doing a circular pattern with an hex won't work because
the shape ist fixed. To pattern the hex to look like the
lens you must pattern along the x and y axes. Have a look
at the file below the image contains the pattern data

http://multiterra.mooload.com/file.php?file=files/090506/1147208176/LensPattern.jpg

dy